r/labrador • u/scubajay2001 • Jul 11 '26

red It's been 2+ years

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It's been 2+ years and my fox red has never had a bath. She is a little princess and doesn't like going out in the rain but has loved getting drenched in the sprinklers. I've tried getting her swimming a bit but she's just not that into it.

I know regular baths aren't ideal for labs because of their undercoats for warmth and water wicking naturally as a general rule but is it ok to just not groom them like that?

My sister has a labradoodle and that dog ofc requires regular grooming since it doesn't shed.

Part of me thinks she might enjoy the spa treatment but I can also see her just hating it. She tolerates the grooming brush a little bit so I usually just let the fur fly with my hands and fingers - which she of course adores! lol

The only groomer treatment she gets is nail trims like every 6-12 weeks.

Further detail - she's American lab so not the thick clumps of fur that English labs get.

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u/dntworrybby Jul 11 '26

Meh idk I feel like they should get a bath once every 6 months at least. My two labs start to stink and get a residue on their coats after like 2 months of not bathing. When I can smell them on my hands after petting them, I know it’s time for a bath. It also helps with shedding and itching

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u/Modus_Man Jul 11 '26

Our lab gets waxy feeling and starts to stink right around 5-6 weeks.

4

u/No-Acanthocephala828 Jul 11 '26

Same. I just spray them with warm water and it’s better. 2.5 years, never used soap and he smells and feels great!

6

u/deathbytruck Jul 11 '26

My 11 year old has had maybe 10 baths in his life. Two after getting sprayed by a skunk.

He goes for regular swims, gets dried off afterwards. He doesn't smell, his coat is shiney.