dog power-washing

emilee · 08-09-2007, 08:49 PM

ok, so it isn't really power washing. but we tried something new bath-wise today that turned out to work pretty well, so i thought i would share with everybody. i found these instructions through the pet connection blog a while back:

http://www.tidalflats.com/Power-wash.htm

this breeder of flat-coated retrievers uses one of those garden fertilizer sprayer thingies to "power-wash" her dogs after they've been swimming and gotten all salty and stinky. well, after two weeks of lake swimming kumo was pretty ripe, and my parents and their friends are coming up to the lake to join us for the weekend, so we really needed to do something about the odor. we decided it couldn't hurt to try the power wash method.

we bought a brand new garden fertilizer sprayer, and put about 4-5 oz. of regular strength shampoo in it.

the way this works is when you first turn on the water, it sprays clear water out the nozzle while filling up the container and mixing water together with the soap. we wet kumo down with water from the sprayer before the container had filled up. he didn't seem to be afraid of the sprayer at all.

kumo thought the water was pretty tasty

as you can see, the stream is very gentle. the only downside is the water is pretty cold since it is coming straight from the faucet. kumo didn't seem to mind, though.

once the container was full, we started spraying bathing kumo with the shampoo solution. you can see the suds on the patio. he didn't get super-soapy, like when you apply the shampoo directly.

to rinse with clear water after the shampoo, we just took the bottle off the bottom which left the hose attached to the sprayer.

kumo's fur is about an inch and a half right now, and his last haircut was back in june when we had him cut really short for the summer. i imagine this would work for doodles with longer fur, but you might want to spend more time spraying soap and rinsing while working through the fur with your hands to make sure you got down to the skin.

when it was all over, we weren't sure how clean he would actually feel (and smell) when he was dry, since we hadn't done the usual amount of working soap into his fur and rinsing, rinsing, rinsing... but he's dry now and he smells like a clean dog again! this was WAY easier than trying to get him into a bathtub or shower. i wouldn't say it was the most thorough bath ever, but we'll definitely be doing it again between appointments at the groomer.

-em

seazr · 08-09-2007, 08:50 PM

Great idea!! I intend to try that! With Dakota that is!

Calimom · 08-09-2007, 08:52 PM

That looks like a great idea. I'm going to try that. Thanks!

blueteal · 08-09-2007, 09:03 PM

Great pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May just try that idea

Raleighsmom · 08-09-2007, 09:08 PM

What a great idea!!! I love the picture of the sprayer on the table, and Kumo looking thru the window or door! And the tongue licking the spray!!! Looks like he really enjoyed it! I also noticed your Loon plaque by the door and shutters...aren't they wonderful? We have them here on our lake in NH too....Thanks for sharing the pix and new way to power wash the doodles!

________________________________________
Kathie,Raleigh & Molly!

gene · 08-09-2007, 09:31 PM

I may try it also. Miko is NOT a fan of the house....sends her running everytime!

OOOPS...before Annmarie gets to this....Miko is afraid of the HOSE....not the HOUSE!!

annabelles mom · 08-09-2007, 10:01 PM

we wash Annabelle with a hose, we hook it up to the laundry tub and drag house thru front door - shade out front and we have a soft sprayer on end and she does really well wtih that and I use dilouted shampoo

your procedure seems to work well thanks for the tip !

blueteal · 08-09-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

we wash Annabelle with a hose, we hook it up to the laundry tub and drag house thru front door - shade out front and we have a soft sprayer on end and she does really well wtih that and I use dilouted shampoo

your procedure seems to work well thanks for the tip !

Just blame Gene for putting house on your mind.

So how do you drag a house through the front door
I want a picture of that
Bahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gene · 08-09-2007, 10:56 PM

This is the version Sue has for Denver.....

blueteal · 08-09-2007, 10:58 PM

Gene I like it
Send it in the mail will ya.
Bahahhaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**MaxandMe** · 08-10-2007, 05:02 AM

WOW ...great idea !!! here i am in landscaping and well it didn't occur to me to be that creative!! thanks for sharing such a great idea
I have been using a special spray nozzle for our doodles that you can make to differing typs of sprays......i think YOUR idea is better and mabye uses LESS shampoo. THANKS emilee

Annabelle ...did you have a blonde moment? blame it on GENE hahahaaa

Gene....we HOSE our doodles outside in front of our HOUSE ...you should try it sometime hahhahaa and you seem a little NERVOUS about making typos. Any reason why????

and OMG GENE high five to you ...SUE you may want to keep that pic for when you to the store as that looks like the right size for Denver

FoodLady · 08-10-2007, 09:18 AM

Em ... great idea and thank you for the step-by-step instructions. It certainly seems like a practical solutions for those in-between groomer appointments. (Can Kumo give Ebbe lessons on (a) liking water (b) holding still for a bath?

)

Quote:

Gene....we HOSE our doodles outside in front of our HOUSE ...you should try it sometime hahhahaa and you seem a little NERVOUS about making typos. Any reason why???

?

Annmarie ... if Gene is anything like me he checks and double checks for typos as we know you are on MAJOR TYPO alert!

movistar · 08-10-2007, 10:46 AM

I love it.....

now can you come over here and use it on my mutts?

or we could go to your lake

which lake btw? is it up north?

emilee · 08-10-2007, 05:59 PM

we're in three lakes, WI, up in the far north of wisconsin, almost the UP. the drive is 9-10 hours from ann arbor, MI when we go through the UP. if we go through chicago it is possible to get here a little faster, but with city traffic being so unpredictable, we usually choose the scenic route :). we'll be heading home that way on monday, sadly. vacation is almost over!

