Fresh Perspectives. One Condition.

So I've really begun endulging in conditioners lately, ordering way more 16oz bottles then anyone really needs. Neither of my dogs have very dry skin, and I find that a good Coconut oil treatment works WONDERS for them. But this is not exactly economical for high volume shops, or even just shops who's clients don't want to drop an extra $10-$15 for the spa-like extra.

Lets not forget the other benefits of conditioner! Sure it can help those flaky french bulldogs, those scratchy Scottish terriers, but on top of all that a good conditioner will soften the coat, add a healthy sheen, and REALLY help get some of that extra shed out! The right conditioner can even bring life back to limp , listless coats (I'm looking at you, #1 All Systems- Super Rich Protein Lotion Conditioner) .

So , knowing we will continue in this vein and cover more conditioners, let us start with one of the more economic choices. Top Performance: Fresh Pet Conditioner. 

The Fresh Shampoo is a great all purpose shampoo with a long lasting fragrance ( see that review here ) , does it's conditioning counter part live up to the standard? 

The Fresh Pet Conditioner on first appearance is clearly nothing but a melted creamsicle in a bottle.  The fragrance from the bottle rates as 'meh' at best, and does not match the flower-blowing-bugle stamina of the shampoo.  On my grooming clients with serious dander and dry, flaky skin the conditioner is not nearly as hydrating as it would need to be to make an impact. After the bath , while drying, there will without a doubt be little specks of dry skin flakes popping up everywhere again. A little disapointing, but you don't buy 'economical' because you think it's going to be a miracle. 

Now, on softening the fur? Oh my, it was wonderful! Every dog I've washed with it from Golden Retrievers to Shih tzus, to poodles all felt wonderfully soft by the end of the groom.  And I'll tell you this, I do a thorough deshedding before the bath and still, after conditioning with Fresh Pet , the conditioner is weighing down and pulling out a lot of the excess coat. It is a great tool for getting a really to
p notch de-shed job done. 

A fellow groomer used copious amounts of the Fresh Pet Conditioner on a Briard client and was very pleasantly surprised . It was the first product in a while that really made an impact on the dog's tangles and mats. The Conditioner is designed so that you can leave some of it in the coat , not rinsing all of the way. This is what she had done, and it really did the trick without leaving the big dog's fur feeling greasy or oily.

Top Performance's Fresh Pet Conditioner dilutes 7:1 , although I found at this ratio that my drying times were drastically increased, and it was difficult to rinse completely.  I've been using the conditioner at a 16:1 Dilution ratio with great success , though it is still a hard rinse.

The Bottom Line

At about $35 a gallon, diluting at 16:1 ratio I think Top Performance Fresh Pet Conditioner is a great buy. It is fantastic for your every day grooming clients, helps get out tangles and keep them out, wonderful for de-shed work, and leaves the coat soft.
The Fresh Pet Conditioner does not have a lasting fragrance at all and is a chore to rinse, so keep that in mind when planning to use it.  This conditioner will not help dry, itchy skin on dogs.
All in all, I enjoy this product and will keep it in stock next to a few bottles of more 'specialized' conditioners . This is a good every dog product.

Dry Skin Dilemma (Pt2 - The Oatmeal Illuminati )

I'm having a heck of a time figuring out Oatmeal Shampoo.
No, really.
It seems 'common knowledge' to the online community of dog groomers that Oatmeal shampoo dries out the skin of dogs, just post a query on any grooming forum or page and watch the litany of responses !  But try as I might, I can't find the science to prove it.  In fact, all I'm finding is a lot of sites insisting that oatmeal is the bomb diggity, no diggty, no doubt.  But there's a twist!  These sites are also claiming that oatmeal shampoo is great to battle yeast and bacteria infections on dogs.

Now stop.

It is not. 

Oatmeal feeds yeast and will exacerbate yeast and bacterial infections in dogs because of the carbohydrates in the oatmeal which equate to  sugars for feeding yeast.. Don't you go feeding me that line, internet, I don't trust you anymore.

