Dog self service washes- opinions please!!

[fikel]

Have any of you had experience of self service dog washes, that are popular in the US, NZ and Oz?
You can choose what programme you require, including shampoo, conditioner, blow dry and even flea treatment. Would you use it say you had been to the park before putting doggie in the car, or instead of going to the groomers as would be a lot cheaper. Thanks in advance

[sparechange]

It sounds like something that would potentially terrify and injure my dogs!

We have towels and a dog bed in the car which do the job. And a dog bag with a toggle around the neck if she is really filthy

[reallyreallyreallytired]

I've seen these they are great. It's just a bathtub type thing with shower attachment that you put money in for how long and you are awar! I would love more of these

[BiteyShark]

Ummm no I would not consider it and think my dog would hate it.

[reallyreallyreallytired]

I read your post above again....lol! It's not like a automatic car wash!! It's a self service shower thing to stop you getting (fox shit) mud over your own house 😂

[HemanOrSheRa]

Ooh. I have never seen these! Yes, definitely. I have a JRT. She always gets a very dirty belly and has to be showered when we get home from walks.

[TattyCat]

Not really. I like the idea, but I fill a watering can with warm water when I get home and 'hose' her down with that (I can't bring myself to use a freezing cold hose pipe as some I know do). It's effective and cheaper!

[fikel]

Sorry probably didn't explain it right!! It is v dog friendly, they stand in the equivalent of what you would call a bath, all non slip. They are safely attached by their lead. It runs through the programme through a handheld hose, that the owner would use and it means you don't have to bend down or get your own bathroom mucky

[TattyCat]

Unless she's been rolling in fox poo, as is her wont. Then she gets in our shower for the full works. Which is often, to be fair. A dog wash wouldn't get rid of the smell unless the shampoo available was specifically for fox or badger etc poo.

[taptonaria27]

I'd like one, big dog and no moveable shower head in the house means the dog has never had a bath in the six months we've had him

[TattyCat]

It would be useful except mine won't go near a dryer so needs towelling off. The dryer would terrify her and I wouldn't want her in the car sopping wet (labrador so takes an age to dry), so it'd be easier to do it at home.

[TheFlyingFauxPas]

Ddog is a huge fan of fox poo. Couldn't even leave it alone on Christmas day We use It's a Dog'sLife from Asda. 2 in 1. Gets the vile stuff and smell off.

[potoftea]

I'd love one.....dh and I often mused that such a thing should exist. Didn't realise someone had come up with the idea before us!

[sparechange]

Oh I had visions of a car wash type thing

[HemanOrSheRa]

spare that has cheered me up and made me laugh !

[BiteyShark]

I must admit when it was described as an a self service thing I thought car wash as well

[SparklingRaspberry]

No I wouldn't.

I personally think you should only wash a dog if you really have no other choice, or for medical reasons which is different of course. Dogs are meant to be mucky and smelly. They're dogs!

[sparechange]

Raspberry, there is really nothing at all wrong with giving dogs the occasional bath. Many breeds were developed to be in water a lot of the time (Poodles, labs, spaniels, newfies etc etc)
As long as you aren't using lots of harsh detergents which strip the oils from the coat and can irritate the skin, it won't do any harm

SpareDogs would much rather have baths if it means they can sneak up onto the sofa for cuddles, than not have baths but be banished to the utility room!

[fikel]

If you have your dog on your sofa, knee etc then much better if they're clean, they're are domesticated pets after all. Personally don't like my house stinking of doggie

[MidniteScribbler]

This is what they look like.

I'm in Australia, and they were awesome when I was moving interstate, as I had no access to my grooming gear, and we moved in the middle of the wettest winter in a long time, and had to stay in a holiday house with mud in the backyard instead of lawn. I spent a lot of time at the self service dog wash in those few months while I was waiting for my hydrobath and dryers to arrive.

The only downside for me is that it is a timed service (you pay per minute), and when I'm show grooming I obviously faff around a lot more putting treatments on the coat, and I spend a lot more time blow drying that the average person would, so it could be quite expensive for me. But for their purpose, a quick wash and dry, they are absolutely brilliant. I can't believe you don't have them in the UK.

[pigsDOfly]

Love the idea of it being like a car wash. Have visions of my small dog waiting patiently, hair blowing in the wind, while huge rollers fly back and forth

Can't imagine it would be popular here for some reason. Might be popular with the odd person who owns a large dog who has a strong liking for fox poo, but then it would have to be in the right place, like the edge of the woods so it's available before the dog has to get in the car.

[HemanOrSheRa]

Ooh that's fancy Midnite!

[Ylvamoon]

In principal I like the idea, especially at the exit of our local country park, but it takes forever to dry my pooches (lovely long hair), so it be probably wet dog v poor owner - I assume you'd pay for time rather than service!???

[WeAllHaveWings]

The one in the picture looks lovely and clean, bet it wouldn't stay that way for long!

Wouldn't fancy putting my muddy dog in it after a fox poo covered dog if the owner never cleaned the machine after them. Also when my Labrador moulting there is hair sticking everywhere after a bath, would take me ages to clean this after we'd done.

Potential wet floor slip hazard around the machine from dogs shaking themselves dry. I don't seem many places wanting them indoors on their premises.

[MidniteScribbler]

The one in the picture looks lovely and clean, bet it wouldn't stay that way for long!

They have a disinfecting cycle built in. And they are usually at either pet shops, vets or car washes where the staff will clean them when needed.

Potential wet floor slip hazard around the machine from dogs shaking themselves dry.

No slip rubberised surfacing is what I've seen in most places where they are in use.

[fikel]

MidniteScribbler, thank you for all the indepth information. I know they're massive in Australia and it really seem v well designed