Dog sitting

[bluebird34]

I am dog sitting my daughter's cocker spaniel for a few days. They brought him round this morning and he smells very doggy. I would like to put him in my bath but am not sure whether this is a good idea and if I do how to go about it. I am over 70 and have never bathed a dog in my life!!!!!!!!! He is very well behaved. Would be grateful for any suggestions.

tomking (despite the name I am female!)

[craft1948]

Well the first thing you do is put on a swimsuit....

[poltergeist]

so you are going to continuosly make him sit for a few days. will he not get bored of this? Gosh I AM funny arnt I.

No really best thing to do is shower it. do you have a flexible showerhead in your bath?

[Schutzengel]

I think the best thing to do would be to book the dog into a dog grooming parlour for a bath. I don't think it will be too expensive. Apart from anything else, a cocker spaniel is quite a heavy dog, and it would probably be too much for you to lift him/her in and out of the bath. Also you don't know whether the dog is used to being bathed. So all in all I'm sure it would be better for both you and the dog to have the bathing done by a professional. Hope all goes well.

[craft1948]

I think the best option is the dog groomers too. However if you want to have a go this is what the cocker spaniel breeders advice is:
The Cocker Spaniel is one breed that can tolerate frequent bathing and seems to really enjoy the whole process. Use only good quality dog hair products to avoid allergies and skin irritations.
Good luck as I put my Westie in the bath and give him a shower and I struggle to lift him in and out.

[Robinia]

It's not always the bathing that's the problem...it's the drying. A wet dog usually goes crazy & flies around the house like a thing possessed! Good luck if you do go through with it...move all your breakables & stand well clear. :o)

[bluebird34]

Thank you all for your answers. I live in a very small town and we don't have anything as grand as a dog grooming parlour. However although I do have a shower and would like to give him one, I think the advice about him being too heavy for me to lift when wet is something I hadn't thought of. He does go to a grooming parlour at home so i think I shall have to grin and bear it this time and insist my daughter takes him just before he comes to me next time. This is a wonderful site, you can get answers to anything and once again thank you all for taking the trouble. Janet.

[paddywak]

Another tip is to put an old towel on the bottom of the bath to the help the dog keep his footing. Also be warned if you are going to take him walks as soon as he gets a chance he will find some thing dirty and smelly to roll in it's a doggie thing they all do it

[Schutzengel]

Hello Tomking. Just had a thought. You can get dry shampoo for dogs. A good chemist may have it, or if you have a local vet they stock it too. It might just solve your problem, as you just sprinkle it into the dog's coat, and then after a few minutes just brush it out again. It will certainly make the dog smell sweeter.

[Robinia]

I think that's a good idea tomking...If you bathed him & he happens to hate it I'm picturing him refusing to come through your door next time for fear he's only there for another scrubbing!

[fredpuli47]

If you manage to keep his head and neck dry, he won't shake himself quite so much. It's the wet head that seems to set the little devils off into a frenzy of shaking. If you can keep him in a towel on getting him out of the bath and rub him vigorously to dry him before letting him loose, he may shake but if he does he won't cause quite so much mischief. [Look at that ! There's a counsel of perfection! Now, what really happens is....LOL]

[bluebird34]

Aha Schutzengel what a good idea. Will be off to town in the morning and try chemist or vet for dry shampoo. Thank you for a brilliant idea. x

[Schutzengel]

Hello Janet, So glad I thought of the dry shampoo. I had forgotten about it as its 15 years since I lost my last dog, and I used to use it for him in the winter, although he had a bath in the summer. I now have 3 lovely cats, and 2 geese, but I still miss having a dog. I would be interested to know how you get on with the dry shampoo. Best wishes. Sheila.

[lankeela]

You can do the equivalent of a 'blanket bath' by using a sponge and a bucket of warm water.
Just sponge bits of him at a time and make sure they are rinsed well, then rubbed dry.

[bluebird34]

Thanks again sheila will let you know!!!!!!!!!! Janet

[woozer]

Hi my boxer used to get very smelly when stressed - it is just possible that your daughters dog was a sweet as a rose before it realised it had been left by its "mum" - Dry shampoo works wonders

[bluebird34]

Hi ~Sheila and ev 1, The dry shampoo was a success!! Monty loved it because he just thought I was making a real fuss of him and I loved it because he smells sweeter so excellent all round. Thanks everyone and will; be back if I need any more advice. Janet xxx

[Schutzengel]

Hi Janet. How lovely to have a happy ending to a very nice thread. Hugs to Monty now that he smells gorgeous. xxx. Sheila.