Outdoor dog wash station. Anyone have one?

[dave123456]

Smint said:

LimaDelta said:

Can't believe I'm the only one to suggest it - let the dog live outside? If you are that bothered about your house, and live somewhere muddy, then this is the best option. Our Collie lives outside, we only bring him inside to his crate when it is forecast below zero overnight. Our neighbours have five working Cockers and they all live outside year-round. Nearby gundog business and farmers all keep their dogs outside. Not sure why people in this country think dogs need to live in a house.

Those are working animals maybe part of a business venture, similar case for guard dogs, you provide them a shelter from the worst of the elements and you make sure the dog is of the type that can stand the cold in the first place, they are bought or bred for a purpose not pets.

For most people their dogs are pets and companions and dare i say it better and more loyal friends than too many people prove to be.

My opinion which no one asked for is that a typical working strain cocker or sprocker springer whatever will be in all the muck undergrowth woods and water when out and about doing what it enjoys best, unless its going to lead a miserable life stuck on a lead, if you want a dog guaranteed to bring as much muck home in its furry oversized paws you couldn't choose better.

I’ve a working cocker and she’s not too bad at all. Has her moments.

I’m not convinced living outside is a solution many people would go for, ultimately they are pets, not working animals.

[PlywoodPascal]

Just to say, get a cat, it cleans itself.

[LimaDelta]

dave123456 said:

ultimately they are pets, not working animals.

I'm not sure the dog knows the difference.

Working breeds often have innate tendencies to 'do work', which is why they can be demanding as pets and need the right stimulus. Our Collie often tries to herd our sheep (and hens, kids, cats, etc), even though he's not trained.

[LimaDelta]

AndyAudi said:

Smint said:

LimaDelta said:

Can't believe I'm the only one to suggest it - let the dog live outside? If you are that bothered about your house, and live somewhere muddy, then this is the best option. Our Collie lives outside, we only bring him inside to his crate when it is forecast below zero overnight. Our neighbours have five working Cockers and they all live outside year-round. Nearby gundog business and farmers all keep their dogs outside. Not sure why people in this country think dogs need to live in a house.

Those are working animals maybe part of a business venture, similar case for guard dogs, you provide them a shelter from the worst of the elements and you make sure the dog is of the type that can stand the cold in the first place, they are bought or bred for a purpose not pets.

FYI, some Farm assurance schemes now check you’ve got heating for working animals living outside. A sheep farmer pal got a bit of grief as had to admit he didn’t know where his dog slept! (Large farm lots of bales)

We have a heat pad in his kennel sleeping area, which combined with hay bedding actually keeps it surprisingly toasty under most conditions.

[PushedDover]

I’m with You OP.
A handy room / facility for you, the dog, cleaning things off.
I’m just in from a foul muddy mountain bike ride.
I half hose myself off out side, stip just inside the back door and head for a shower upstairs.
Your suggested set up would be ideal for multiple reasons - and for drying gear off etc

[dave123456]

LimaDelta said:

dave123456 said:

ultimately they are pets, not working animals.

I'm not sure the dog knows the difference.

Working breeds often have innate tendencies to 'do work', which is why they can be demanding as pets and need the right stimulus. Our Collie often tries to herd our sheep (and hens, kids, cats, etc), even though he's not trained.

You are right. But it takes a born and bred farmer, in the main, to treat a dog as a working animal. I couldn’t sit and read a book knowing my dog was outside in the rain.

And if the dog doesn’t know the difference then at least one of us is happier.

However on the basis of the original question I accept I’m probably missing the point somewhat.

[MDMA .]

Outside tap on the garage, cold water only with a little hose attachment. Ours gets washed down with this whenever she comes back wet or dirty. Towel dried before she comes in, then more often than not, she goes and curls up in her bed.

[PlywoodPascal]

Do any of you detail your dogs?
What’s your favourite wax?

[Slowboathome]

PlywoodPascal said:

Do any of you detail your dogs?
What’s your favourite wax?

Hadn't thought of that. I tend to imagine mine as sitting in the hairdresser's chair. I chat with her as I apply 'product'. "Going anywhere nice for your holidays love?"

[liner33]

We use a Mud Daddy and old towels with our Lab , I do have hot and cold outside taps but the Mud daddy is just fine

[the benno]

Warm water tap ( thermostatic mixer plumbed inside)
After a walk our 2 springers get a nice hose off with warm water then towel dried.
Then they get left to dose off in our utility room for a few hours until properly dry.

• dogs will definitely ruin parts of your house on a regular basis particularly when puppies.

[Bonefish Blues]

PlywoodPascal said:

Do any of you detail your dogs?
What’s your favourite wax?

Fox poo shampoo. Why do dogs find it so alluring?

[MDMA .]

PlywoodPascal said:

Do any of you detail your dogs?
What’s your favourite wax?

No. Just a light misting of bergamot and cedarwood oil now and again.

[Smint]

Bonefish Blues said:

Fox poo shampoo. Why do dogs find it so alluring?

and cat poo so yummy

[PlywoodPascal]

2 bucket method
Put dog in soapy water bucket
Dog self agitates to ensure ideal cleaning
Remove dog and place into clean water bucket
Dog self rinses. Remove and air dry.
For best results use distilled or reverse osmosis purified water - can get water marks otherwise.

[Gerradi]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Eerily similar to our set up. It has been made perfectly clear to the dog that if he rolls in st, he gets the hose

I cheat a bit , I make himwear a coat as 1st line of defence when the little sod rubs on a rotting jelly like carcus... now that does pong, he's a field dog
Here he is with one that didn't get away...

[tamore]

3 labs in our house. had a raised dog shower built into the out house when we had our extension built. so glad we did for when they need showering in the winter months.

[AstonZagato]

Two golden retrievers at home. They are absolute dirt magnets and take hours to dry completely.
Hose at the back door (into the utility room). Towels inside.
I was staying at a dog friendly hotel this week and their hose had been nicked. I’d been yomping through muddy fields all day with one of the dogs and he looked like a swamp monster. I popped him in the bath in my room. The water was black. Thankfully they had dog towels that dried the dog and had to clean down the filth he created.

[a311]

We got a Vizla this year, first of thar breed but not first dog. Easily the cleanest dog we've had, our daily walk she gets mudded up we then cross a small stream that seems to get the thick of it off and by time we're home there's not much of anything left.

First dog I've ever had that's had a coat though. My wife and daughters doing but it does help a bit. They've no under coat like most breeds so allegedly feel the cold more, probably right as ours can often be found leaning up against the radiators on cold days, never known anything like it....

Very low maintainance grooming wise and barely sheds. Definitely something to consider when choosing a breed. My mother didn't and now has a ball of fluff that needs constant grooming.

[Bonefish Blues]

Helps that my mother was a professional groomer and I learned a bit from her. An hour every 6-8 weeks with clippers and scissors helps no end in terms of ease of upkeep - and Apsos don't shed, which helps too.