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

A Rose By Another Name, Retreat.

I have been accused more than once of being an old lady. I go to bed at 8:30 , get up at 5, and have been known to exclaim 'Oh my Gracious!' 'Jeepers' and 'Oh Golly' more than any person my age should. It shouldn't be any surprise that I fell in love with the rose fragrance of Ikaria's Retreat shampoo.

Ikaria's Retreat shampoo is rose and sweet milk scented,  seriously does it get any more sweet heart than that? I take it back, it's not old-ladyish , it is distinctly Lolita. The fragrance is rose hips, tried and true! If you do not like floral scented shampoos, you will not like this. On the other hand, if you love the smell of rose extract then you and I can be best friends and bath dogs together wearing pink frilly dresses and tiny white pearls! The rosey smell has staying power, lingering for at least 48 hours after the groom. The shampoo cleans well, and rinses well, leaving the coat squeaky clean and ready for a cute asian freestyle groom!

The one drawback of Retreat, is that if you don't love rose smell, then you hate it. So I would not recommend it be used on every day dogs at a grooming shop, or as a shop shampoo. It may be too much perfume for people with sensitive noses and not many farmers or hunters are going to appreciate their hounds and cattle dogs being petal fresh... or maybe they will, who am I to judge what is in a man's heart.  

Ikaria Retreat - rose and sweet milk shampoo can be purchased from PetEdge for $8.49 for a 16 oz or $59 for a gallon.  Retreat is is a tearless and hypoallergenic formula, some ingredients include coconut derived cleansing agents, Wheat Protein, Silk Protein, Rose Hips, and Rose Milk Essence.

The Bottom Line

I love this shampoo. If you do not like floral scents, you won't like this shampoo. If you like Rose scent, then this is the shampoo for you! Good price point , good cleaning power, lasting fragrance, and it dilutes 8:1 which isn't horrible.  Use this for your personal dogs, and special clients who you KNOW like the pink delicate things in life <3

oO Bubblecollie Oo

An Inconsistent Cranberry

I like the idea of giving dogs a cranberry, blueberry, or yogurt facial. Do I think it is necessary to use a special shampoo on the face? Not really, if a shampoo is safe enough to rub on the sensitive skin of a dog's butthole  then I imagine it is safe enough for their face. After all, think of all the unsavory places your dog puts his cute little face! Still, we've got those soulful eyes to worry about and that delicate sense of smell, so sure! Facial! I just feel good giving a facial to a dog, the same reason I garnish Zabu and Spike's food with a dog biscuit at dinner time.

At our shop we use Envirogroom's Cranberry facial.  It smells great, there are a lot of times where I wish I could wash the entire dog in the Cranberry Facial wash.  The smell is great and lasts really well , but only on specific coats, and only if scrubbed in there really well! I've found that the cranberry fragrance sticks best to Golden Retrievers , while it doesn't leave even the smallest lasting smell on hair breeds such as poodles and shih tzus.

My problem with Envirogroom's Cranberry Facial is its inconsistency with quality.  For a year and a half it had been great! Then suddenly, in the course of 2 months I had 4 dogs break out into scabs on their faces from the facial!  In each dog it happened multiple times before the owners informed me, kind people that they are, they were giving me benefit of the doubt that something else was turning their pooches into zombie-faces.  So of course in the next groom on each dog I just used our house shampoo on their fuzzy faces and left the cranberry facial to think about what it did.  No problems those times.

So what happened? This product is supposed to be especially gentle because it is GOING ON A DOGS FACE.   Even on the dogs who did not get scabby heads and faces, the facial lost its punch. No one had a delicious cranberry smelling face anymore.    Sense that time, we have switched to a new jug of cranberry facial we had on hand, and everything is peachy keen... er... cranberry keen again . But, it's like the old saying goes " Give my dog smelly zombie face once, shame on you. Give my dog smelly zombie face twice, shame on me. " .  Part of the fun of grooming is not gambling on whether or not your products are going to work this time around, so I will not be buying Envirogroom's cranberry facial any longer.

Envirogroom's Cranberry Facial goes for $35.99 a gallon ( +S&H) or $10.99 for 18oz . It is advertised as a gentle and mild head and face cleanser, and some of the ingredients are plant derived cleansers with aloe, vitamin E and cranberry extract. Envirogroom's Cranberry Facial does not dilute, and is a foaming style wash. 

The Bottom Line. 

When it works, it is FANTASTIC and totally worth the money! Are you a gambling man? 

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Viva la No Thank You

Ciao fellow groomers and dog enthusiasts! I'm so SO excited to be joining BubbleCollie and the Shampoodle as the newest member of this blogging team to bring you the best reviews around. I'll be starting off by looking into Viva la Dog Spa's "White Coat" shampoo. 

Now I have a 1 year old mismark poodle named Kylie (the Panda Poodle Princess is the title she prefers) and I've been using this product to clean her white spots for a few weeks now so I think it's fair to say I'm equipped to give my final verdict on this product.

