Ooooh, I've never posted on this part of the forum before!

I just wanted to pick the brains of you show folk out there. I have got Border Collies, I do agility, obedience and flyball with them, but although they've never been within a mile of a show ring, I do still like to keep their coats nice and clean. I also clip and trim their feet on a monthly basis.

One of them in particular has got a real working collie coat, i.e. it is as waterproof as a ducks feathers and self cleaning. However, because he lives inside a centrally heated house, he often gets very greasy and smelly. (I feed holistically so it's not the food) So what I really want to know is, how often can I bath him without it having a bad effect on his coat and skin, (the vet told me once a month) and which is the best type of shampoo to use? Do you use any old thing, or are there favourites 'in the know'?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Claire

Well to be honest as far as shampoo goes then yes any old thing diluted. Although sometimes I will use a tea tree one or when they've had a molt and are looking a bit scraggy I have used Quistel. You will get different people advocating different things and its just a matter of personal prefrence in the long run :D Sorry not much help I know. A proper coat wont be damaged by shampoo unless its over washed and all the natural oils stripped or not rinsed through properly so find one you like the smell of and go for it, although when you next go out you may find your collie doesnt approve and then finds something delightful to roll in as one of mine has a habit of doing LOL. I only bath them regularly if they are going to shows as they get in a state between times usually if we've no shows lined up they just get groomed to brush any debris out. Well this turned into a bit of a ramble sorry :D

I have used Quistel & I think it's very good.  I have just washed my dogs in Dermocanis & they have a beautiful sheen on their coats, it contains the highest level of GLA in a shampoo.

Im not sure that vets are the best people to give advice on coat care, I would prefer to ask a professional groomer. I am not a groomer either but I have owned lots of "high maintenance " dogs. I bathe my afghans weekly and it doesnt damage their coat at all.....I am currently using Tresemme shampoo and conditioner for their " non show" baths, and add in some expensive laser lites silk for show days. Just make sure that you rinse all the products out thoroughly, but bath your dog when you feel you need to, don't worry about overdoing it.
Cathy, Delilah and Zorro

I used to use Quistel on my BCs when they really needed a full bath when they started to cast their coats being a natural product I felt safer that using just any shampoo as it doesn't harm the coat if you don't get it all out

I bath my guys once a week,in groomers evening primrose oil shampoo,they get so dirty and smelly from swimming in the creeks and rivers and rolling in the mud etc. i have no choice,plus they love being bathed which makes it so much easier :) Their coats are still soft and glowing,i'm always hearing "dont bath your dogs too much,you'll strip the oils out" I've never had this problem,i always use a good conditioner after shampooing tho .

Make sure and use a "soap free" shampoo ;)

I've just started to bath Safi in Groomers vet.grade EPO shampoo and it seems to be really good. Nice and rich.Quistel is also a very good one as well