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Australian Dog Lover
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We discovered Houndztooth's range of natural dog shampoos and conditioning sprays at the 2018 Melbourne Dog Lovers Show and were very impressed by their choice of goat's milk and Australian botanicals as the core ingredients and presented in a classic monochrome packaging.
Dog bath time has always been a struggle in our house... It probably does not help that we try to line up our three reluctant puppers one after the other on the same sunny afternoon as we try to make a mess of our bathroom just for that one day! The whole experience is a chore for all parties involved and no one is looking forward to it!
It makes a big difference however when you can find an Australian brand of natural dog shampoos and conditioners you know won’t leave your dogs’ skin with a nasty itch but will keep them smelling nice and fresh for days! As our pack mainly lives indoors, we can sometimes stretch this into weeks...
Dog bath time has always been a struggle in our house... It probably does not help that we try to line up our three reluctant puppers one after the other on the same sunny afternoon as we try to make a mess of our bathroom just for that one day! The whole experience is a chore for all parties involved and no one is looking forward to it!
It makes a big difference however when you can find an Australian brand of natural dog shampoos and conditioners you know won’t leave your dogs’ skin with a nasty itch but will keep them smelling nice and fresh for days! As our pack mainly lives indoors, we can sometimes stretch this into weeks...
Behind the Houndztooth Brand
Founded in 2018 by Rachael Tricarico, the Houndztooth Brand is representative of the traditional houndstooth pattern in terms of its quality and sophistication but it comes with a modern twist.
Most of us are familiar with the houndstooth textile pattern which has been around since at least 100BC. These days, the contemporary houndstooth check is made with alternating bands of four dark and four light threads to make a repeating pattern of a dog’s tooth.
This truly is a brand made by a dog lover for those who share the same value of treating your dogs as part of the family.
All the names for the natural dog grooming line were inspired by Rachael’s own dogs over the years: from Hugo the English Staffy to Coco the German Shepherd, followed by Charlie the rescue Cavalier King Charles Spaniel not to forget Stella (Hugo’s great grand niece!) who currently rules the household!
Introducing the Houndztooth Dog Grooming Range
Founded in 2018 by Rachael Tricarico, the Houndztooth Brand is representative of the traditional houndstooth pattern in terms of its quality and sophistication but it comes with a modern twist.
Most of us are familiar with the houndstooth textile pattern which has been around since at least 100BC. These days, the contemporary houndstooth check is made with alternating bands of four dark and four light threads to make a repeating pattern of a dog’s tooth.
Stella the Staffy inspired Blend No. 2 |
All the names for the natural dog grooming line were inspired by Rachael’s own dogs over the years: from Hugo the English Staffy to Coco the German Shepherd, followed by Charlie the rescue Cavalier King Charles Spaniel not to forget Stella (Hugo’s great grand niece!) who currently rules the household!
Introducing the Houndztooth Dog Grooming Range
Aramis interviewed at bath time: "didn't we do this last month already?" |
All the dog shampoos and their matching deodorising sprays are easily numbered from No. 1 to No.3 so we elected to trial the Houndztooth dog shampoo blends in that order.
We focused on using Hugo’s Blend No. 1 for our first bath test with Aramis (she volunteered!)
We focused on using Hugo’s Blend No. 1 for our first bath test with Aramis (she volunteered!)
This was definitely the first time we had come across a pet grooming range entirely based on goat's milk. This rich blend promised to not only clean our dog but also deliver long lasting coat freshness which is exactly what we need in this house as baths are very much ad-hoc!
Hugo's Blend No. 1 Dog Shampoo harnesses the power of Australian Banksia and virgin Coconut Oil to moisturise and nourish your dog's sensitive skin and coat.
Refreshing Lemon Myrtle and Peppermint essential oils also help clean and condition your dog's coat for optimal health and shine.
When we started bathing our (now senior) dog many years ago, we found that cheap brands purchased from the supermarket would create so many soap suds it was very hard to rinse him off thoroughly. We did not read labels back in those days, assuming that if the products were on the shelves, they would be both safe and fit for purpose. We know better now and I’m sure our dogs are very grateful for our more discerning choices!
We liked the fact that we did not need many squeezes to create a lather but it wasn’t overly foamy either. The best part were the refreshing Peppermint and Lemon Myrtle notes but none of the fragrances were overpowering.
I'm sure we were supposed to finish off with the matching Hugo's Blend No.1 Conditioning Spray but we ended up grabbing instead Charlie's Blend No. 3 Spray and Deodoriser.
As it turns out, Blend No. 3 also features some Australian botanical oils and the Green Tea, Lemon Myrtle, Fir Needle notes made for a very refreshing final spritz and comb through a damp dog coat.
We're lucky none of our dogs have suffered from food or skin allergies over the years. Aramis briefly experienced hot spots once, probably caused by dust mites in her bedding but it did not last too long and we now clean all dog beds and covers more frequently.
Knowing that many dogs do suffer from skin allergies, Houndztooth also created Coco’s Blend No.4 which is a natural topical Rescue and Relief Spray.
It combines soothing Aloe Vera, Tea Tree, Lavender, Cucumber, Chamomile and Calendula with moisturising virgin Coconut Oil.
This dermal spray is specifically formulated to be pH balanced and safe for dogs to lick (soap and silicone free).
Our Verdict
Your best bet is to grab a duo pack of your favourite fragrances so you can use the dog shampoo followed by the spray and deodoriser for those days when you have time to give your dog the full grooming experience. I hear some dogs actually enjoy this?
We found that just a few spritzes of the deodorising spray before a quick brush or rub down also works a treat between baths. It gives our dogs a nice refresh especially if someone’s coming over at short notice. We may love our dogs’ smell but strangely not everyone does!
If your dogs are in the habit of licking their paws or skin after a grooming session, you can be safe in the knowledge that there are no nasties being used in any of these products.
We found that just a few spritzes of the deodorising spray before a quick brush or rub down also works a treat between baths. It gives our dogs a nice refresh especially if someone’s coming over at short notice. We may love our dogs’ smell but strangely not everyone does!
If your dogs are in the habit of licking their paws or skin after a grooming session, you can be safe in the knowledge that there are no nasties being used in any of these products.
Price & Where to Buy
RRP: $29.95 (500ml / 15.6fl.oz) for all dog shampoos; $24.95 (250ml / 8.8fl.oz) for all conditioning sprays at www.houndztooth.com.au
Disclaimer: products gifted by Houndztooth Australia for the purpose of this review.
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