Pro Oatmeal:
Here's what I found.  Colloidal oatmeal is a specially prepared form of oatmeal that mixes better with water. Studies have shown that colloidal oatmeal binds to the skin and provides a protective barrier against irritants. It contains water-binding polysaccharides (long chain sugars) and hydrocolloids that hold moisture against the skin allowing it to act as an emollient . The fats contained in oatmeal also add to its emollient activity. 

Con Oatmeal:
So I went to a groomer's board and asked opinions and for more info. Turns out Oatmeal is great for allergies but is an exfoliate and so it WILL dry skin out and will help with itchy skin that is being caused by moist skin conditions only. It has anti-inflammatory properties and will sooth the skin during the groom, but will end up drying the skin out in the long run, making most dogs more itchy and irritated. Oatmeal shampoo will also have a negative effect on dogs who have a sensitivity to grain (about 80% of dogs). If your dog is on a grain free diet, best to stay away from rubbing grains all over their body. Just sayin.
Most groomers will report that oatmeal shampoos dry their hands out worse then the other shampoos in our field.

Here is a great article on itchy dogs that touches on why you should avoid oatmeal written by Dr. Karen Becker

The Bottom Line.

Does your dog have allergic reactions to shampoos? Try an Oatmeal shampoo. 

Does your dog have dry and/or itchy skin?   Avoid Oatmeal shampoos. 

There are a lot of aloe based shampoos out there that will do you better then the oatmeal does. Although oatmeal will provide a temporary fix, ultimately it will WORSEN your problems. 

If you do insist on using an oatmeal shampoo (maybe you just love it, haven't had a problem, vet recomended etc etc. ) make sure to follow up with a good hydrating conditioner afterwords, or coconut oil treatment!  And try to find an oatmeal shampoo that includes Aloe, or essential oils to counter the drying caused by oatmeal alone.

oOBubbleCollieOo

Dry Skin Dillema Pt1. (Going Coconuts )

One of the most miraculous treatments I've used is actually a home made concoction consisting almost exclusively of virgin unrefined coconut oil. 

Keeping in mind that a good amount of serious skin issues can be attributed to issues with the diet, coconut oil used topically does a great job of giving temporary relief while the underlying problem is addressed.  While adding coconut oil to the diet will help from the inside as well!  

Coconut oil can be applied directly to cracked or raw paw pads, noses, dry elbows, and hot spots to give instant relief , although it tastes delicious so best be prepared to keep a vigilant eye on your little scruffler for a while to let the oil do it's magic. 

Coconut oil is over 90% saturated fat. No wait, calm down! I swear it's a good thing! It's about MCTs, Medium Chain Triglycerieds, which are the good fats. MCTs help with digestion, immune system, metabolic function, skin health, and thyroid health.  Coconut oil also has Lauric acid which combats fungas , virus, and bacteria- this is what makes coconut oil so great against yeast buildup on dogs and other fungal and bacterial skin infections in addition to soothing the skin.  The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties will also help to kill the 'doggy smell' that some dogs suffer from (although, lets face it, they don't mind. It's the dog OWNERS that suffer the most! )

TOPICAL

The recipe is this: 

2 tablespoons of Virgin Unrefined Coconut oil 

6oz hot water.

Shampoo and rinse the dog as normal as you wait for the hot oil treatment to cool down to a warm oil treatment. Apply to pooch, rubbing it into the skin as much as possible. Let sit for 5-15 minutes, whatever your soggy friend will allow, then wash out again with shampoo. 

ORAL

 When giving coconut oil as part of the diet, start small in 1/4 teaspoon increments and build up to 1tablespoon for every 30lbs of dog. Introducing too much too soon could result in some goopy poopy!

So easy. 

On my own 2 dogs in the bitter chaff of New England winter this has been enough to relieve them for a month , no problem. 

I used this on a friend's chronically scratchy chihuahua and it gave her relief for a solid week before she started getting the "Scratch-my-butt-kicky-leg" syndrome again.

The Bottom Line

Coconut oil, though pricey at $13-$17 for 14oz is well worth the price.  For your own dogs, absolutely! Use it as a topical and as an internal treatment!  For dogs at your salon it is a great opportunity for a luxurious 'extra' to offer your clients well flaunting your knowledge. "Would you like Princess to have a nice hot oil treatment today?" you'll say , "WOULD I!" they'll exclaim , "Yes. Yes you would." you will reply to the rhetorical statement, making you both feel awkward.

