Disgusting, Smelly, Stinky Beard!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I think this has come up before, but I just haven't been able to find the discussion.  Murphy's beard stinks!  I had him groomed on Monday, and they did cut it back some, and he had a good "face wash".  He came home looking and smelling great.  By yesterday, the beard was slimy and smelled awful.  It's because he's dipping his whole face in the water dish when he drinks.  He "emerges" from a drink of water dripping wet.  I've been trying to wipe it dry each time, but that's a never ending task.  I can get it clean by putting some shampoo on a facecloth and washing it really well...but that only lasts a day.  I worry about putting too much shampoo on his face....that can't be good.  I look at other Doodles' pictures, and their beards look just fine....not discolored and even pretty dry, plus I'm betting they don't stink.  So how are you doing it?

[Adina P]

Neither Barb's dog or yours, F, are what I would normally think of as having NO beards.  NO beard to me is a labradors chin...literally NO beard.  But Barb's and yours still have a doodley chin.  Even that length on Rosco still gets stinky.  Perhaps I need to work more on trimming near his lips as she and Karen mention.  Because if I truly take Rosco down to NO beard he looks awfully dorky and in contrast to the rest of his furry self he appears to have no CHIN.

[F, Calla & Luca]

No chin, uh oh, not a good look.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Sounds like you are taking more than just the first part off. Tapered and about 2 inches on a big dog.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

At almost 5 months Rooney has only had 2 matts - both under his chin.  When the groomer comes this next week I am going to have her cut him short under there.  Also Rooney has started to have a dog smell to his face.  I thought it was from the bulley sticks but now I wonder if it is a water thing.  He likes to drink out of the cat water fountain.  I'm going to try to limit that and see if his drinking out of a smaller water dish helps.

[Anna and Achilles]

You can get tea tree oil at any health food store. I have used it in the past on Houdini and it worked well.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Gracie Doodle's face is constantly wet.  She lives in her water bowl along with her paws.  Especially the right paw.  She always tests the water first with it and then, if she is outside drinking she lays down and tips the entire bowl into her chest to drink and both paws are in the bowl.  Ha, Ha...she is in here right now butting my hand and wagging her tail and giving me low growls...wonder what is up???  When she is in the house I have a very small bowl but she still comes up dripping.  I attack her when I see it with a towel so she won't drip across the floor but I don't always catch her so the kitchen floor is always wet!  She really does not have a stinky face though.  She does not have a beard.  I keep her chin about 1/4" and I too shave closer under the neck and ears and collar area so her ears can breathe.  Her paws get lightly shampooed sometimes a couple of times a day...right now because of all the rain and mud.  I keep a diluted bottle of shampoo by the hose.  We also do her face!  Worst case is that she smells like grass when I kiss her at night!  I think if you were to dilute the shampoo so there is just a bit of a fragrance and cleaning ability you would not have a problem with too much shampooing.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks everyone for this helpful advice.  I'm going to take him back to the groomer next week and have his beard trimmed way back (Barb, I'm going to bring your photo with me).  I had forgotten all about JD having the infection....that concerns me because that could probably also happen to Murph.  I'll use the baby wipes for quick "clean ups" and I'll use the vinegar and water when I start to really get an odor.  Let's see how that works...I may also try the tea tree oil.  I'll let you all know how this goes.  Thanks again.....

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We also use a travel type water bowl which prevent total immersion in the water.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

hah...that is what you think Nancy...Gracie has the travel type bowl and somehow she manages!!!

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I have a 7 month old we nicknamed Ducky right from when water was introduced in the litter. Thank heavens she isn't dunking herself in the winter.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Does anyone have a good face forward photo that I could show to Rooney's groomer of a dog with the mouth and chin area shorter.  It needs to be of a dog with less curl and a more spiral hair.  I am growing weary of Rooney's face being wet and think we will try trimming it shorter but I must have something to show her.  I'd hate for it to get botched up as he is going to see "Breeder" at his first ever Doodle Day this Saturday and we want to look sharp.  Thanks for any help, I've been looking through photos and can't find a good example.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Send me a side view of your dog and I will see if I can edit it in a way you can use it at the groomers. You need to send it to [e-mail]