DOG By Dr Lisa - Starter Set Review

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. Products bought with my own money at full price. Thoughts and opinions are totally my own. Post contains an affiliate link and if you decide to purchase and use my code BIJOU15 I will get a credit and you will save money, thank you for your support! 

Hello! I'm back!

It might be a surprise that this blog is alive after a long hiatus. I've gone through some pretty major life changes. For instance, I got a dog.

Bijou says 'hi'!

I'm a first time puppy owner, so a lot of this process has been trial and error. And intense researching and nerding out. And the main thing I've discovered is that it's damn hard to find actual reviews of products. I've bought so many toys that get chewed through within days, or leashes that fall apart with some tugging from my 4kg puppy, or shampoos that result in a very yappy and itchy puppy. But it's just impossible to know what you're looking for if you have no frame of reference. 

Ferocious chewing!

Bathing a dog is already stressful enough. Let alone a puppy that can, intends to, and does let the whole neighbourhood know you are murdering her via water torture. When I first bought her shampoo, I just chose the cheapest one because I figured, what's the harm? It was just like how before my teenhood, I just used whatever grocery store shampoo my parents had because I didn't think it would make a difference. You would think as a skincare nerd, I should have known better...

Then, I bought the Pet Circle Puppy Pack which included a shampoo, and I thought:

"Great! Two big shampoo bottles. I'm set! I don't need to buy shampoo any time soon!"

Oh boy. I was so wrong.

Come Bijou's first bath time, just unlidding the cheapo shampoo alone sent my pup into a frenzy. The smell was reminiscent of medical shampoo, but also the fragrance added was an obvious layer on top of it. It didn't lather well. But the worst of it was that for days to come, Bijou would scratch and scratch herself, obviously irritated at her skin, and I felt so guilty every time she did it.

Help! I hate it here! mmm... peanut butter...

The other bottle... well, the pump decided it was sick of being around when I tried to open it (with reasonable force, I swear!) and to never get back onto the bottle no matter what I tried. It seemed a bit more bearable for during bathtime as the scent seemed more natural, but the same dreaded itching and scratching for days after her bath.

She didn't get this problem post groomer-bath, so I figured it had to be the products I was using.

That brings me to DOG by Dr Lisa.

Finding DOG by Dr Lisa

Bijou was going to puppy school at the time, and for the final week, her wonderful puppy school teacher brought in these wipes to wipe our dogs down with. (If you're in Sydney, check her out! She's great!)

At the time, I was using regular baby wipes that I'd use on my own bottom. If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for the dog, right? Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but dogs tend to lick their bottoms quite a lot more than humans do. So what goes into those wipes are very important!

"It's got to be these. Don't use anything else." Our puppy school instructor said with beaming confidence.

Bijou at puppy school!

So, being the diligent dog owner, I went home and looked them up. I went to the DOG By Dr Lisa website and had a look around. Honestly, I found their assortment a bit overwhelming at first. They have a LOT of products. 

I went to the 'wipes' because that's what I was there for. Oh boy, I'll admit, when I first looked at the price, I was like 'oooooft' (because I can't low whistle.)

"$16 a pack?!" I said out loud incredulously to Bijou's other human. (I picked the most expensive price for drama's sake, but more on this later.)

Alas, the seed of doubt was sown already. I looked up other pet wipes and other brands I could find didn't even list their ingredients on their websites. If you followed my pre-2017 blog, you'd know I'm a skincare junkie, so not being able to see an ingredient list is instantly sketchy to me. If you're into health and nutrition, you'd also know not being able to see an ingredient list is sketchy! 

"Let's just buy them once and see if it's worth it from there." Bijou's other human said sagely. He is very reasonable and practical.

But of course, the whole shampoo issue was niggling in my mind too - she was still scratching and itching every so often, and as new puppy owners we were still getting used to having dog scent everywhere, even rooms she wasn't allowed in!

"There's a value set! But all the value sets contain wipes, which one?" 

Honestly, when I shop I get a little crazy. This one has a training pouch which looks much nicer than the one I got off amazon, this one has a bath robe which looks a lot better than the one I got off pet circle, this one has a really nice looking tin and I'm currently using zip lock bags everywhere around the house... You get the picture.