Beginning with the most important part, lets talk about it's whitening powers. I've been to three different shops and used a multitude of different whitening shampoos, and this one is probably on the lower end of effectiveness. It cleans and helps to remove some stains but really doesn't give that pizzaz, wham, POW! LOOK AT HOW WHITE I AM! shine that other shampoos provide. 

As far as the smell goes, it promises a cucumber melon scent and when you pop the top that is definitely what you get. It's really light, fresh, and slightly fruity smelling. It's a nice mild fragrance which is a welcome change from some of the harsher chemical smells you can get with other whitening or bluing shampoos. However, once you rinse the pup and all is said and done, there really is nothing there to smell, and that's kind of a bummer. (I really do like that smell!)  I do usually wash my girl with something on top of the whitening though so it may not really matter in the end. 

The other thing that bothers me is the texture of the shampoo itself. It's gelatinous and doesn't come out of the bottle smoothly. It may sound like a weird complaint but it doesn't feel like it's as easy to lather as other shampoos are. When I've tried to mix it with water to dilute it it was hard to mix because it was so thick. I almost always have to use it more than once on the dog and since whitening shampoos can be harsh on skin, I really only like to use it once and then do something else on top or even just mix some in with my other shampoo from the get-go.

Price-wise it's fairly inexpensive. 16oz bottle for $8.99 on amazon (I picked mine up for about the same price at Home Goods. It is concentrated 2:1 which means you really aren't getting much bang for your buck and given it's less than perfect results I don't dilute at all and like I said you don't get much smell even with that. 

Some ingredients include; Water, Mild Coconut Cleansers, Panthenol Conditioner and Chamomile Extract. 

The Bottom Line

While the company is a green company, (so you can feel warm and fuzzy about buying this product) it really is a middle of the road shampoo; not bad, not great. It lacks fragrance at the end of the bath and while it does do some whitening it's nothing to write home about. I'd recommend it if you've run out of your favorite whitener and you're really in a bind. Overall, I'd leave it on the shelf at Home Goods and look for something better.

//The Spic n' Spaniel//

Suds to the rescue!

Recently the Shampoodle, Spic n Spaniel, and myself were called in by a local animal shelter. 19 poodles had been surrendered from a hoarding situation and  needed to be beautified and cleaned before they could be offered up for adoption.  We were so happy and excited to help! Another grooming friend of ours offered to pay for the shampoo , as she could not make it to help out on such short notice, and it was very short notice! We only had 2 days to gather supplies, so instead of ordering online we hit up some department stores. I love TJmaxx, Homegoods, and Marshals for affordable, quality dog supplies. That is where I found Suds by NANDOG.  I picked up several bottles of their citrus shampoo, hoping the orange peal would serve as a gentle degreaser for the as-of-yet unseen poodles. I expected to walk into a room with one flickering bare bulb hanging from the ceiling over a mass of poodles all matted to one another and snapping their little adorable jaws out of a thick syrup of grease. I'm an optimist.

To our surprise and joy most of the little mini poodles were not severely matted, and were very friendly. For a hoarder this previous owner clearly took the time with each dog's individual care.  We diluted the shampoo 6:1 and got to work. The fragrance is not what I would expect from a citrus shampoo, it does not bring to mind explosions of grapefruit and oranges across a yellow field, more like citrus potpourri? Like you know it smells like citrus, but it makes you cock an eyebrow and wonder how exactly your brain made the connection between this smell and an orange.  Anyhow, the potpour-puppies rinsed easily  and dried well. 

We were able to dematt their little legs while drying, the shampoo penetrated the mats well. We were also able to do fun hair cuts on the dogs, so thumbs up for leaving the coat bouncy and not weighing it down.

This shampoo was a thorough cleaner, so I went back to Marshals and bought some of the Lavender Suds by NANDOG for my own poodle.  I love lavender, and had given up trying to retain my poodle's gender identity when I realized how fun BOWS are!  So Lavender on Spike.  I will say this, the Lavender shampoo smells like the citrus shampoo.  It has citrus in it, so that would explain that. But if you are buying a Lavender product, wouldn't you expect it to smell like orange potpourri? Oh? You wouldn't? well....

Scent confusion aside, the Lavender Suds rinsed well and easy, Spike's coat was softer than I would have expected.  The fragrance did not stick around longer than a day though on Spike, and we did not stop in to sniff shelter dogs later so I can't really say.  There is a NANDOG Suds Lavender cologne that really smells like lavender though. They also have a citrus cologne and a third fragrance, Ocean Mist, in shampoo and cologne.

