Washing a dog

[Toothfairy]

Please can somebody tell me how frequently should you wash a Border Collie?

[woofgang]

how long is a piece of string?? baseline IMHO is that unless a wash-in medication has been prescribed then a dog never "needs" to be washed. Because they live with us and we don't like our houses to smell like kennels, then we wash them! SO......

Depends if he or she works and lives out and needs to retain the oils in their coat, or lives in and doesn't. If he or she swims then that can be a freshener. Grooming can remove a lot of dirt and old hair and skin cells and borders definitely do need to be groomed regularly.

If your doggy is permanently smelly then It might not be a dirty coat. off the top of my head and I am sure that others will have ideas, it could be: bad breath, dirty ears, their diet, anal glands.

Hope that this helps

[ursula62]

When I was a teenager my parents had a sheltie. My mum used to bath him every week. The vet said this was fine as long as she put baby oil on the brush and groomed him afterwards to replace the oils in his coat. We used to comb him every day as he found it hard to keep himself clean in some places - we used to clip the fur near his backside as otherwise he would worry at it all the time.

What has your vet suggested?

[Toothfairy]

Well its actually my boyfys dog and she stinks so bad that its really starting to make me feel sick. I used to stroke and play with her a lot but my stomach churns at the mear thought of it.  I dont wanna cause an argument as its really not my place to say/do anything but as we stay here most nights its getting a bit too much.  I am in no way an animal person but surely theres a law about stinky dogs.... if not, then there should be! :o)

[drgnrdr]

I agree with woofgang, some dogs need the oils in their coat, but because we have brought them in and domesticated them, you can probably wash them about every 4-6 weeks and brush them daily. Use a DOG shampoo not human, not even "baby" shampoo. Dogs don't sweat thru their skin they have a different ph balance than us, so can not handle our shampoos.

If ears and breath smell bad, or anal glands are impacted, get to vet they may have infection. Dropped eared dogs seem to get bad ear infection more than upright eared dogs. The moisture gets in there and grows, so get them checked if dog is shaking head or scratching at ear or holding head or ear sideways, those a few signs of ear problems.

When dogs air dry, they take on smells of the air, that's why alot of times they smell doggy when they get wet or after they get bathed. They have baby wipes and spray refreshers for dogs to help us "humans" live with the dog smell. I take my dog ( a GSD) to the groomer every 5 weeks to get a bath and they do everything, trim toenails (if needed) and clean ears, brush teeth... and she smells great for about 1 week, she has a job and works with me, ( a demo for training), and she is around people all day, but she plays with other dogs (other dog slobber) an jumps in the river and such so she can get gamey, so that can give a you a guide on what you have as options which I am sure others can post also, there's a good group of people on here with opinions.

[woofgang]

It sounds as though she wasn't always stinky?

if so the dog might have problem. Could you approach your bf in that way, expressing concern for the dog?

[loopey]

i wash my dog every couple of months using a dog shampoo.

[jedimistress]

The dog is probably just getting old and smells...just like old humans do. No limit on it, but I avoid bathing my dog as she doesn't enjoy it and it;s pointless as she will only roll around in something else or dive into the bog.

[woofgang]

sorry, but neither old humans not old dogs smell because of age unless their hygiene and health is neglected!

[shaneystar]

My dog goes to the groomers every six weeks where he is bathed and his thick coat stripped out,nails cut ,teeth and ears cleaned and his anal glands done,otherwise he would smell to high heaven from being on the beach and swimming in the sea. I groom him daily between visits to the groomer.He always looks lovely when he comes back and I am sure he feels better for it. I give him Solvitax in his food which keeps his coat lovely and shiny.

[jedimistress]

I believe old people do have a smell. Like babies and puppies have a certain smell. I can generally smell a difference between an old persons house, however clean, and a not so old persons house. Not saying it;s a bad smell, but imho a certain smell.

[typhoid2]

I take our BC every two to three months to the groomers, seriously washing a BC is just insane!!! You know they NEVER keep still ... fun in the summer months but in the winter I would seriously suggest a grooming palour (it costs me �25 a go) it is the easy option! But I brush Arty at least once a week too ...

Up to you but personally if my dog started smelling terrible suddenly he would be straight down the Vets so you may want to suggest that to your bloke too :-)