Shampoo recommendation for my beautiful and stinky Willa

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

Help!  My beautiful 6 month old Willa stinks!  I don't want to bathe her too often because my vet says this is not good for her.  We live on several acres and she loves to get outside and run, play, roll, dig, get in water of any kind (she LOVES water).......and eat donkey poo :(  

She loves playing outside so much that I do not want to deprive her of this exercise and fun........but it makes her stink!  Is there a good and LONG LASTING deodorizing shampoo that you guys can recommend.  She needs a bath every other day at the rate we are going (though she doesn't get one due to my not wanting to harm her).  

Thanks!  

[Bonnie and Kona]

First let me say that Willa is just gorgeous! What a beautiful doodle you have. I have had a stinking issue with one of our doodles so let me ask some questions. Does she smell like dirt? like she has been outside playing and just has picked up dirt and debris? Or is it a sour smell? Our dog had a sour fishy smell and it turned out to be a fungus thing going on. I started rinsing him with vinegar and it helped a lot. Then I bought a medicated shampoo which we put on (never more than once a week if that) and the smell went away. The problem began because we were shampooing him too often. (The more he smelled the more we shampooed. If it is just dirt, then brushing daily should help. You might try a grooming spray to "sweeten" her up too. I don't like many artificial fragrances so there is a lemon rinse that Barbara, the moderator of this group, has a recipe for. Here is the link for the recipe:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming/forum/topics/natur...

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

Thanks Bonnie and Kona!  Willa is blushing.  She doesn't know how cute she is.

She just smells like dirt and she often smell like hay (I guess from rolling in the grass).  

I will try brushing her more often.  She hates to be brushed so we try to make a game of it.  

I have some spray that I purchased on Amazon but I will try out the recipe.  I also found a link to a shampoo recipe that I am going to try out.  

[Bonnie and Kona]

If she just smells like dirt and hay then I think you have it covered with daily brushing. It's a good idea to get her used to it now because when she goes through the dreaded coat change you will be brushing out matts instead of just her silky puppy fur. The more often you do it, the more she will accept it. Lots of people treat while they brush. I haven't tried that, but it sounds like a good idea. My guys know they will get a treat no matter how simple the grooming and look forward to that. If they get one little matt cut out they expect a treat, and if they get a full shampoo, blow dry and clip, they expect a treat. It cracks me up since the quantity of treat is the same. 

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

Yes, Willa lover her treats too......whether it be a cookie or a piece of ice.  She now sits any time I open the freezer or rattle a bag.  :)  I will try be giving her a little bit of treat each time she lets me get a good brush stoke!  

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Wow Willa is gorgeous! I agree with Bonnie that it is important to be certain of the source of the odor. If you're sure it's just from being outside in the dirt than I would suggest the Aroma Paws product line.  It is chemical free and very gentle. Tara is very sensitive to shampoos in general but has no problems when we use Aroma Paws.

http://www.aromapaws.com/

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

Thanks Ricki and Tara!  I have added some Aroma Paws to my cart on Amazon!  

[Chelsie]

Sam is a mud-doodle and gets crazy dirty at the dog park. We love the Buddy Rinse by Cloudstar! It has an amazing lavender and mint smell that lasts a good while. If he is extra stinky and between baths he gets a spray of the Buddy Splash!

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

Thanks Chelsie.  I forgot all about Buddy products.  I used them with my lab several years back and they do smell amazing.  I will get some for Willa!  

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

She is a gorgeous doodle! I have mentioned in several discussions that a high speed air blower [not to be confused with a heat dryer] is a doodle owner's best friend. I just blow dirt and debris out of my doodle coats. It makes them looked just brushed and bathed. It cuts actual brushing time down to half the time.

The original use was to blow water out of their coats right after a bath and before using a heat dryer, but blowing them out dry for touching up their coats is invaluable. I blow them out before a bath too and it makes the bath way faster and easier.

[Melissa and Willa Couch]

Thanks!  Do you have a recommendation of the type of high speed air blower.  I looked it up on Amazon and most appear to be tools rather than grooming aids.  i am interested in trying this.  

And I can see why you think Willa is gorgeous....I have to do a double take every time I see where you have posted because your pic looks so much like my Willa!  

[Marie Dennen]

They are actually call high velocity dryers. K-9 brand is the industry gold standard. Metros are good too. I have an EZ groom and K-9 in my grooming studio. I like the EZ groom because it has variable speed. The K-9 runs warmer and stronger for big blow outs like doodles. Espree brand baking soda and oatmeal shampoo helps with stink. Available at big boxes.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I see the metros run just under $200. I intend to groom my doodle. He's 13 weeks now, so I'm not entirely sure what I'm in for...... ha-ha Would the cost of the metro be worth it for the occasional dry, maybe every 2 months, versus just getting by with a personal dryer set on low heat? He's going to be a big mini, about 35# and has a fairly straight coat.

Also the 1.3 hp is $90, and the 4hp, two speed is $164. Opinions pls since you're experienced.

Thanks