Suds by NANDOG is an all natural, soap free shampoo that boasts 'flea and tick control' . Their list of ingredients are, well, I'll just show you:
 Water,Tea-Laury Sulfate,Sodium Laureth Sulfate,Cocamide Dea,Cocamidopropyl Betaine,Panthenol,Aloe,Barbadensis Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate,Hydrolyzed Keratin, Tetrasodium Edta,Sodium Chloride,Fragance,Glycerin,Avena Sativa,Oat Meal Extract,Methylchloroisothizone,Methlisothiazolinone,Vitamin C, Vitamin D.
I'm not going to pretend to know what any of that is. 

The Bottom Line.

Suds by NANDOG in Citrus or Lavender  will get your dog very clean, and will rinse out easily. I found it for $7.99 ( 17oz) locally, but you can buy it at their website for $10. They do not sell a groomer's gallon , so I would not recommend this for a grooming shop.  You will not be blown away by the fragrance , and the fragrance does not last longer than a day.  This is a shampoo that gets the job done, then clocks out and goes home.  It is really a middle of the road product, IMHO. You can find something with more punch for that price, but honestly it gets the dog clean and rinses out easily. It is a good 'no fuss' type of shampoo.

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Barely Berries

After giving such a bad review of Mutt Nose Best's U. Pumpkin Patch Pup shampoo I really wanted to give them another try. Their U. Berry Clean Dog shampoo seems to be their signature product, so I shelled out the $16 to buy it at a locally owned pet supply shop.   It smells great in the bottle! Very candy like in fragrance.   My border collie mix Zabu thinks he can get away with less baths now that he has a younger brother who is a poodle and takes up most of my grooming attention, not today my friend!

Let's get to the chase, shall we?  The shampoo has an average cleaning power, there are blueberry seeds in the shampoo to 'exfoliate'. I've never known my own dog to need exfoliating, but this would be beneficial to dogs with skin problems I imagine.  The dog loses the blueberry smell quicker then fruitstripe gum loses its flavor.  Zabu was clean, but did not have any extra shine, extra softness, extra fragrance, or extra bounce to his coat.

It is worth mentioning as well that when I used this shampoo I had a minor cut on my finger. The shampoo got onto the cut and burned like the dickens! I am not sensitive to pain, but this burned so badly I had to stop what I was doing and rinse the shampoo off of my hand. I had already taken a shower with this fresh wound, and the bar of soap I used, the shampoo I used, and the conditioner I used all had touched it without causing a lick of trouble. I would STRONGLY advise you DO NOT use this on a dog that might have hot spots or other sensitive wounds. 

The U. Berry Clean Dog is advertised as being full of antioxidants and being able to sooth skin ailments. My dogs do not have skin ailments currently so I can not speak to that claim.  I  have enough left in my bottle to try it on my friend's itchy chihuahua, if I have a good experience there I will update this blog with it.

I really want to like this brand. I so very badly want to be able to endorse a product that is made in my home state with natural ingredients.  I can't.  Mutt Nose Best U. Berry Clean Dog shampoo is overpriced and does not deliver quality in any form.

I feel it is important to mention here that they have a 'satisfaction guaranteed' policy, so you can try these products for yourself at no risk.

The Bottom Line.

With this, I give up on Mutt Nose Best. No one should pay so much money for a product that delivers so little. At  $16 for 14oz ( +S&H) or $65 for 1 gallon a shampoo should leave a lasting impression. I don't care that it is natural and dilutes 22:1,  making a bad product last longer is not a deal. Just because a product is organic does not inherently make it worth more. Quality and performance are  what gives a product worth.

oO Bubblecollie Oo

What the Heck is Castile?

Castile Soap, the first question everyone asks is "What is this?", with their faces scrunched up as if I just gave them a bottle of pee. To be fair, I had the same reaction the first time someone handed it to me to use. Where I work it is not uncommon for people to bring in their own home remedies, or shampoos they bought somewhere else because they think our shampoos are too harsh. A lot of the time these things are no better for their dogs than our shampoos, so I was apprehensive to try castile soap when my client brought it in, but it actually worked amazingly well. Just goes to show you not to be too much of a snob I guess ( Well, I AM the shampoodle after all. >_> ) With a sigh I started washing the dog in lavender scented castile soap and was was pleasantly surprised when it lathered up very nicely, the smell was strong but not all too overpowering. The Lavender Castile Soap did not leave the coat feeling dry or greasy, both the dog and my own hands were left feeling so very very soft!

When the client came to pick up her dog I told her how much I enjoyed the shampoo. With a smile she said "You should try the peppermint, it really clears the sinuses" . Of course I did, and man was she right!  Word of advice, don't get it in you eyes!

But I digress, back to the original question at hand; What is it?  Castile soap is soap that uses olive oil and other essential oils as a base instead of animal fats like traditional soaps. It is usually organic and contains very simple ingredients. I have only used one brand so far, Doctor Bronner's, which is by far the most popular ( at least in Maine. ) . It comes in many different scents ( Almond, unscented, Lavender, Peppermint, Citrus, Eucalyptus, Rose, and Tea Tree )  and in liquid form it can be diluted 1 part shampoo to 18 parts water, son one small bottle will get you a lot of baths! The only problem I have with it is during the rinse.   It doesn't rinse out 'hard' , comes out as easily as any other shampoo, but when it rinses it feels harsh, like it is stripping the fur. Frankly it feels gross. But do not despair! Once it is all rinsed the coat  feels salon soft.

