Washing The Dog

[52Dodgeman]

Anyone have any good tips on keeping the mutts clean? When we are on the road for a week or more the dogs can get a little dirty from their excursions and camping fun. How do you keep your dogs clean? BTW: Our dogs are too big to wash in the sink.

[Koodog]

Try this Organic Pet Waterless Shampoo - Pet Care, works good.

[donn]

Put them in the shower and give then a bath. Our Lab gets his baths in the bath tub at home and the shower hear in the trailer is almost identical to what I use at home.

[tentcamper1]

we put our white table by the outside shower and give the bigger ones a bath. the little one fits in the sink.

[caper]

We wash our dog outside. Set up a table beside outdoor shower and use outdoor shower. Works great and keeps a wet dog out of the TT.

[Dave_Monica]

Teach them to fetch the stick in the lake!

Dave

[Hipshot]

Had a poodle years ago that would fetch a stick from the lake. I swapped a rock for the stick and she would dive under water trying to get it.
I wash the Idiot Yorkie in the shower. She needs a bath every 3 days.

[acadianbob]

alcohol wipes (like baby wipes), outdoor shower. We always have big plastic tubs for towels etc. We give our dogs baths outdoors in the plastic tub if they get real bad. Keeping your dog on a leash helps as you can control them a lot more. We ALWAYS keep our dogs leashed while hiking; too many hazards for them. Met a woman one time hurrying down the mountain, her dog whining from severe pain, stuck its nose into a porcupine!! Rattlesnakes, bears, . . . .

[Campingshadow]

If it is mostly dirt that will brush off when dry (such as mud on the paws) it would be best to just brush them. Too many baths will dry out their skin and are not necessarily good for them. Usually a good brushing will clear out a lot of the dirt and loose hairs. Friend of mine used to vacuum her dog. The dog loved it and would lay down, and go belly up in front of the vacuum and not move till she was thoroughly cleaned. She was a dachshund.

When push comes to shove and Heidi simply must have a bath (like the time she got up close and personal with cow pies)....I put a towel in the shower floor so it will not be slippery for her and then she and I get our baths. I always end up soaked after bathing her.

[Triguy]

Don't know what kind of dogs you have. All of our camping dogs have had long hair and a good brushing takes care of most of the dirt and dust while a lake takes care of the mud.

• Dusty or sandy dog - brush daily. They'll love you for it.
• Rolled in horse pie or dead animal - lake followed by outside shower. They get a navy shower just like everyone else. Use a plastic mat for the dog to stand on.
• Muddy dog - lake or shower if there is no lake.
• Consider a shallow container by the door filled with water that you can use to regularly rinse off their feet and then dry with a towel before coming inside.