I only give mine a bath before shows and now that they are all retired (with the youngest live here with us being 12)… maybe at most twice a year and that is only usually to help losen the dead hair when they are blowing coat... Most of mine I have to chase with the exception of Maggii... she always knew that baths means shows and she loved showing so as soon as I would head to the bathroom with the doggy bath stuff, she would run ahead and jump in the tub!!! Still does...
I was only bathing Senji a few times a year. It was always a big production and at least a 2 person job. He hates to be picked up, so I have to muzzle him so that I don't get bitten. Once he's in the tub, he's OK. I use the sink next to the washing machine, so it's a little high up. I've had to bathe him more often lately since he developed a skin infection. It caused a lot of shedding and dandruff. A basenji breeder that lives near me said that she sometimes wipes the dogs down with towels soaked in a diluted vinegar solution. Has anyone heard of this?
Have never heard of that (vinegar)…. have you been to the Vet to determine the cause of the skin infection?... Have you had a full thyroid panel done?..... before I would go to a home solution, I would make sure.... of what it could be or what is causing it... could be food... could be mites... and it is totally possible that the more bathing of him is making it worse... and this time of year Basenjis typically blow coat.. so it could just be that that is causing the shedding and dandruff... also, could be lacking stuff in his food... you should try adding Omega 3 to his food...
Also, your problem of picking him up should be addressed... there are lots of things that you can do to work with him to get him over this.... you should work on this.. as if there was a real emerency that you had to pick him up, or someone else... you need to prevent someone from getting bit by him...
You can make it a game... do things like first get him to accept you just picking up one foot at a time... and then rewarding him... then two feet... then just your arms around him like you were going to pick him up.... and so on.... While he might always "grump".. (and my male has done this for 15 1/2 years.. but we just call that "boy dog noises)... he has never offered to bite...
Glenhaven H/S shampoo
i got a prescription shampoo for fender from the vet. mary k cut his tail a little too close before showing him. he got razor burn. it smells nice (like coconuts), and is gentle. (i think it was $15 for 18oz)
Hmmm….after boarding kennel....after skunking...other than that, unless she rolls in poop...it's very rare.
Same here, Bella gets bathed maybe once every two months or so… unless she went to boarding, gets really dirty, or plays with her doggy friends and gets "slimed". Oh, yes... the Basenji 500 always follows the bath!!!:D
Dash is good for baths. My boyfriend used to hold him while he was in the shower but Dash hated that so I just put him in the tub. He doesn't seem to "love" it but he tolerates it.
elana86, I would be so sad not to be able to pick up Dash. We pick him up and carry him like a baby. For what it's worth, I agree with Tanza about addressing the biting issue.
Have never heard of that (vinegar)…. have you been to the Vet to determine the cause of the skin infection?... Have you had a full thyroid panel done?..... before I would go to a home solution, I would make sure.... of what it could be or what is causing it... could be food... could be mites... and it is totally possible that the more bathing of him is making it worse... and this time of year Basenjis typically blow coat.. so it could just be that that is causing the shedding and dandruff... also, could be lacking stuff in his food... you should try adding Omega 3 to his food...
Also, your problem of picking him up should be addressed... there are lots of things that you can do to work with him to get him over this.... you should work on this.. as if there was a real emerency that you had to pick him up, or someone else... you need to prevent someone from getting bit by him...
You can make it a game... do things like first get him to accept you just picking up one foot at a time... and then rewarding him... then two feet... then just your arms around him like you were going to pick him up.... and so on.... While he might always "grump".. (and my male has done this for 15 1/2 years.. but we just call that "boy dog noises)... he has never offered to bite...
The vet said that Senji's skin infection was bacterial. He put him on antibiotics for 3 weeks and it cleared up. As for him not liking to be picked up…he's always been like that. He's a little bit better now, but he definitely gives me a grrrr or a hmmmph when I need to pick him up for something. It might be related to the fact that he was run over by a car when he was 3. I think he may be somewhat arthritic from that, and it's uncomfortable for him to be picked up.
I use baby butt whipes to whipe our pup down. Usually we have to do this once a week because he starts to get a little dirty. I also use a conditioner spray for his coat to help with the itch anytime he starts to scratch.
A Grrr or Hummmph… is one thing, biting is another.... I think that most boy dogs talk when picked up... ggg.... but again, biting is another.
I also find Shadow Hummph's when he is picked up-but he does want to be picked up and cuddled. I'll say uppies(yeah, I know) and if he wants up he'll walk right into my arms but still Hummph. The girls don't make a sound at all.