Doctor Bronner's Castile Soap is made from all fair trade certified ingredients. Some of the ingredients listed are Water, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil.

 A 16oz of Dr. Bronner's will cost you 10.99 + S&H , a gallon $63.99 + S&H.

The Bottom Line.

It's a shampoo  you can test on yourself before your dog, so try it!

**The Shampoodle**

A second opinion.

The Shampoodle talked such a big game about Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap, that I too had to try it! I tried the peppermint version she mentioned. The peppermint smell was SO VERY STRONG in the bath, great if you have a cold I imagine! It was a little strong for me, and I worried that it would be too offensive to Spike's sensitive proboscis. Frankly, he didn't seem to mind though. 

I did panic a little when it came time to rinse, as you rinse the castile soap out it really feels like you've done damage to the coat. If you've ever bleached your hair to the point of 'frying' it, you know the feeling I'm talking about.  It is very misleading though!  I have used a lot of different product, shampoos, creme rinses, hot oil treatments, leave ins, etc. etc. on dogs, and NOTHING has left a dog's coat feeling this impossibly soft!  It truely felt unreal, like my poodle's coat had been transformed into a chinchilla's .  

The peppermint smell faded almost instantly out of the bath, the pleasant soapy smell remained though for a few days, and reappeared every time Spike got wet. For my dog, that is a lot! He swims almost every day, it was very pleasing indeed!

The Bottom Line. 

Try it, you will be pleased! Buy a 2oz bottle for $3.19 (+S&H ) and give it a shot! If you are just bathing your own dog, this is a good value for the quality you are receiving. If you are a professional groomer looking for your general every day shampoo then the price seems a little steep, BUT in a market that values holistic, organic, fair trade  alternatives for every day life I would say that this is a good get. 

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Orange Apeal

One of my favorite things to do on black, brown, and golden dogs is to add EarthBath Orange Peel Oil shampoo to their bath.  Usually I add a glob of it (using my technical terms here.) to the 15:1 diluted Fresh shampoo, or Oatmeal shampoo. I did recently try it on my Zabu by itself, to satisfy my curiosity and for the purpose of this blog, but we'll get to that later.

Adding the Orange Peel Oil shampoo to our baths brings out the natural highlights on the dogs, it's fantastic! This is a great way of making dogs with red highlights seem more saturated and vibrant. It is worth mentioning that the shine on the dog's coat is phenomenal using this product. Like, blinding passing vehicles with an unholy sheen phenomenal! ok... maybe a little over exaggerating there, but you get the picture.   You'll love love love the smell of it in the bath too, so very citrus! Like, blinding passing noses with an unholy waft of oranges! Ok... that analogy didn't work quite as well as the first one.

Another benefit of Earthbath's Orange Peel Oil shampoo is that it has d'Limonene. D'Limonene is the major component extracted from the oil of an orange peel rind, it is a natural degreaser, stain remover, deodorizer  and insecticide. D'Limonene kills larval and adult fleas. The citrus fragrance is also a natural insect repellent. . On that note, cats hate citrus, so it is also a cat repellent in theory. Probably don't use it on your cat. and by probably don't I mean certainly don't.

Being a degreaser, d'Limonene has the potential to dry out sensitive skin. The Earthbath people thought ahead on that one and added Olive Oil to this shampoo to restore the skin. 

Now, as I said, I had tried this shampoo straight on my border collie, Zabu.  The shine was just as 3-car-pile-up amazing, and his bronzing and reds became more prominent. It cleaned him very well indeed, he felt soft and squeaky clean to the touch, and looked like a shimmering black diamond. So shiny I fell to my knees and wept for the beauty of it all. The citrus smell does not stick around, at least not enough for us humans to catch . I'm sure it still would have served as a decent repellent for insects but Zabu is on Advantix , so I can't say for sure that it was the shampoo keeping him flea and tick free. 


At first glance, the Earthbath Orange Peel Oil shampoo may seem at the pricy side of economic for a shop at $40 - $50 a gallon, or $6 - $10 for a 16oz , but keep in mind that you can use it as an additive to your other shampoos. If you chose to use it straight, it dilutes at an impressive 33:1 !  If you are using it for just your own dog, I think this price range is absolutely great! 


As is the Earthbath rule of thumb, the Orange Peel Oil shampoo has no parabens, phosphates, pthalates, DEA, synthetic dyes or perfumes. The listed ingredients are Purified water, renewable coconut-based cleansers, d'Limonene (orange peel oil), olive oil squalene (natural preservative). All ingredients are natural, 100% biodegradable, and gentle.