-em

movistar · 08-11-2007, 07:40 AM

quite a drive but WELL worth it!! Sorry your vacation is almost over

enjoy your weekend!!!!! drive home safe

08-09-2007, 08:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
emilee Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 260	dog power-washing ok, so it isn't really power washing. but we tried something new bath-wise today that turned out to work pretty well, so i thought i would share with everybody. i found these instructions through the pet connection blog a while back: http://www.tidalflats.com/Power-wash.htm this breeder of flat-coated retrievers uses one of those garden fertilizer sprayer thingies to "power-wash" her dogs after they've been swimming and gotten all salty and stinky. well, after two weeks of lake swimming kumo was pretty ripe, and my parents and their friends are coming up to the lake to join us for the weekend, so we really needed to do something about the odor. we decided it couldn't hurt to try the power wash method. we bought a brand new garden fertilizer sprayer, and put about 4-5 oz. of regular strength shampoo in it. the way this works is when you first turn on the water, it sprays clear water out the nozzle while filling up the container and mixing water together with the soap. we wet kumo down with water from the sprayer before the container had filled up. he didn't seem to be afraid of the sprayer at all. kumo thought the water was pretty tasty as you can see, the stream is very gentle. the only downside is the water is pretty cold since it is coming straight from the faucet. kumo didn't seem to mind, though. once the container was full, we started spraying bathing kumo with the shampoo solution. you can see the suds on the patio. he didn't get super-soapy, like when you apply the shampoo directly. to rinse with clear water after the shampoo, we just took the bottle off the bottom which left the hose attached to the sprayer. kumo's fur is about an inch and a half right now, and his last haircut was back in june when we had him cut really short for the summer. i imagine this would work for doodles with longer fur, but you might want to spend more time spraying soap and rinsing while working through the fur with your hands to make sure you got down to the skin. when it was all over, we weren't sure how clean he would actually feel (and smell) when he was dry, since we hadn't done the usual amount of working soap into his fur and rinsing, rinsing, rinsing... but he's dry now and he smells like a clean dog again! this was WAY easier than trying to get him into a bathtub or shower. i wouldn't say it was the most thorough bath ever, but we'll definitely be doing it again between appointments at the groomer. -em

08-09-2007, 08:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
seazr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento Posts: 2,971	Great idea!! I intend to try that! With Dakota that is! __________________ Diane (and Dakota) http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e304/seazr/

08-09-2007, 08:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Calimom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 2,408	That looks like a great idea. I'm going to try that. Thanks! __________________ Meg and Cali

08-09-2007, 09:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Raleighsmom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Windsor,Ct Posts: 4,617	What a great idea!!! I love the picture of the sprayer on the table, and Kumo looking thru the window or door! And the tongue licking the spray!!! Looks like he really enjoyed it! I also noticed your Loon plaque by the door and shutters...aren't they wonderful? We have them here on our lake in NH too....Thanks for sharing the pix and new way to power wash the doodles! ________________________________________ Kathie,Raleigh & Molly! __________________ Kathie,Raleigh & Molly! "Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!" ~ Theophile Gautier

08-09-2007, 09:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
gene Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: youngstown ohio Posts: 8,619	I may try it also. Miko is NOT a fan of the house....sends her running everytime! OOOPS...before Annmarie gets to this....Miko is afraid of the HOSE....not the HOUSE!! __________________ gene , jonah , miko and rumor "A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down." - Robert Benchley

08-09-2007, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
blueteal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,334	Great pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!! May just try that idea

08-09-2007, 10:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
annabelles mom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lkkkkkkkkkkkkk Posts: 6,837	we wash Annabelle with a hose, we hook it up to the laundry tub and drag house thru front door - shade out front and we have a soft sprayer on end and she does really well wtih that and I use dilouted shampoo your procedure seems to work well thanks for the tip !

08-09-2007, 10:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
gene Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: youngstown ohio Posts: 8,619	This is the version Sue has for Denver..... __________________ gene , jonah , miko and rumor "A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down." - Robert Benchley

08-09-2007, 10:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
blueteal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,334	Gene I like it Send it in the mail will ya. Bahahhaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

08-10-2007, 05:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
MaxandMe Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 15,103	WOW ...great idea !!! here i am in landscaping and well it didn't occur to me to be that creative!! thanks for sharing such a great idea I have been using a special spray nozzle for our doodles that you can make to differing typs of sprays......i think YOUR idea is better and mabye uses LESS shampoo. THANKS emilee Annabelle ...did you have a blonde moment? blame it on GENE hahahaaa Gene....we HOSE our doodles outside in front of our HOUSE ...you should try it sometime hahhahaa and you seem a little NERVOUS about making typos. Any reason why???? and OMG GENE high five to you ...SUE you may want to keep that pic for when you to the store as that looks like the right size for Denver __________________ *Annmarie, Max,& Peanut* "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." Anatole France uncondtional love: what a dog always does for us and humans strive to do but can we?

08-10-2007, 10:46 AM	#13 (permalink)
movistar Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,240	I love it..... now can you come over here and use it on my mutts? or we could go to your lake which lake btw? is it up north?

08-10-2007, 05:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
emilee Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 260	we're in three lakes, WI, up in the far north of wisconsin, almost the UP. the drive is 9-10 hours from ann arbor, MI when we go through the UP. if we go through chicago it is possible to get here a little faster, but with city traffic being so unpredictable, we usually choose the scenic route :). we'll be heading home that way on monday, sadly. vacation is almost over! -em

08-11-2007, 07:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
movistar Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: California Posts: 1,240	quite a drive but WELL worth it!! Sorry your vacation is almost over enjoy your weekend!!!!! drive home safe

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