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Cocker Specific Discussion => Grooming => Topic started by: fluffykins on October 09, 2021, 11:15:03 PM

Title: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: fluffykins on October 09, 2021, 11:15:03 PM
Hi everyone,

I have a very active 8 month old male Cocker who enjoys the beach, mud, puddles and rolling in all sorts.

Is a weekly bath with a reputable dog shampoo okay?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: Pearly on October 09, 2021, 11:21:28 PM
I wouldn’t - your dog needs the essential oils in their coat to help repel water and dirt.  The more you wash them the more you strip the coat of its oils.

The only time ours are bathed is if they are cold with mud and that’s just a warm water rinse.  Fox poo and goose poo - I do use shampoo but it’s unscented and gentle.  I have bathed one dog, once, this year post goose poo  ph34r otherwise the four of them are left alone, we are headed to mud season which means they may be swilled off after a days work.
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: bizzylizzy on October 10, 2021, 06:12:25 AM
I very often have to rinse Humphrey’s feet and paws and sometimes his tummy as he gets very muddy, we’ve got a hose pipe set up by the back door. I do, very very occasionally bath him but don’t like using too much shampoo or anything perfumed, as Pearly says, it strips the coat of oils and as Humphrey‘s coat is fine, it flies everywhere and becomes static. Also, dogs rely heavily on scent for communication and I imagine they‘re probably not overjoyed about smelling like roses  :lol2:, I have heard others say that it encourages the dogs to roll even more in an attempt to disguise the smell  :shades:
A good brush once the coat is dry will get rid of a lot of dirt.  :D
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: cazza on October 10, 2021, 07:44:05 AM
I have never bathed any of my dogs  :shades:

The closest I got was when Braan decided to turn from brown to green  :020: by rolling in cow pats  >:(  we were a good way from home and had a good hour car journey to get back) thankfully he was ball obsessed and I threw it into the loch for him to retrieve which cleaned him up for the car journey home
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: Joules on October 10, 2021, 08:44:18 AM
I'd say a weekly bath is too often! It will remove the natural oils from his coat and dry out his skin to bath him that much.

If he rolls in stinky things, then maybe wash the area with a very diluted shampoo, but generally, just a rinse under the hose is best if he's just muddy.   ;)

Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: MIN on October 10, 2021, 11:23:46 AM
Gemma is one for scenting out stinky water. We just keep walking until we find clean water to throw her in. ( she won't volunteer to go into clean stuff).  A family secret though, we have been known to " borrow the neighbours bath" when  we were key holding because she was too awful to go in ours. 😬😬😬
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: bizzylizzy on October 10, 2021, 12:12:42 PM
Gemma is one for scenting out stinky water. We just keep walking until we find clean water to throw her in. ( she won't volunteer to go into clean stuff).  A family secret though, we have been known to " borrow the neighbours bath" when  we were key holding because she was too awful to go in ours. 😬😬😬

 :005: :005: Min, you‘re wicked!!  :lol2: :lol2:
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: ejp on October 10, 2021, 01:02:23 PM
Gemma is one for scenting out stinky water. We just keep walking until we find clean water to throw her in. ( she won't volunteer to go into clean stuff).  A family secret though, we have been known to " borrow the neighbours bath" when  we were key holding because she was too awful to go in ours. 😬😬😬
You are an evil genius!  :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: fluffykins on October 10, 2021, 06:04:45 PM
Thanks for the replies guys!
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: MrsFlintstone on October 10, 2021, 06:15:52 PM
I have an 8 month old muck magnet too, I shower her once a week and her coat and skin are fine, I use herbal dog shampoo. She has her paws rinsed in between and on wet days we use an equafleece which is a god send.

Bonny is a show type cocker and has a beautiful long coat so takes a fair bit of maintenance, also I'm soft and let her sleep on our bed so feel it's important to keep her clean  :D
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: ips on October 10, 2021, 08:53:09 PM
Ours sleeps on the bed also.....but shhhh, dont tell anyone because she is a working dog 😁😁
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: MIN on October 11, 2021, 08:48:27 AM
Ours sleeps on the bed also.....but shhhh, dont tell anyone because she is a working dog 😁😁

My working girl sleeps in on the bed. Well, she needs a good night sleep to be ready to go in the mornings
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: ips on October 11, 2021, 09:14:14 AM
Ours sleeps on the bed also.....but shhhh, dont tell anyone because she is a working dog 😁😁

My working girl sleeps in on the bed. Well, she needs a good night sleep to be ready to go in the mornings

Good point 😃👍
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: AndyB on October 15, 2021, 06:51:16 AM
Once a week is definitely far too often.  As others have said bathing too regularly will strip the coat of its natural oils.  Maisie is bathed perhaps 3/4 times a year with a good quality special dog shampoo and conditioner.  Always bathed before a holiday but otherwise only when she seems a bit whiffy.  I just wash her paws and underneath feathering in my Belfast sink in the utility room if she gets particularly mucky in winter. 
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: cazza on October 16, 2021, 07:27:49 AM
Ours sleeps on the bed also.....but shhhh, dont tell anyone because she is a working dog 😁😁

My working girl sleeps in on the bed. Well, she needs a good night sleep to be ready to go in the mornings

Ok guys so that’s where I am going wrong with my worker - she starts off in her bed and joins us in the night - no wonder she gets me up and is raring to go in the morning  :005:
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: Emilyoliver on October 16, 2021, 02:09:02 PM
Just to throw a spanner in…. My dogs are bathed every week, especially during the shooting season when they get really muddy. I used to bath my show cockers weekly as well to keep them clean and knot-free. They are far easier to groom when clean. Have never had any of them suffer from dry skin/ coats. I do add yumega oil to their food which also helps keep their coats/ skin in good condition.
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: ips on October 16, 2021, 03:45:03 PM
Ours gets bathed as and when required could be twice a week during shooting season, never had a problem with dry skin etc
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: Emilyoliver on October 17, 2021, 02:25:04 PM
Ours gets bathed as and when required could be twice a week during shooting season, never had a problem with dry skin etc
Yes, mine too. Depends on how dirty they are.
Title: Re: Is a weekly bath ok?
Post by: Finvarra on October 17, 2021, 05:10:31 PM
I bath Dylan the day before I give him a trim, so about every couple,of months. It makes the clippers,go through the coat easier. He has a very thick coat, so needs keeping from looking like a bear! No problems with dry skin. He is a very clean dog, he hates water and mud, so I don't have a dirty dog to contend with. He hates water, I think he is a cat in disguise.