Seriously though, try it. You'll thank me.

oOBubblecollieOo

Stay (Clean)

I had never heard of Isle of Dogs until this past weekend at the 139th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, but now I can't seem to get them off my mind. So this week I decided to test one of their shampoos. 

They have an excellent variety of products, and with so many to choose from I almost didn't know where to start. Smartly however, they have them all devised into their "Collections" with cute trendy names such as "Coature," the "Vanity Series" and, the one I ultimately chose, "Salon Elements." This line is made up of three different types of product. The first is "Sit (Still)", followed by "Stay (Clean)" and lastly "Stand (Up)". I'll be getting to each product respectively but first I'm going to start with their Stay (Clean).

According to their pamphlet, this product is meant to cut through "dirt, grime and odor" and also lengthen the time between baths. The bottle has a clean professional look to it, which is not as important as the contents, but I always like to see that people have put thought into their branding. It is not lacking for information as it boasts some of it's main ingredients right on the front. These include; green tea extract, aloe, and witch hazel (a plant used for a variety of medicinal purposes including skin care). 

I decided to test this 'poo out on my sisters mini poodle Humphrey-Beauregard (or "Humbug" as he's more fondly called.)I thought he would be a good candidate for the odor test. He gets a bath frequently as does my other dog, however after only a week he's already back to that doggy smell. Needless to say it drives me crazy. Even with an added spritz of fragrance he still smells rather quickly. Obviously he's the perfect test subject.

When you pop the top the smell is very mild which admittedly is not what I expected. I figured there would be an overwhelming smell in order to keep the dog smelling clean longer, but this is very light. My mother could hardly smell anything, but it reminded me of that old fashioned Bubble-Yum chewing gum. According to the bottle, the smell is called "Berry Champagne". It even goes so far as to describe the smells top notes, mid notes and dry down notes (Yes really. See photo below). Plus it also boasts something called "ExtenScent" which is "a natural odor-neutralizing complex that extends freshness". Hmm. Gimmicky? Maybe. Only time will tell. 

Righty off the bat one thing that I like most about this shampoo is its sudsing prowess. Even when diluted 20:1 (recommended), there's still a great lather which is something that's important to me in a shampoo. Maybe it's because it's like a visual representation that I'm getting the dog clean. Beyond it's awesome sudsability (yeah that's totally NOT a real word) is it's super quick rinse. Seriously, it's fast. And when it's out, you know it's out.  No guessing in terms of whether you've got it all rinsed, because once done properly this dog is SQEEEEEEEKY clean. It's great. 

Now after the bath they suggest using 1 of 2 conditioners or sprays. I opted not to do that so as to get the full effect of the shampoo by itself. On top of what makes for a quick bath, Humphrey was dry nearly as fast - and I wasn't even using my new awesome dryer (more on that in another post). I was really impressed. The only thing that was lacking was a lingering scent once all was said and done.  Humphrey smells clean for sure and there's a little bit of eau de berry, but overall there isn't much that says "Hey guys! I just got a bath and I smell delicious", which again makes me worry that in a week he'll start smelling doggy again. Now given that I wash our dogs frequently it's not as big a deal, but with clients whose pets only come once every 2 months, it's important to make sure that the dog smells fresh and clean for as long as possible. I'll be sure to update with the results of the ongoing sniff test. 

The Bottom Line

Coming to petedge next month it looks like the price will be $29.99 per gallon and if that's the case I think it's well worth the price. I have to say that thus far I am quite impressed by this shampoo. It does an excellent job of cleaning, rinses out super quick which cuts down on bath time. The cleanliness also helps in shortening dry time which is also a big plus. My only concern is whether or not it will keep pets smelling fresh and clean for an extended period of time. However for clients that come in frequently, this is an excellent addition to our line up of shampoos. I look forward to using it more in the future.

//The Spic n' Spaniel//

Upadate: It's been about a week and while Humphrey still looks nice and clean, the he once again smells rather doggy which is pretty much what I expected. Guess that "ExtenScent" really is just a gimick. Bummer. But I bet with a little spritz of fragrance, that might change. So again probably ok to use with frequent flyers at your shops but I'd avoid it for those 8-12 week clients. 

