Bathing hot or cold...

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Just wanted to see if other doodle owners are overly sensitive like me. We have two large doodles and usually around three weeks after their groom, they need bathing as they start to get grubby and a bit smelly . We live in So. California so usually, the weather is nice and warm and in the summer very hot. My husband wanted to bathe them outside with the hose pipe and I insisted we used the downstairs bath as it has warm water. He reckons I'm being too overly fussy with them and I reckon that even with a hot day, ice cold water from the hose pipe is just not comfortable for them...Any thoughts of this matter???

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you have an indoor water source that's close to a door or window, there are hose attachments you can buy that will allow you to hook your garden hose up to your indoor faucet (you do have to keep a door or window open enough for the hose to pass through) and you can bathe your dog outdoors with warm water.

Jack's dermatologist suggested this to me, as he needs weekly baths August through October and the cost of taking him to the groomer's weekly is formidable. (But I do it anyway, lol.) And the implication was that even on a hot day, an ice cold bath would not be the best way to go.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Karen -- Do you use real warm water?  I've always wondered about this because I've read that even for people who have problems with dry skin in the winter that you should not shower in hot water, that is should be as cool as you can stand.  I've been doing the girls with luke warm and for some reason cold just doesn't seem like it would get them clean.  I just sort of take the edge off so that it feels more warm than cold.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't use anything, because I've never bathed a dog in my life and I'm not starting with this one, lol. But the dermatologist recommends warm water...not burning hot, but definitely not cold, and that's what my groomer agrees with.

I don't see what the water temperature would have to do with humans having dry skin; it isn't the heat of the shower that dries the skin (unless the water is scalding), it's the soap and the effect of stripping oils away away faster than the body can replace them. (This is where the too frequent bathing warnings come from.)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Can you ask why next time? I'm really curious about why the water temperature makes a difference.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Warm water dries the scalp out more.  Cool water will close the pores, slows oil production and helps relieve itching.

[Frances Pendrous (Horan)]

Thanks Karen that is a great idea regarding attaching a hose outside, but Adina is correct and it would leave a huge muddy wet mess although I guess we could get a kiddy pool and do it in that. You did make me giggle about how much you spend taking your Jack to the groomer for his bath....My own kids reckon we spend more money on our doodles than we ever spent on them.....(I know that is NOT the case but that is how it looks). I think I will start looking around for an attachment for our kitchen sink and also a pool. I am sure they make even get to like their bathes and not, as Adina mentioned, give us that "woe is me look" whilst the entire procedure is going on. The funny thing is that when we bathe them one at a time, the other sits in the doorway giving the "glad it is you and not me look" and then when they eventually both get through the "dreaded" bathing, they run around the garden, leaping and playing like they actually enjoyed it... Thanks everyone...I knew I was right with the warm water versus the cold hose bathing...:)

[Adina P]

And yet some love to run through sprinklers and swim in super cold water on the beach.  I really can't tell how mine feel about the temp because they have ALL HATED baths, period.  So they look equally downtrodden whether in a tub with perfect temperature water or outside.  I prefer baths because it contains them and there isn't a giant pool of water in my backyard at the end...but otherwise on the hottest of days it might not feel that bad.  

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

I would use warm water also.  We had the plumber install a hot water spout outside just for this purpose.  Our lab swims in the river daily and I like to hose him off afterwards.  My DH thought it was unnecessary too.  I recently discovered Clover can turn the water ON by herself and the plumber didn't install a shut off valve.  But what DH doesn't know won't hurt him, lol.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

HI Frances...Gracie Doodle gets bathed in all temperatures of water.  It is more for our comfort because we are standing on the cement and getting just as wet as Gracie.  In cold weather we have a hose that we run through the window to the laundry room which is off the patio.  We attach it to the sink faucets and get the temperature just right.  In the hot summer we sometimes just use the driveway hose to wash her.  We figure that she loves to be in the ocean...even in the winter and also runs through the streams when we take her to the snow.  Gracie DOES NOT get cold!!!  Therefore, if your Doodles can stand the ocean or bay then they can stand the hose!!  ha ha   Hope to see you at the romp in two weeks!  We are off to Boston tomorrow for some human baby contact!!  Hugs!

[Val MacQueen and Jasper]

Our Doodle is small enough to bathe in the laundry tub. So we have attached a hose and spray thingy and he is always washed in just warm water and an Oatmeal based shampoo and conditioner. When he goes to the groomer they do him in their shampoo and he always comes back smelling something like Vanilla I think but it's very nice for some days.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

During the colder months, we bathe the doodles in the bath tub and use warm water.  Once it hits 70+, they get baths outside.  They always seem hot and have no problem with the cold water.

[Bonnie and Kona]

ditto