The summer of 2013 has been ridiculously busy – for all three of us; 2 humans and 1 Labrador. We have spent every weekend since June in full-fun mode: spending weekends on our house boat, traveling, swimming, camping, etc… it’s been non-stop. There is one chore at the conclusion of the weekend that is being executed, but failing – the bath of the Labrador.
Brodie has been fortunate enough to spend nearly every weekend in the open water, swimming his heart out: rivers, lakes, streams – he is all in. Mostly open body water swimming for my busy baby. This boy LOVES to swim, I can’t express that with words in a way that would truly convey his obsession. He knows by the things we pack in the truck that we are leaving for the houseboat. He gets himself into the backseat and sits impatiently waiting for us to leave – he knows what awaits him – WATER!!! Upon arriving at the boat he has learn over time that he must wait while we unpack, get things cleaned and organized, and settle into our routine. Once he is told “Okay” – he is in the water – traveling at the speed of light to the back deck and straight into the river
He swims, swims, swims, and then swims some more.
This goes on for days…..
When we get home, the unpacking & weekend cleanup commences. He is usually exhausted and sleeping away the weekend while we do all the heavy lifting. Once our human chores are done, it’s time to bathe the dog. Simply put – he stinks. Stinks in a super-awful way which is highly offensive to your sense of smell. You have never seen a dog so resistant to a bath. It can’t be the water, he LOVES the water. It must be the soap, he must hate the soap!
I am unforgiving about his resistance to baths; if I have to smell you, you are going to be clean. He is scrubbed with doggie shampoo, lathered, rinse & repeat.
Unfortunately – the next day – HE STINKS!
The first few times I thought, maybe I didn’t soap him enough? Why is the stink coming back? What is wrong with this dog that he stinks so badly?
And after the pattern developed; every time he was bathed, he stunk the next day – I did something about it – I took him to the Vet. When I booked the appointment I actually told them “Brodie stinks” so something must be wrong with him! This next part, it true, I swear. I looked the Vet in the eye and said my dog stinks, and explained that baths seem to only last a day – could he have an underlying infection, something in a ear, with a tooth, something? I had the Vet approach my dog with a fine tooth comb. At one point we were both on the ground – eye level with Brodie – sniffing him up and down to see if we could find a source. No luck – she acknowledged he was stinky, but offered no medical cause nor remediation. So I paid for the office visit and went on our way. I am sure the Vet laughed about the crazy woman who made her sniff her dog in the lunch room later. But I’ve never given a s&^t what people think about me.
No root cause, how do I solve for this problem if I don’t know what is causing it? I guess old-fashion trial and error.
I have purchase special ‘deodorizing shampoo’ from our chain pet store, I also have purchase large quantities of Febreeze. NOT that I can spray Brodie with Febreeze, but I can make sure the things he sleeps on are either laundered or sprayed down regularly. It was also recommended (by a friend, not the Vet) to bath him with her ‘skunk spray concoction’ of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a small dab of Dawn dish soap. I have three new things to try…my nose hopes one of them works!
Next steps…trial and error!
On the flip side; Brodie doesn’t give a s&^t what people think about him and his stinky self either!
brandinarvaez
Living with a Labrador 