Any handy hints on keeping my dog clean?

[Illyria54]

I have got a 10 month old German Shepherd, she is white (*I know I'm nuts) and long haired (*doubly so), she absolutely adores the water and any amount of mud that goes along with! as you can imagine (if in the UK) the amount of rain we have had recently she is in doggie heaven and I'm tearing my hair out! I am trying to stick to places that are not too bad but the little 'moo' would find thick mud in the desert!! She is also the only dog I have owned that makes absolutely no attempts to clean herself so it is all down to me and hubby, any tips out there on helping to keep her clean or any good products that won't dry her fur out too much when bathing her, has anyone got a white GSD that they have had trimmed underneath which is obviously the worst place! she looks great from above. Thanks in advance and sorry for rambling on! She is of course brushed regularly.

[lankeela]

One of the best things for a GSD's coat is fast trotting on a road in the rain. Not so good for the owners though! Try taking her for a trot on the road before you take her home from wherever you exercise her. Then a quick towel dry and she should end up with a lovely coat, all refreshed and shiny.

[Illyria54]

Thanks for that, I love the rain so that's not a problem, however it is mainly her tummy and in particular the insides of her back legs, she is my 6th GSD so used to the breed but never had one that doesn't even lick herself when I have bathed her!! I have 3 other dogs who are meticulous but she just 'can't be bothered!!' Ha Ha.

[lankeela]

Hopefully the rain bouncing off the hard surface will reach her nether regions and wash off some of the muck!

[paddywak]

Max my GSD can't resist mud and water but fortunatly even though he is long haired he's black and gold, even so he takes a lot of keeping clean.As lankeela says a good work in the rain helps and Max is quite happy having his tummy washed with a hose (so long as there is not too much pressure). I dry him off and give him a good combing and he looks good enough for Crufts. When I got my first GSD Che a police dog handler told me to add a tsp of olive oil to his food once a week to help keep his coat shiny, I dont know if it's because of this but I've always done this and all my dogs have had great coats

[wolf63]

I think that all dog's have an 'undercarriage' mud problem. But long haired and white...doesn't bear thinking about!

[Illyria54]

I suppose I have just never noticed it as much before as all my other GSD's have been black and gold, I have a Border Collie also who loves the water and basically goes where the Shepherds go but he always manages to keep completely clean, however he is not letting on as to what his secret is!! may be he has been scotch guarded!!Ha Ha!
I will certainly give them all some olive oil occasionally, they do line up once a week for their cod liver oil capsule already, I will have to get the hose pipe out I think, hopefully by now the ban has been lifted!

[wolf63]

Maybe dye him darker - nice'n'easy do some lovey warm brown shades!

Good luck.

[Illyria54]

Thought about that several times in the last 10 months, but decided against it!

[WILLIAMSON_P]

i have a white dog and use johnsons baby talc, brush the hair the wrong way then apply talc rub it in then brush hair right way,

[Illyria54]

Thanks, I will give it a try, she has just come in from a nice walk and guess what? yeah that's right she is muddy again! All my other dogs seem to be able to keep reasonably clean, but not this young lady! I will certainly give the baby talc a try once she has dried off.