Wednesday
Nov302016
Yes, It's Wet and Warm
Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 5:32PM 
Yes, the wet weather has remained. I washed a few of my dogs but I questioned my sanity. One of them was Cinnamon so let's see what she looks like tomorrow when Cooper arrives. Winston departs soon after Cooper arrives. Tiny is also coming to play for the day and get a grooming.
Is this really winter?
Thyme is really keeping us on our toes. She is practicing I can't hear you unless you have a treat. Oh, you smarty pants! The rain, the wet, the mud - she doesn't care. Why is that a surprise?
Reader Comments (19)
Darlah, I think you have superpower. I'm just trying to wash Tenshi feet with shampoo and trying to dry her after the outside walks, and it took me so much time! (I'm also so inexperienced, I'm even surprised Tenshi is not going on full strike...) on a good note, she has conquered getting on and off the elevator! (With the help of a neighbor dog, another human neighbor and human mom sitting on the elevator ground, dashing out treats, toys, praised you name it!)
Bravo about the elevator. Do you have a spray hose to go on your sink? It makes it easier. Remember this mud will pass.
Yes we have a spray hose with the kitchen sink. She just doesn't like to get in the sink. The first time we wash her completely in the sink (2 weeks ago) it was so stressful for Tenshi and the human parents. This time I'm just doing the feet and her pee wee area and she's shaking less. I'm hoping to wash her completely next weekend and pray that it's going to be less stressful for her. On the good side, she lets me brush and comb and deknot her everyday with less resistance! Well she gets her favorite garlic beef stick (1/4 of a stick) at the end.
I fill a yoghurt container with tepid water and stick their paws in one by one then wash their under bellies with a damp rag. It's a lot easier to avoid getting their whole coat wet then have to dry it. I just use a towel to dry wet paws.
I agree Angela dipping their feet into a plastic Ice Cream or yogurt container cuts down on the mess. Just spread out a towel to receive their rinsed wet feet.
Sylvia did you put a mat in the bottom of the sink ? If you put about 4 inches of water in the sink the dirt will soak off as you work on them. I only use a very diluted
amount of puppy shampoo, it requires less rinsing.
Risa looked like she was enjoying herself outdoors today.
We do the same, dip Cooper 's paws in a tall ice cream container and do one paw at a time. Use a wash cloth to clean the belly area. A big towel to receive the wet feet. Angela and Kathy, looks like we have the same system in place. It works and he is used to it. A few Cheerios when we're done to treat him!
If you really want easy then place a big blanket out, let them dry. Brush out the dirt and use a waterless bath at the end on a brush.
Really can you see me putting each foot in a ice cream container for multiple dogs? I do rinse off with a hose but have Nathan hold so I only get feet done and if their under carriage is dirty, I do that too. Sometimes I am lucky.
I still want to get a grate made for my laundry tub where they can stand above the water and I can hose off feet. Have to find someone to make it. Thought of finding something plastic like a part of a shelf with legs. That would do too.
You can always bring Tenshi here for a bath.
Kathy: Excellent about diluted.
Thank you everyone for all your tips!
Darlah, we will definitely bring Tenshi for a bath by you, the professional! But I also want to learn how to do it by myself, especially the paws and the underbelly. Out of curiosity, what is a waterless bath? Is that the name of a product I can purchase?
beautiful gallery Darlah. . It is a dirty night. Funny how they don't seem to care.
The yoghurt/ice cream pots sounds good, I will try. I use the bath tub with an old towel on the bottom and shower the feet. I do struggle as my pup hates the water and keeps spinning around. I also find getting a good temperature difficult its hard to keep water luke warm. I had thought of a small shower base put on legs that would just stand in the bath tub when needed but haven't pursued that yet.
The photos are lovely. Is that Stone on the table with Nathan? Very beautiful dog. The dogs look like they are having fun.
Or is it Cinnamon on the table?
That is Cinnamon on the table.
Su: Do you have a laundry tub? We even wash our TT in the laundry tub. The grate of sort - plastic or otherwise I want us to allow the water to drain through and reduce how wet they get. I do not have the time to hunt to find something that works but I keep dreaming.
Waterless shampoo is available from many places. Some are better than others. It removes odor. It's good if a pup has an accident or throws up. It gets rid of that smell and cleans but you can only use it inbetween baths. Mine I get at dog shows. Here is one - Waterless shampoo
Here's another trick that is cheap. Put corm starch on wet feet, dirty and all. It pulls out the moisture - cake it on. Then use a slicker (only use slickers on feet) or a comb or brush and pull the dirt out. No bath. We use that for shows. For one dog at a dog show that is the method I would use. I just can't see using it with multiple dogs.
But really if you have things covered, waiting till the dog dries to brush out the dirt DOES work.
Another method for bathing is to use a bathing tether. It frees your hand and allows them to be held in place giving them more comfort. I know Nathan showed you. I can take the most unruly dog and this method seems to calm them as it holds them in place. It also destresses you. A stressed human makes a dog more stressed.
What a great exchange of ideas, thank you everyone. Darlah, I have never used corn starch nor waterless shampoo. I will give both a try. Thanks so much. I have light coloured carpets throughout, duh, so I need to clean their paws quite quickly or I would be spending a fortune on carpet cleaning :-)
I am going to try the drying method and comb out. I've seen that waterless shampoo but never thought to try, going to order some now.
I haven't got a tether either so will look for one when I order shampoo.
I have just seen you use the tether in the excellent grooming video.
The worst thing about my pup is her front feet just after the toes to first bendy bit in her leg (is that the wrist) if I don't get the muck out quick and comb it mats like a cotton bud and that means shave out. If mat happens itchy skin and if left it can get sore.
Thank you for all the tips everyone.
I remember being told at puppy school that putting a puppy into a laundry tub is like putting your baby down a well ! The suggestion was to boost them up so their head isn't below the top of the tub and so I used an upside down plastic dish pan, with rubber mat if necessary. Worked like a charm ! Once they have gotten used to the tub at the higher height, the tub isn't so frightening when you remove the booster as they grow. I even find I can bath a cat in a dish pan in the tub as long as I have a booster pan underneath.
Lots of good ideas posted here.