The Bottom Line. 

Earthbath's Orange Peel Oil shampoo cleans great, leaves fur shiny, and is a natural flea killer and flea repellent.  The price range is affordable , and the product is well worth it! Gentle and effective, whether you use it as an additive to your baths or use it on its own, it is a great product. Might want to couple it with a cologne though to add a lasting scent if you chose to fly solo with it!

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Let's Talk About Fresh, Baby.

Fresh is our grooming salon's house shampoo, our signature scent, if you will, and for very good reason.  This orange colored shampoo with it's vague  logo of a bugle shooting out streamers and daisies in an orange explosion (wait... what?) is aptly named 'Fresh Pet'. The fragrance is very... well... fresh! It's another one of those hard to describe smells. Let me see if I can pin it down a little for you.  The first time I smelled it I was reminded of fresh produce, like that smell when you walk into the produce section and everything is in season, and it just smells indescribably good. It is not a floral, sweet, musky, earthy, or salony scent.  And let me tell you, it's a good thing it smells so wonderfully, because that fragrance is here to stay! Your dogs will smell bugle-shooting fresh for a couple weeks.  Out of hundreds of clients, I have encountered exactly 2 that did not enjoy the fragrance, and those two preferred we use our scent-free oatmeal shampoo because they were keenly sensitive to smells.  A nice point of this fragrance is that it is gender neutral, just as appropriate for your hunting dogs as  your purse dogs.

Top Performance's Fresh Pet shampoo has a fantastic cleaning power to match!  I've used it on more than one dog who has applied it's own Poo-fume, much to it's owner's dismay. Dogs come out of our shop shiny, soft, and spotless... other then their own natural spots, we let them keep those.

Although I would not recommend Fresh Pet shampoo  for pets with severely reactive skin, neither is it exceptionally harsh. A dog who has been fine with other shampoos will most likely be fine with this one as well. It will not dry out the skin and coat, as some strong cleaning shampoos would.

Some of the listed ingredients are Tea Lauryl Sulfate, Glycerin, and Citric Acid.

Now onto price. Hold onto your tails , kids, or you're going to knock a lot of stuff over with the wagging! The Top Performance Fresh Pet shampoo is a steal at $5.99 for a 17oz , $20.99 for a gallon,  or $79.99 for 5 gallons . It Dilutes 7:1 suggested, but I personal dilute 15:1 and still get astounding results!  You can purchase an 8oz bottle of the matching spray cologne for $5.99 to extend the fragrance another couple weeks, or to use between baths.  We order ours through Pet Edge, so remember to buy all your stuff at once and shave on shipping! It looks like you can find it on other online locations for around $10 for the 17oz bottle as well.

The Bottom Line

Fresh Pet Shampoo from Top Performance is the complete package for your everyday dogs. Great lasting smell, great cleaning power, leaves a nice sheen on the coat, and a fantastic price point. Buy it from PetEdge along with a bigger order so that you don't get hit too hard on shipping.

oO Bubblecollie Oo

mmmmm... Strawberry Yogurt....

In my truly contrary fashion, I continue to break my 'no fruity shampoo' rule by actively seeking out and purchasing fruity shampoo. Something about the duality of man?  The I <3 Pet Head Feeling Flaky shampoo is strawberry yogurt scented and is advertised as being meant for Dry and Sensitive Skin.  I first purchased it when I was scheduled to groom a Golden Retriever with very very sensitive skin. Most shampoos made her itch something terrible, to the point of getting hot spots. Her name was Amber.   To cut to the point, I groomed Amber and everything went great! Her owner told me that she was better after that groom then she had been after any of her previous baths. The only problem was that she kept chewing her paws. Although I had rinsed every part of her thoroughly, apparently just stepping in the rinsed semi-soapy water that slicked the bottom of the tub was enough to irritate her super sensitive skin. But , despite my novice mistake , it went pretty well.

Remembering my experience , I have tried the Strawberry Yogurt Feeling Flaky shampoo again, this time on my poodle Spike. He does not have sensitive skin, or dry skin for that matter.  It cleaned well, smelled great in the tub, rinsed ok, and left no negative impact on his fur. The fragrance does not stay, which is unfortunate because it smells just SO good. This seems to be a trend for me, doesn't it?  Shampoos that will not leave a lasting scent... to be fair though, being a sensitive skin shampoo, you really don't expect a lasting fragrance. Perfumes can irritate after all.

I got my 16oz bottles of Pet Head, Feeling Flaky at TJmaxx for $6.99 . You can find it online for between $6 - $10 +S&H. They do not offer a groomer's gallon though, unfortunately. I think if they did I might have urged my grooming shop manager to try it out for our shop's sensitive skin clientele.  It really does clean very well for a sensitive skin shampoo, and it is truly gentle and none irritating for our more itchy friends. It would pair well with fruity or sweet colognes such as  earthbath - Puppy Spritz .

