[gabbygool]

So this is weird, but has anyone ever had their havi roll around in dry sand, only to appear cleaner afterwards? Enzo loves taking a "dust bath" like this, and the sand comes out without any intervention on my part. He doesn't have frequent access to sand but when he does, he has a blast. I'm wondering if his natural inclinations to dust bathing could be used to help keep him clean between baths. Any thoughts on this? I havent found anything on it but I know mammals and even domestic dogs use dust baths to exfoliate and dislodge dead skin, food, and other things from the hair. I wonder too if it could help them keep dry. It's obviously not going to take the place of regular grooming but I just want to know what other people think!

 

[krandall]

Sure they will do it… For a dog with a heavy coat (remember that Enzo is still young) I find that it takes longer to get all the sand out without water than to just put them in the tub. They are ”dripping” sand around the house, even after me TRYING to brush it all out, for days. And they get it on/in MY bed, which is a non-starter!

I have no doubt that this is instinctive, and useful in a dog who has a NATURAL length coat. But Havanese coats are NOT natural. A coated Havanese that has been “on the lam” for even a few days, in the woods or on the streets is unrecognizably matted from the debris that gets caught and then felted into their coats in very short order. We haven’t done much to undermine the functional STRUCTURE of the Havanese, as some breeds have done, but they sure couldn’t survive long with these coats as feral dogs!

 

[gabbygool]

Sure they will do it… For a dog with a heavy coat (remember that Enzo is still young) I find that it takes longer to get all the sand out without water than to just put them in the tub. They are ”dripping” sand around the house, even after me TRYING to brush it all out, for days. And they get it on/in MY bed, which is a non-starter!

I have no doubt that this is instinctive, and useful in a dog who has a NATURAL length coat. But Havanese coats are NOT natural. A coated Havanese that has been “on the lam” for even a few days, in the woods or on the streets is unrecognizably matted from the debris that gets caught and then felted into their coats in very short order. We haven’t done much to undermine the functional STRUCTURE of the Havanese, as some breeds have done, but they sure couldn’t survive long with these coats as feral dogs!

That's very true! Just curious what you guys had experience with. Enzo's coat is still growing so I've been lucky that the sand seems to come out pretty quickly just with him running around outside. Thanks for entertaining this thought with me though 😂

 

[krandall]

That's very true! Just curious what you guys had experience with. Enzo's coat is still growing so I've been lucky that the sand seems to come out pretty quickly just with him running around outside. Thanks for entertaining this thought with me though 😂

Considering that mine happily roll in turkey poo, they are pretty indiscriminate!

 

[gabbygool]

Considering that mine happily roll in turkey poo, they are pretty indiscriminate!

I am so lucky my boy doesn't roll in poops! My mom's coton de tulear also loves bird poo. Enzo likes rolling on all of his toys, some treats, and his chews, and sometimes they get stuck in his hair and when he gets up to look for the thing he was rolling on he gets so confused 🤣

 

[krandall]

I am so lucky my boy doesn't roll in poops! My mom's coton de tulear also loves bird poo. Enzo likes rolling on all of his toys, some treats, and his chews, and sometimes they get stuck in his hair and when he gets up to look for the thing he was rolling on he gets so confused 🤣

Kodi and Pixel are my “Holy Rollers” fortunately, Panda and Ducky don’t roll in poop or other nasties!

 

[Beny’s Mom]

Beny, at 12 weeks, loves to dig a hole and roll in it. Florida soil is very sandy. He goes from white and tan to gray and tan by the time that he is done. I have been “dusting” him with car wash mittens I bought just for this. Working better between baths than microfiber towel I was using before