[Casey_gg]

My dog always smells really "doggie" after playing with other dogs and I don`t like to wet bath him every few days.I was wondering if there is a household product that would work to dust the hair with or a dry shampoo for dogs?

[labman]

I think I have seen dry shampoos meant for dogs. You could see if you could find one and try it. Many people suggest this or that household product for one thing or another. Even if one would work, I how safe such untested remedies are. Often they are suggesting a fairly harsh product.

Try giving him a good brushing every day with a soft bristled brush. My Lab Aster is in fine shape, and she hasn't had a bath in 4 years.

[RubyPitbull]

I would suggest you go to the pet store to find the dry shampoo, towelettes, or "cologne" sprays they sell. As labman suggests, brushing the dog daily is the best way to get rid of the "doggy" smell. Every once in a while when she has played with other dogs she smells the way you describe, so I will use one of those towelettes made for dogs or a dry shampoo that was prescribed by my vet. I spray the shampoo on a soft brush and then just brush the dog out. Most dogs don't enjoy being sprayed with anything and applying it to the brush first works out quite well.

[froggy7]

Corn starch or clay can be used as a dry shampoo, if you want a low-cost option. Old-fashioned, non-clumping, clay kitty litter is what I have seen recommended. Supposedly you take a small amount, massage it into the hair, and then brush it out. The clay absorbs oil and surface dirt.

I've never tried this, and I don't know if it would dry the coat out too much for an animal.

[labman]

''Corn starch or clay can be used as a dry shampoo,'' These are the very sort of unproven remedies I advised against.

[RubyPitbull]

I have heard of those recommendations before. Baking soda is another one. Personally, I don't think they are necessarily harmful to a dog, I just think they would dry out or irritate the dog's skin too much and I won't attempt to test them on my dog. I am not that thrilled with recommending the doggy "colognes", although some people swear by them. I think reading the fine print on those bottles, looking for warnings on the label, are the smart thing to do before buying. Whatever is used, a very small amount should do the trick.

[froggy7]

I've used them before when out camping. However, I strongly recommend against the baking soda one for a dog. Baking soda is great if you use a lot of styling products in your hair, and want to get rid of the residue and build-up. But I have found that it can hurt if you massage it into your scalp for too long or hard. It's a lot like having sandpaper rubbed across your skin. When I use it on myself, I can tell when to stop. I wouldn't want to subject someone else to that since I wouldn't have the feedback to tell me if it was too much.

[RubyPitbull]

Uh, froggy? From what I have read, and been told by others, you don't massage the baking soda into the dog's skin. It is sprinkled on then brushed through. In any event, I wouldn't use it due to what I stated above.