Some of the listed ingredients are Yucca , Chamomile, and Silk Proteins

The Bottom Line

This is a good, affordable solution if you have a pet who seems to be sensitive to EVERYTHING . Give it a shot!  It's not going to leave your dog smelling like a strawberry, but if your dog breaks out in hotspots every time it gets a bath well... maybe that doesn't matter so much. And if your dog DOES have a reaction to this one, it's on the inexpensive end at least. Just remember to rinse rinse rinse!

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Mighty Protein for Whimpy Hair

Quadruped is a shampoo company that has been around for what feels like forever, (founded in 1997 actually!). I remember as a grooming student seeing their ads in grooming magazines offering free samples and describing luxury shampoos and conditioners. For years as a professional groomer I kept seeing those ads. But if it weren't for their great customer service, I probably would've missed out on some of my favorite products for many more years.

Although Quadruped's labels and logo are a bit simple and understated, their customer service is anything but. Last year in September my colleagues and I went to Hershey, PA for Groom Expo to find the best, the worst, and the coolest deals to hit the grooming world. There is nothing better than going to a groom expo to find what you need , what you didn't know you needed, or to just have fun. Everyone is trying to sell you something, attempting to get you to try their product (or almost everyone, ahem, Nature's Specialties!) and the best part... FREE SAMPLES! Not only did Quadruped give us each two 16oz shampoos and/or conditioners, they also asked us about what breeds we owned so they could give us ANOTHER 16oz shampoo that would get the best results on our specific dogs.

For me they suggested their Protein Concentrated Shampoo. I was offered this because I own poodles and as they get older the vast majority of them start to get brittle or dry coats. Because the coat becomes limp and dead, it is very difficult to get that nice fluffy head. Several companies put out protein shampoos to help combat this issue, problem is they tend to weigh down the coat and be difficult to dry (and not offer free samples!). This is not the case with Quadruped.  The Quadruped Protein Concentrated shampoo is fast drying and leaves the coat light and fluffy. My very long haired poodle, Sable, takes three hours to dry on average.  Using Quadruped's Protein shampoo cuts that time in half.  Not to mention that I can see the results in her coat just as quickly! Her hair, although fluffy and bouncy, is thicker and seems healthier.

As a test I used the shampoo to wash a toy poodle named Keeno. Keeno had always suffered from thinning hair and bald spots, this would be the ultimate test for the protein shampoo. It was exactly what he needed! It really gave him that poodle hair hes' never had. But that wasn't enough for me, I wanted to see what long term effects it would have. I gave Keeno's owner the rest of my bottle and ordered another for myself.  They've been using the shampoo every time he gets groomed, and the last time I saw Keeno his coat would have been the envy of any show poodle! On top of it, his dry dandruffy skin was a thing of the past.  Now it is the only shampoo that is used on him.

I have tried the shampoo on various other small breeds, like Maltese and Bichons and have always been happy with the results.  The downside is the price, at $44 a gallon ($11.50 for 16oz), plus shipping. It's dilution is 1:8 , so you will use it up quickly. This is why I do not use it on dogs over 30lbs.  As professional groomers we need to consider the economy of the products we use, quantity can be just as important as quality. Sometimes the price is just too high to pass on to the customer.

The Bottom Line

Quadruped's Protein Shampoo cleans well, helps speed up your drying time, and has a lasting fragrance. Most of their ingredients are natural, so it would be gentle enough to try on dogs with allergies, but the smell of it might be overpowering for some of the human clients if they are sensitive to fragrance. The perfume is hard to describe, very clean, not floral or sweet, very salon dog. It will greatly improve the quality of your dog's hair, but the price point is steep. Probably not a great everyday dog grooming shampoo, buy it for your own dogs or to help out your 'special cases' if you groom professionally.

** Shampoodle **

Sometimes you smell like a nut, sometimes you don't.

Huge fan of Almond scented soaps over here. Huge fan of almond scent in general in fact! So when I saw that one of my favorite brands, DoubleK/ Groomer's Edge had a Desert Almond shampoo I was PUMPED to try it!  In fact, this was back in grooming school. I remember that at the time I didn't think it had a strong enough scent, especially compared to the DoubleK/Groomer's Edge Alpha White shampoo we had been using up until that point.  But it's always worth a second shot if you don't quite remember, right? Memory can be tricky like that.

I ordered my 16 oz bottle of Desert Almond for  $4.49 , along with the 16oz bottle of ReFURbish conditioner (the real treasure in my order!) from PetEdge. We at the grooming shop combine our orders when the big boss is restocking the shop, to save on shipping of course. Some of you are familiar with the 'gotcha!'  shipping policies and fees Petedge has when they don't feel like you've spent QUITE enough money. So like lampreys attaching themselves to a sperm whale, we piggyback on the larger order and think ourselves quite clever for it, wringing our hands and twisting our handlebar mustaches.