An Apple a Day Keeps the Dirties Away

Hey there groomers and pet parents! Sorry it's been so long since my first review. Things have been a little crazy ever since the new addition to our pack. Wait. Didn't I mention that? No? Well my mini poodle Kylie is no longer an only-dog and she is now the proud sister to little Humphrey-Beauregard; a sable mini poodle puppy. At this point he's going on 5 months and anyone who's had a rambunctious little puppy knows how much attention they need. But now that he's a little older and I finally have some downtime, here's a great new shampoo to try out!

I found this in the Pet-Edge catalog when I was shopping for new 'poos to try and when I first saw it all I could think was "bleh, aroma what? It's probably some all natural junk that doesn't get your dog clean at all". I almost didn't get it but for the apple on the front (I'm a sucker for apple and blueberry scents). Plus it was only $4.99 and I figured what the hell (it's worth noting that you can also get it in a gallon for $29.99). I have to say I'm glad I followed my nose on this one. 

I really love this shampoo. First off the smell is divine. It's like a macintosh and a gala had a delicious love child in the form of shampoo. So fruity, so fresh, almost like a green apple jolly rancher. It's just tops. On top of that it suds up great and it really feels like you're getting the dog clean. A lot of that has to do with some of its ingredients;

Apple cider vinegar, baking soda, Aloe Vera and Vitamins A and E.

Now little Humbug (as he is referred to) doesn't have any buildup in his hair so I can't really speak to its abilities as a clarifying shampoo. What I can say however is that I get buildup in MY hair all the time and every so often I rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar and it does wonders, so I imagine that this shampoo could be great for dogs with lots of yucky buildup and probably yeasty dogs too. I'll definitely be trying it out and updating this post once I do.

I can't wait to get my hands on some gross cocker feet and ears. 

The Bottom Line

For the price of this shampoo I would definitely recommend giving it a try. It smells absolutely incredible, especially when followed up with Pet Effects Appletini cologne. While the smell doesn't outwardly seem to last a super long time, whenever he gets wet you can smell it for sure and lets be honest, that's way more appealing then smelling like a wet dog. It's got great ingredients plus it's both a clarifying and aromatherapy shampoo so it's potential uses span the gamut. If you're looking for something fruity and fresh, give this a try. You might like it as much as I do.

//The Spic n' Spaniel//

None of your Bees Wax

My two favorite dogs to groom, other than my own, are Oban and Katinka! A smooth coated collie and Keeshond duo. Obi and Tinki's mother is a huge fan of all natural products, so she opts to bring in her own choices in shampoos for her little fluffbutts. I love this because it gives me more opportunity to try new shampoos! It's an addiction.

So my two little angel clients have terribly dry skin this time of year, being a diligent mother their owner sought out an all natural Maine made product, Burt's Bees- Calming Lavender GreenTea Shampoo.

Ok, so let us go ahead and start with the positives. • No Sulfates • No Colorants • Cruelty Free • 90% Natural. These are all things that are wonderful!

Here's my problem with Burt's Bees for dogs.  Bees Wax.  The dog's fur feels just OMG SO SOFT , but it's because of all the wax in the shampoo, not because the hair is getting healthier. Bees Wax is water insoluble , meaning it will need clarifying shampoos to rinse it out of the coat.Without a second bath of clarifying shampoo it can cause build up on the hair follicle, this kind of buildup leads hair to look dull, dirty, and causes it to lose its shine. Buildup doesn't allow necessary moisture, oils and other nutrients to penetrate the fur which can  actually add to the problem of dry coat.

On top of this, the product is a chore to rinse out of a thick Keeshond coat. 

6 weeks after their first groom using the Burt's Bees shampoo Oban had an open hot spot on his back and a healing one on his tush. I'm not saying the shampoo caused them, my point is that it certainly isn't helping. I feel like Burt's Bees is one of those companies that has such a good name (their lip balm, and just in the all natural crowd in general.) that they can coast on their success and delve into other products that they may not be suited for.

Guys. You can't just put Beeswax in everything.

Burt's Bees for dogs can be purchased online for around $8 +S&H (16oz) , I have seen it on clearance at TJmaxx/ Homegoods/ Burlington Coat Factory for $4 so you can probably find it locally pretty cheap. 

