I have always worked on the theory that dogs need natural oils to keep their coats healthy and that a good brushing gets rid of any dirt and grime. My lot get a wash twice or maybe 3 times a year (unless they've been up to mischeif) but my white shepherd looks quite yellow after a few weeks and I can't get her clean. What can I do to remedy this? My friend has 2 springers and the dirt just seems to fall off! He only gets the brush out once a week and I brush daily. Any suggestions?

Other than using one of the 'white out' shampoos sorry I can't help.   I don't believe in full-on bathing unless one goes down in something obnoxious - or in the case of my Basset, he starts to smell too ripe.  As long as your Shep's coat/skin is healthy, I'd not be too worried about the yellowing - my opinion.

But aren't white GSDs in the UK (as opposed to the FCI White Herder)  actually pale cream so won't be sparkling white?

I have Papillons so a lot of white coats and they need bathing AT LEAST once a fortnight. The male dogs once a week minimum as otherwise they get stained when they pee. The coats are fine but I use a lot of conditioner.

My first dog was a white GSD, but you could see where the black colouring would have been on a normal dog as it was cream, only the bits that would be tan were white.
I didn't mind it one little bit, he still looked magnificent to my eyes :)

Most UK 'white' GSDs rarely carry any top coat - the cream is just profuse soft undercoat and so will attract any dirt and debris that the dog will come across, which makes them not weatherproof and so not suitable for them to work outside in all weathers.

Rather than bathing the dog, which will just make the coat even softer, you could use chalk to clean the coat.  Rub in a hard block and then brush out with a slicker or pin brush without knobs on the end!

Your friend's Springers will have a correct double working which means that they will naturally keep clean.

slightly different in fact the reverse I have a solid black shepherd double coated long hair and find as he has got older his fur has changed in some parts mainly the fine parts behind ears and his trousers also after a big hotspot it now has a rusty tinge in that area. I think its all to do with age and sun so am not surprised that white sheps have similar colour changes from pure white other than pure dirt.
I am not surprised your friends springer's stay clean their coats are completely different. My flatcoat only gets mucky when she rolls in something nasty mud falls off not the same with my shep

> Your friend's Springers will have a correct double working which means that they will naturally keep clean

Tara (Aussie) never gets washed unless she has rolled in something - so a part shower once a year or two :) She has a lot of white on her front legs, chest, neck and back. She is 12 and the white is still very white - she has a double coat.

I have white dogs and I wash them approx once a week due to the fact that we are at the beach at least once a week, and they are swimmers :-) 

If I didn't shampoo (or at very least rinse) the sea salt off (you can see it crystalise on their backs) then their coats would be broken and their skin a mess.

So ... my favourite white shampoo is Kelco Plum White ... http://www.technogroom.co.uk/catalog/kelco-plum-white-shampoo-38-litres-p-196.html

Very few White GSD's are truly white though they are very light cream/lemon.

After a bath she is actually white with 'champagne points' as I like to call it on her ears and a slight stripe down her back. Her trousers are so white my washing looks like I ran it through the 'grey' cycle. Last moult, I actually contemplated spinning it into yarn! It didn't happen because I can't knit!

I think I will definitely try that plum stuff - especially if I can use it on the others too.

Furrie - My black gsd btw also gets the rusty red coat as she gets ready to moult. I think it does naturally occur as they age. But I think it makes them look more distinguished!

Yes, I'd definitely recommend it.  You can actually use it on all colours - its a great shampoo (and no, I'm not on commission, lol!).  Its also not as expensive as first appears because it dilutes 50:1. 

Sometimes its out of stock at Technogroom but it will come back in again so its worth waiting.  The only other place I know that stocks/imports it is called 'Bichon Friends' website.

Good luck  :-)

I use that shampoo too on my black and white dog on the rare occasion he's bathed :) it's lovely.

Thanks everyone. Will hold out for it as I still gave the other shampoo to get through. Sounds silly but I'm really looking forward to smelling it!

>So ... my favourite white shampoo is Kelco Plum White

I can remember this being recommended on CD before.   I ordered it and use it on the white Chis, or parti colours.  I love the smell.

I thought it was expensive at the time, but I now dilute it correctly and can see that it goes a long way.

Yes, it was me that recommended it before, a while back, but I can't find the post.

It should be diluted, 50:1, but you can also use it neat to remove staining. 

I did try it after it was recomended on here however I didnt find it as good as the Alphawhite I usually use so have gone back to that.
http://www.christiesdirect.com/en/Double-K-Alpha-White-Shampoo/m-877.aspx?gclid=CMiG0tLtxr8CFQsOwwodv1gAUw&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=UnitedKingdom
As a groomer I wash a lot of white dogs and Alphawhite seems to work best for me.

I too use Plum White on my two. I take it to the groomers as well. It smells delicious!