We have finally gotten a puppy!  A beautiful 8-week old (well, pretty much 9-week old by now) German Shepperd girl dog (it just doesn’t sound right to call her bitch) that we’re calling Smokey.  This pre-bath picture does not do her justice, but you’ll have to wait until I get more.

I’m sure I’ll blog a LOT about her, but this particular posting is about doggy shampoo!  Of course, we have a dog so the kids want to give her a bath.  A few months ago, when I suspected one day we’d get a dog but didn’t know when, I got a Scientific Explorer Pamper Your Dog Science Kit at the flea market for $2.  One of the activities in this kit is making doggy shampoo so you can give your doggy a bath.  Well, we made the shampoo and we could not believe just how soft and fluffy Smokey is.  I have *never* petted a softer dog or puppy in my life.  She smells great too!  I did a quick search and found out that glycerine soap, the main ingredient in this shampoo, is actually good for dogs’ coats.  It’s also cheap and easy to find.

This basic recipe is good enough as it is – but you can also add a couple of drops of the essential oil of your choice to make the puppy smell extra-nice (or get a perfumed glycerine soap).  Lavender essential oil smells nice and works against ticks, while white cedar, peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella essential oils may help with fleas.  Use any natural (non-mineral) oil you have at home.

Doggy Shampoo

  • 1 oz bar glycerin soap
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Chop/cut the soap into chunks.  Put it in a microwave-safe glass together with the water and the oil.  Microwave for 30 seconds, mix well, and, if the soap is not yet melted, microwave for 15 to 30 seconds more.  Let cool