Shampoo? Getting a new puppy in 2 weeks. What shampoo do you recommend?

[Jacks Mom]

Hi,

We're getting a new lab puppy in a few weeks. What shampoo do you recommend?

Also, do the breeders typically give them a bath before sending them home with new owners...need to rid of that full puppy litter smell!

[Mary Jane]

Welcome! I never bathe Mya except for when she rolls in something and even then I try to just spot clean. My chocolate lab used to roll in stinky stuff all the time and so she got a lot of baths. I think a lot of the more "in the know" lab folks will tell you not to bath them as it dries out the coat. Congratulations on your new pup!!!

[MnMsMom9902]

Our breeder told us not to bath our lab unless she rolls in something really nasty. Otherwise, give her a good hose down with just water as often as you like.

[Tanya]

the breeder is the only one that can tell you if they give baths, that will depend on if puppies rolled in something and on the breeder.

labs are a breed that should NOT get baths often (most of us go at least a year). though if puppy rolls in something stinky you obviously need to wash (but for mudd and sand that washes off with just water). Soap trips their fur of the oils it needs to be healthy.

make sure to use dog shampoo NOT human. Earthbath line is good but any dog shampoo is fine.

[Spike's Mom]

Spike didn't smell like anything other than a puppy when we brought him home....then he went on to smell like pee lol. If you have to bathe him I would say something very very mild like baby shampoo. Spike gets a bath these days a few days before he's due for his frontline. He starts to get itchy and stinky about a week and a half before but he plays with other dogs a few times a week. I do notice when they hose him down (rainy day/large puddle day or even playing in the pool) he develops hot spots behind his ears if they aren't really dried. Something else to watch out for

[HersheyK's Dad]

Hershey Kisses is 4.5 years old and has never had a 'bath'. She has been hosed down when she has gotten really muddy, and twice when she rolled in a dead animal carcass. Labs just don't need baths. Almost anything (skunk spray excluded) can be hosed off.

[Bailey's Mom]

Bailey is 10 months and has only had 1 bath. We used "pethead" sensitive skin formula. I'm aware Luke everyone else has said to only give labs a bath 1 or twice a year because if their skin. We were planning on having Bailey get a professional bath at the end of the summer because since she has been swimming in the lake this summer she has been smelling pretty funky...but maybe ill try housing her down more to see if the smell comes off.

[Jan]

I have never bathed Corby - I love his doggie smell! Wait, he did get skunked once, so got the treatment for that

[dweck]

Do NOT use baby shampoo or any other shampoo formulated for humans. It's all much too harsh. My recommendation echoes that of those above>>> The best shampoo for a Labrador is none at all.

[Mark_J]

We'll use Oster's Natural Oatmeal 'Gentle Puppy' when we can't just use the hose. It's as mild and natural as we could find and seems to do a good job of cleaning off any nasty odor they might get themselves into.