I am a non dog owner taking care of a dog for a friend

[barbarianoftheuniverse]

a black lab. Smelly and shedding everywhere, dandruffy and rather itchy. (This is an emergency look after.) I have brushed him and brushed him and bought new collar (old one was very tight) and walked him across fields which he loved. But he is not used to walks, just let out into yard. So: 1. How far can I walk him without making him worn out? 2. Can I wash him, and if so, with what? Would water on its own make him worse? (Owner has worries enough at the moment- can't bother them). Thanks.

i'd stick with the food he is used to, and watch the scraps. Generally labs have cast iron constitutions, but some are digestively challenged!

and what goes in must come out!

Most labs can cope with a very quick change of food - think of the shit they scavenge!

If you have a pets at home nearby, their Wainwrights own brand is good. Chappie and winlot plain mixer if it's convenient. Skinners rice based food can be bought in many farmers stores and is pretty good. Burns is expensive, but good; so is Fish4dogs.

Anything like royal Canin, hills, Iams, Eukanuba is crappy food dressed up and highly priced.

Supermarket own food is often full of crappy mixer and really poor quality bulking ingredients - and just like us, they smell of what they eat. The crappy ingredients will be also a significant contributor to the poorly ears, hair loss and dandruff.

You sound to be doing brilliantly.
The cat stuff for his ears will be fine, I use Otodex from the pet shop on my lot if needed, save you an expensive vet visit.
He won't want to go home!

Your friend and her dog are very lucky to have you. All the best!

I recommend Chudleys food, it's really cheap but not full of crap, sold at most countrywide stores. Labs have a tendency towards 'Hot spots' which is obviously what has happened under his collar, poor lad.

We use chudleys too. I'd buy greyhound for now, but if you get him fit (and are keeping him for long enough) I'd then switch to working crunch.

We work our labs and use the greyhound in the off season.

A little tip - dog food sold for working dogs, so things with greyhound, or working dog in the title, don't have VAT on them so are a bit cheaper.

Thanks so much everyone for the crash course in dog caring.
He has been fed and walked this morning, do you think I can leave for 2 hours?
He has reeking teddy he takes to bed. Do you think I would spoil it if I washed it? (He was okay with reeking bedding being washed.)
His coat is all ripply this morning, like water marks. I'm quite proud of it.

Yes leave him, you can wash the teddy - but wait untill you are home so that he can have his little mate with him while you are out.

His coat will recover very quickly if you look after it. Lots of brushing and the occasional bath!

Well done you! What a nice friend.

Well done, sounds like he's settling in nicely. I expect he'd like to stay with you permanently........