The Bottom Line

This product doesn't rinse easily out of thick coat, and *may* leave a buildup on coat. I don't think you get a lot of bang for your buck, it takes the sheen out of coat and weighs it down. Your dogs will be soft, but there is a price to pay.  Buy Burt's Bees Pomegranate lip balm, leave the doggy shampoos to the experts. A good alternative would be Dr. Brommer's castile soap.

 oO Bubblecollie Oo

Oatmeal and Shea- wait? Where's the Shea Butter?

I've seen bottles of Bebe and Cece dog shampoo often, and honestly the only reason I haven't tried it was the packaging. The bottle seemed ... just.... ordinary. And I did not like the grooms on the shih tzus featured on the bottle. Very very shallow reasons to pass over a product. But, that is why people specialize in marketing, isn't it?

Anyhow, Spic-n-Spaniel and myself popped into our local Marshalls last weekend on the hunt for organic coconut oil. No luck there, so naturally we took our poodles on over to the pet section. Amongst the plethora of adorable Christmas sweaters and dresses ( you seriously have to see what Spic-n-Spaniel got for little Kylie. So adorable it's illegal in 4 states.) there were two bottles of shampoo. One was Viva La Dog Spa, a brand Spic-n-Spaniel has already reviewed, and a lonely bottle of Bobbi Panter's Bebe and Cece Oatmeal and Shea Butter shampoo.  The bottle smelled pretty good, and the price smelled even better. $4.99 ? Sure! Let's give it a go!


This product smells fantastic in the bottle, like pouring liquid oatmeal cookies onto my dog in the bath. I diluted it 4:1 , as there were no dilution ratios suggested on the packaging.  It lathered up nicely and rinsed normally. As I was drying Spike , the sweet fragrance of freshly baked cookies wafted through the grooming room, completed by the feint hint of cat urine.... WAIT. WHAT?

Ok, so apparently my newly adopted senior cat has taken up peeing in both of the dog's beds.  I was a little disappointed  that the shampoo did not wash away the smell completely.

When Spike was fully dry all fragrances had dissipated.  Thankfully in the case of the cat pee, regretfully in the case of the oatmeal cookies.

Bebe and Cece's Oatmeal Shea shampoo boasts "Oatmeal Shea Butter - Soothes irritated skin and fur as it gently cleans; Leaving your pet shiny soft and smelling as yummy as freshly baked oatmeal cookies!" . I cannot speak on its soothing properties to skin ( and fur?). I will say it is a GENTLE cleaner, so is probably a good candidate for dogs and cats with sensitive or dry skin.  NOT a good idea for especially dirty dogs, as the cleaner is very gentle and is maybe trying to gently persuade the grime and smells into leaving as apposed to beating the living tar out of them.   Spike's fur was not weighed down, but I don't think he came out especially soft or shiny either and he certainly did not end up smelling like a cookie.

Bobbi Panter seems to have a good line of specialty shampoos listed on her website, with a breakdown of their ingredients and the PURPOSE of each ingredient, which I think is great! I'm very excited to get my hands on one of THOSE bottles!  The Bebe and Cece Oatmeal Shea shampoo is not one in that line though, I was a little disappointed that I could not find Shea butter listed as an ingredient on the bottle. Shea would have been a great ingredient to have been listed on an oatmeal and shea butter shampoo.  The ingredients are nothing special, honestly. But I will mention that there is no salt in the shampoo, which is always nice.

Cece and Bebe Oatmeal Shae shampoo can be purchased on line for $9.99 (160z) +S&H , or locally at TJmaxx/Homegoods/Marshalls for $4.99.

The Bottom Line

Bobbi Panter's Cece and Bebe Oatmeal and Shae shampoo is affordable and its fragrance makes for a very pleasant grooming experience. It is not a powerful cleaner though, and the fragrance doesn't last after the dog is dry. Bobbi Panter has better products available.  Still, if you can find it for $4.99 locally (16 oz ) to use on your own dog coupled with a nice vanilla cologne I would give it a shot. Just remember, it won't clean the cat pee out of your poodle.

oO Bubblecollie Oo