Groomers or baths at home

Sorry for all the questions. I'm like an anxious new mommy.

Do you take your dog to the groomers or give a bath at home? If so, how often?

If you do it at home, what products do you use?

I knew Golden Retrievers would be stinky, so I'm looking for something that will really curb the smell.

Re: Groomers or baths at home

We have a lab who loves the water and mud so she gets bathed at home pretty regularly. I try to limit it because she tends to get very dry skin. In the summer she basically has to get bathed anytime we go to the dog park because she will find the mud puddle and cover herself in mud. I'd say during the summer we average once a week. She's also very light and I'm a neat freak so if I see dirt on her I have to get it off.

That said she loves the shower and the bath, so it's an easy job. She'll jump in with you and sit while you shampoo and what not. She's never been to a groomer.

The larger problem is keeping her out of the shower when you are in it!

Re: Groomers or baths at home

Our dogs don't LIKE a bath, but they also don't mind it so much. So we groom them at home. And Irwin is a collie mix, I believe with a golden retreiver though they told me shepherd at North Shore. I use dog shampoo from Target. I have to say, my dog doesn't get bathed very often and he's generally not very smelly. Our pit mix is the smelly one!

Re: Groomers or baths at home

Our lab and shephard get baths at home mostly... but only because the groomer refuses to listen to us and put them both in the same crate while there. Sammy gets so stresssed out being away from Lilah that he gets sick the minute we pick him up...poor guy!

So DH and I do it in the tub (please picture now a 90lb dog and DH in a tub... I should take pictures, its so funny!) - about every 2 months a full bath... they'll get a hose down when the dog park is extra muddy.

We use Top Paw Oatmeal Baking Soda shampoo for them (from Petsmart) and have had no issues...

Top Paw

Re: Groomers or baths at home

I take Shammy to the groomers once every 6-8 weeks but that is because he doesnt shed and needs to be groomed. I do every now and then give him a bath which he loves. But thats only if he gets all muddy or I have to clean his butt.

Re: Groomers or baths at home

My dog is short haired so I mostly give him baths at home. I use life is an itch by Pethead. It smells like passion fruit. I give him a bath every eight weeks or so. He really does not smell too much. I also have a dry shampoo spray I use occasionally if he does smell between baths.

Try brushing your dog daily it will help keep the coat nice and remove any dirt.