Get in the tub, Spike!  The Desert Almond shampoo cleans well, and smells heavenly in the bath. Alas, in the bath it stays.  Spike's coat was fresh and clean, bouncy as a baby bunny on a trampoline, but nutty it was not. In fact, the shampoo had no lasting fragrance at all. I didn't want to believe it,  I smelled 'phantom' fragrances when I shoved my fat face into his fluffy coat. Unforunately , upon requesting a second opinion from nearby friends, all I received was "Well, he doesn't smell bad."


If you are looking for an Almond smelling pooch, this is not the answer for you. But do not give up hope! If you can find a bottle of Breut Pet Spa Almond shampoo, that will do the trick. I've found 16oz bottles at TJMaxx and Marshalls for $6.99 and 24oz bottles at the same locations for $9.99.  A quick google search shows up nothing for it though, so you might have to snoop around your local shops to get your almond loving paws on a bottle.

And just a thought, if you have a Chocolate Lab, try using the Breut Almond shampoo, followed by Breut Coconut conditioner for that Almond Joy bathtub experience!

The Bottom Line.

The Desert Almond shampoo by Groomer's Edge will not leave your dog smelling like... well... anything really. That aside, it is enriched with vitamins A, D, E, panthenol, and aloe. It cleans thoroughly and gently. If you are ordering some big ticket items from Pet Edge the price is right to tack a bottle on there for $4.49 and follow up with your favorite smelling conditioner or cologne . If you are buying it retail though, at between $8 - $12, I think you can find a better deal in a different shampoo.

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Whatsa matter Pumpkin?

        

          On my never ending quest for seasonal scented shampoos, I found myself craving a Pumpkin Spice shampoo last fall. Sometimes you just need your dog to match your potpourri , airwicks, candles, and linen spray. Am I right?  In my search I quickly found a company local to my state, Mutt Nose Best. Super cute name! Mutt Nose Best has a shampoo called U. Pumpkin Patch Pup so with a begrudging leap of faith I purchased their 14 oz bottle for $15.99 + S&H.
             Half of the bottle was used to rinse the grooming tub in the morning and run through our hose to clear out the stagnant water.
            The U. Pumpkin Patch Pup shampoo has a wonderful pumpkin spice smell while you are washing your dog, but that is the end of it. The shampoo has no lasting fragrance to speak of. It cleaned moderately well, though I question how much of an impact it would have on an exceptionally dirty dog. I don't know, maybe you could just sprinkle some nutmeg on your shih tzu's head after the bath to feel like it was all worth while? Or hey, spend another $14 for the matching spray. Call me crazy, but I am of the opinion that a $16 shampoo should have its own lasting fragrance, even if it is faint.
             But, there is a silver lining to the U. Pumpkin Patch Pup shampoo from Mutt Nose Best. It is a Sulfate free shampoo, made with Organic ingredients including locally grown organic pumpkins, which could account for the high price point. It is a gentle shampoo with vitamins A,C,E &B that is supposed to moisturize dry skin. This might be a good choice for dry skin dogs?  I don't know, because when I offered to let the other three groomers in my shop try it on their dogs they all responded with a very polite, but definitive, 'No thank you.' . And so, the $16 shampoo was used to rinse stagnant water out of our hoses.

The Bottom Line. 

                 U. Pumpkin Patch Pup shampoo by Mutt Nose Best comes from a company with a great mission statement, but is extremely over priced for a shampoo that will not turn heads and does not leave anything close to a fragrance on your dog, let alone leaving your dog 'smelling like a pumpkin pie' like they state.
                If you want to support local organic,  buy it then donate it to a rescue group and do two good deeds at once.

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Tea Tree Time

This past winter a lot of dogs in my area came into our grooming shop with complaints of being super itchy. We did what we could with our soothing oatmeal shampoo, without knowing what was causing the itchyness, there isn't a lot we could do.   My border collie, Zabu, was falling victim to the itchy scratchies as well so I started doing research into some home remedies involving oatmeal baths.  Before I had tried my new salve on him, but of course after I had purchased all the ingredients, I stumbled upon a website about yeast in dogs.  At the time Zabu suffered from some pretty heinous 'frito-feet' . Not the almost charming smell that makes you crave corn chips, but the pungent sour smell you could catch from the other side of the room.  Combining the occurrence of this smell with the wet time of year and itchy red belly, it seemed highly likely that this was a yeast issue.  Good thing I didn't use any oatmeal shampoo or concoctions on him, as oatmeal will actually feed yeast and exacerbate the problem.
       So what to do then?  There are tons of good websites to help solve your yeast problems. I'll make my story shorter and to the point by saying simply that I altered his diet drastically to help him from the inside. But this blog is about shampoo! Tea tree  oil they said, find a good Tea tree oil shampoo. Down to Tjmaxx I went. If you are looking for a quality product at a low price, always check your Tjmaxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, Winners, and Burlington Coat Factory.  This is where I found every bottle of John Paul Pet - Tea Tree Shampoo that I've ever purchased, and for $6.99 !
       The John Paul Pet Tea Tree shampoo has a smell that is 'tea tree'. And tea tree is a smell that you either love or hate. I love it, to me it smells like cut grass. But to Shampoodle it smells like medicine. So maybe take a whiff of the bottle before buying it, or else have a good robust cologne on hand in case you are dissatisfied with the fragrance.
         Smell aside, the Tea Tree shampoo was exactly what we needed to fight the itchy yeast from the outside while the diet fought it from the inside. What had been chronic stop-in-the-middle-of-fetch-every-2-minutes itching was relieved for about 2 or 3 days after each bath. Much to Zabu's dismay, I followed the Tea Tree shampoo routine with stop-gaps of apple cider vinegar rinse dabbed on his underbelly.  The diet change is what cured my border collie's yeast problem, the John Paul Tea Tree is what relieved him and kept him from tearing his skin open while the diet was getting it's foot hold.
        And , on top of all this, I think it cleans great! Zabu's fur was left shiny , clean, and fresh.


