Bathtime. As a dog owner that word has either thrilled or triggered you, I expect!
Some of our dogs love a good wash down - I know a Spaniel who will jump in the bath and lift his paw for you to shower him! Which is lucky because he loves to get muddy on his walks.
For others, a pamper session is all in a day’s work – like the doggy models on Pooch Perfect. But some cower at the sight of a shower head, shampoo bottle or towel. Practice is key to get them used to it, and the right products can help, too. After all, who doesn’t prefer a pampering spa day to a Monday morning lukewarm shower?
With two seven-month-old puppies, I’ve been keen to get them used to bathtime, with me handling their paws and teeth often so they are used to these necessary ministrations as soon as possible. That way, any dental work or nasty unwanted thorns should be more of a doddle to deal with.
That said, my two aren’t the biggest fans of bath time yet – it’s all still quite new. They certainly ‘endure’ it, which is a good start, and a friend gave me a top tip of putting a hand towel in the bath, so they don’t slip around which has really helped them and me.
But when it comes to products, there is a lot out there to try. I’d been using bottles of doggy shampoo – until another friend told me about a company which makes paw balm and shampoo bars! This made me wonder what else was out there for pampering your dog and it turns out, there’s lots! So, after a very muddy long walk, I decided to put some to the test with my Labrador and Whippet.
Here’s what I tested and what we all thought…
Thor’s Paws Shampoo Bar
Price: £7.50 for two
Verdict: I wasn’t sure about using a bar at first, as I usually use shampoo from a bottle. Well, I have to say, it was brilliant. You lather up the bar in your hands first, then rub the dog with the foam before rinsing. I used the bar directly on their bodies, too. The smell was lovely, very natural, and they didn’t mind me washing them with it one bit. Top marks, and environmentally friendly, too, as there’s no plastic packaging.
Thor’s Paws Paw Balm
Price: £10 for 60ml
Verdict: Yes, I know, I thought the same thing: who needs paw balm? Well, turns out my Labrador, Roger, has much softer paws after using this. Downside is as soon as he smelled it he wanted to eat it, then lick his paws. It was actually really nice to apply and it felt like quite a bonding experience for us.
HandsOn Gloves
Price: $24.99 via the website, or £12 on QVC (on offer at time of writing) and £25.95 at Amazon
Verdict: These were originally designed for horses, but they come in different sizes. At first they felt quite strange to wear, and both dogs wanted to chew them (to be fair, they want to chew most new things they come across!)
The genius here is that the dog doesn’t see a brush – once the gloves are on and you’re stroking them it’s more like a brush-cuddle scenario. I imagine they’d be great on larger dogs, anxious dogs and also long-haired ones that need a good ‘sweep’ with a brush. You could wear these during bathtime to make sure you get any tangles out of their fur while shampooing, too. And they keep your hands and nails clean!
Pet Teezer Brush from Tangle Teezer
Price: £10-12
Verdict: You may well have one of these for your kids’ hair because they’re renowned for getting locks knot-free. The best part of this one is the lovely range of colours, combined with a shape that makes it easy to grip. The dogs weren’t sure of the noise it made at first (the brush is hollow so it echoes a little when you touch the bristles). Top marks for getting dust out of their fur once they were dry from their bath and for fluffing up Roger’s chest hair! There’s also a puppy version, ideal for getting your small pooch used to brushing.
Bamboo Moulting Massage Palm Brush
Price: £7.99
Two things made me love this brush – the way you can hold it with the strap around your hand for a post-bathtime brushing, and the bamboo casing. Roger laid still happily while I stroked him with this all down his back and tummy. Heaven!
Mikki also has a bamboo ‘combi’ brush which was nice on Florence, with her shorter hair. Can’t lie, they did try to eat both of these as well! My tip is to let your dog have a sniff and even a little nibble of a new item like a brush so they understand better what you’re using on them rather than you just going for it the first time.
Available at amazon.co.uk
Hemp by Hownd Skin Nose and Paw Balm
Price: £10
More paw balm! These pooches will have softer hands than me.. (oh, could I use some, I wonder?). This one is in a nice wide tin, making it easy to get a good sweep of balm. Less scented, but both Roger and Florence liked it on their paws. Quite an investment at £10 but nice for dogs who get a dry nose and with sun protection added, it's one for summer holidays, too.
Whiff Away Dog Fragrance
Price: £7.99
Verdict: Bath time is done, brushing is complete… a spray of scent for the hound? Well, why not… I felt very silly spraying the dogs with ‘perfume’ but it actually lingered on them for hours and it was so nice to be able to give them this finishing touch.
My tip is to spray it away from the face, and not too close to the body – let it spritz over their fur and then give them another brush or a ruffle so it’s not ‘sitting’ on them.
There’s also ‘fur-breeze’ and ‘paw-fume’ scents to choose from, and you can have the products personalised, which makes them a fab gift.
Hownd Spa Banana Facial and Natural Tear Stain Treatment
Price: £12
Now I have heard it all! A doggy facial? Well, why not! First things first, this smells absolutely divine. It's not unlike a banana hair pack I used once.
The downside is that trying to apply and rinse from a puppy's face was nigh-on impossible, so it's one for older, calmer dogs, for sure. It's vegan, too. One for the more pampered pooches, who like a full-on spa day experience rather than just a post-walk wash down.
Dorwest Roast Dinner Toothpaste
Price: £9.90 for 200g
Verdict: And to finish off… well, we all like to have our teeth looked after, don’t we? So when I heard about roast dinner-flavour toothpaste, I had to try it! The toothpaste I usually use is in a tube, and quite sloppy. By comparison, this is in a tub and more of a paste. The smell is more minty than roast beef, but both dogs loved it! I am so keen to make sure they are used to me brushing their teeth, so this is a winner.
Pet Sensitive Dog Shampoo
Price: £3.99
Verdict: I assume sensitive means skin not temperament! This shampoo smelled lovely, and got a good lather going. Mikki has a lot to choose from and the website is split into categories such as ‘smelly’ or ‘knots and tangles’. This one’s not for use on dogs under eight weeks. I’d definitely use it again, the smell lingered on their fur nicely, which is an added bonus post-spa day! Very reasonable price compared to some other shampoos I’ve tried, too.
