Grooming your dog is expensive! It takes extra time and money that you may not have every month. If you have a short-haired breed, you may not have to deal with hair cuts or expensive grooming trips for the most part, but those anti-flea/sensitive skin dog shampoos from the store are definitely not cheap. The solution for this is actually very simple. Make your own.
I know that for me, the prospect of “DIY”ing can be terrifying, and followed inevitably by the “what-ifs.” What if I do it wrong? What if I can’t find the right ingredients? What if it makes a huge mess in my house during prep? What if I’m just not a good DIYer? Isn’t it just easier to buy it from the store and be done? No, and it’s certainly not easier on your wallet.
You can do this! Take a look at these simple ingredients and see for yourself.
Liquid Shampoo
This shampoo will also help with Flea removal!
What you need:
- 1 cup of natural liquid dish soap. (Use natural for color-free soap)
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1/3 cup glycerin ( cheap and easy to find on the soap isle)
- Empty jar or bottle for shampoo storage
Starting with the dish soap, pour ingredients into your bottle or jar. When all ingredients have been added, add the lid and shake it up. Voila! When using the shampoo, lather it up and let it sit for at least 5 minutes if you are intending it to kill fleas. During this time, use a comb or brush to remove fleas from fur. It’s that easy, and really inexpensive in the long run.
Dry Shampoo
Why would you need a dry shampoo for your dog? If you have dog who loves to play in the dirt, or just get messy in general, washing him with soap and water every day will severely dry out his skin and could possibly damage his coat. Using a dry shampoo between washing will help your pets coat and natural chemistry reassert itself which it does need time to do.
What You Need:
- 1 cup of baking soda
- 1 cup of corn starch
- A few drops of an essential oil. Lemon and Lavander, and Peppermint are good choices.
Sprinkle the mixture on your dog and massage it into the dog’s skin with your hands or with a comb or brush. It is best not to use too much baking soda at a time — a cup for a mid-sized dog, half a cup for a very small dog or puppy — and not to apply this method too frequently, since the residue from the powder can accumulate, no matter how much a dog shakes himself afterward. A dry shampoo is just to get you by until the next bath, but both of these recipes can help you get from paycheck to paycheck.
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