       Some of the ingredients listed on the John Paul Pet - Tea Tree Shampoo are Australian Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Chamomilla Extract, and Aloe . If you are using this shampoo to help with yeast , remember that a thorough drying is necessary! Yeast thrives in the wet places on your dog!
       It is important to note that you should not use any tea tree oil products on cats, and if your dog and cat interact a lot with one another, maybe rethink using tea tree oil.

       The Bottom Line.

 Find this product locally for 6.99 if you can! If not, it looks like you can get it for around $9 + S&H online. The price point is good IMHO.  If you like Tea Tree smell, then you will love this fragrance! If you don't... well...  This is a great product for relieving itchiness, especially do to fungal or bacterial infections and it cleans well on top of it.  This is a product that I would buy in a groomers gallon if they offered it.

oO Bubblecollie Oo

Perfectly Peachy

        There is a new air freshener by the grooming tables at work! It is peach, and it is wonderful! This is what sent me on my quest to find a peachy scented shampoo.   As a rule I dislike fruity smells on dogs. And as a rule I always discard that rule, and try fruity smells on dogs.   Wouldn't you know it, Nature's Specialties ran an ad for their Peachy  Perfect shampoo in a grooming magazine I subscribe to! 
         First things first, my 16oz bottle cost $13.50 , plus a suspiciously high shipping cost of over $11 . But when you've got to have peach, you've got to have peach. So I crossed my fingers that it was worth the money and confirmed my order.
        2 weeks later my shampoo arrived and with rabid peach lust I tore open the box and opened the bottle. Seriously, like sticking your face in a bag of peach-rings! I loved it!  Ok , Spike, time for a bath.
        The peach smell only lasts in the bottle, I'm afraid, but the delicate fragrance of the shampoo is wonderful in and of itself. Much like Nature's Specialties- Plum Silky, the Peachy Perfect does not smell fruity on your pooch, but the actual aroma is still to be adored. The best way I can describe it is that it smells like the old 80's and 90's My Little Pony toys ... I suppose not everyone will understand that reference, but those who do are already clamoring to order their own bottles.  Very delicate, very 'puppy'.  It wasn't what I was looking for, but I'm so very thrilled to have found it anyway.
                                               The Peachy Perfect is a Paraben free, Sulfate free, gentle shampoo safe for puppys and kittens. Some of the ingredients listed are Aloe Vera, Chamomile, Sage, Rosemary, and Nettle. The selling point to me about this shampoo ,though, is how well it rinses. When I groom my poodle at home, I do it in my bathtub and rinse him with a teapot. It gets very frustrating.  Not with Peachy Perfect, it rinsed so cleanly, and so well I actually re-washed Spike after the rinse, this time without diluting the shampoo, to make sure I had used enough. Even without dilution, it rinsed out quickly and easily.
                                               After drying him out , my poodle's coat is bouncy and clean, full of volume and very fresh. I have actually had a couple comments from friends on how he looks exceptionally fluffy after his last bath. 
                                              As I'm writing this it has been about 3 days after the bath. Spike's fur still smells as Pony-rific as the first day. It is a subtle smell, but with your face in his fur it is unmistakable.  I think it would pair well with most colognes, it is not an overpowering fragrance.


                                           Bottom line!
                                           I would buy it again, but only if I were ordering more from Nature's Specialties, or combining the order with a friend. The cost of the shampoo is acceptable for the quality, but the high shipping cost puts it at an unreasonable price for one 16oz bottle.  Not Peachy, but pretty smelling none the less!  Great cleaning power, great rinse, leaves the coat in good condition, and gentle enough to use on a weekly basis.


ps. If you know of a good peachy shampoo, shoot me a line! Still on the hunt, as that air freshener taunts me... maybe i'll just strap it to my dog's head....

oO Bubblecollie Oo