I eventually did choose a set. Let's get to it!

Unboxing

Just kidding, the unboxing process is so nice I have to mention it. Wow, these products are very giftable.

For me? - Curious Bijou

Bijou slobbered on it before I managed to take a photo, but imagine it without her drool on it!

You know when you feel a box, and you go "Damn. That's a good box."

"It has a magnetic closure, no way am I throwing it away!"

Mum, I can't read this! - Surprisingly Patient Bijou

The little gift note is a nice touch. You can customise the message to your liking. It was quite a splurge, so we felt it warranted the gift note, even though she couldn't read. Anyone else do this?

Found the lickimat! - Excited Bijou

Everything packed very securely. Tissue paper, cardboard wrap, everything fits snug in the box so no wasted space. I hate it when companies have their boxes too big for the product!

The Products

"I'm a model!" - Bijou, thinking about her bribes to do this modelling.

The Starter Set contains:

Wipes (80 pack)

Leave in Conditioner (500mL bottle)

Cologne of your choice (125mL bottle)

Wash (500mL bottle)

Wipes

Ah yes, the reason I did an order in the first place. These wipes smell very earthy. I was pretty surprised at how strongly they smelt, but it wasn't unpleasant. The lavender scent is probably what comes through the most as it's unexpected in a wipe. 

Upon first impression, I was very impressed at how thick, strong and moist the wipe was.

With the cheapo wipes I used before, I would need one wipe for her butt, then another wipe for her front paws, then another wipe for her back paws, then another wipe to go on her muzzle and the rest of her body. Having to go in and out of the pack was a process. But she enjoys playing outside, my home is mostly carpet, and I would rather do this than bathe her again.

The DOG wipe can be used everywhere and still be moist and intact. I start with her mouth, then do her body, then paws, then her butt. I've actually spied Bijou's other human leaving them on the table to be reused again because they stay so moist. (Ew! I would not recommend this, but that's just testament to how use moist they are.)

Left: The brand I use on my human butt.     Right: DOG by Dr Lisa Wipe

Here is the breakdown of the rest of the ingredients!

Ingredients List:

🐕Aqua (water’s fancy name)

🐕Coco Glucoside (coconut & glucose derived cleansing/dissolving agent)

🐕Decyl Glucoside (glucose derived cleansing agent)

🐕Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Oil

🐕Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice

🐕Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract (Cucumber Extract)

🐕Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil

🐕Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil 

🐕Benzyl Alcohol/Dehydroacetic Acid/Parfum (tiny amounts of organic-approved preservatives to stop germ growth)

Honestly, they've demystified their ingredient list so much that I don't even need to break this down. It's a great list of natural ingredients that all have either cleansing or moisturising properties. Looking at the list, it's straightforward what each ingredient contributes to the product. Nice!

A 6 pack of wipes will bring down the pack of a wipe to $11.16 each. Use code BIJOU15 for 15% off and it goes down to $9.48 a pack.

If you're still not convinced it's worth it... think about the times you've wiped your pet's butt only to see faeces on your finger. (Hopefully, not just something that's happened to me.) I'd say peace of mind for that to not happen is invaluable.

I have these wipes everywhere - on the balcony, in my purse, in the car, at my desk, at my partner's desk, and at the doorway entrance table. It means I always have a wipe there to do a quick cleanup of my pup or her messes. (Anyone else's pup get very motion sick?)

Leave In Conditioner

The next item I was really impressed with was the conditioner.

The texture was pretty much like human moisturiser. I spread it in my hands before giving Bijou a pat all over, working the product into her fur. It smells great and her fur is noticeably softer after.

It makes her fur easier to brush with the slicker brush too. Winning!

I use it the same way I use moisturiser on myself AKA when I notice the texture of her fur not being so soft anymore. Yes, that's seriously how I decide when to use my moisturiser, haha. Oh, or after I cleanse my face / bathe my dog. 

It comes in a 500ml bottle and I use one pump on her whole body. It spreads very easily and a little really does go a long way - I think I use too much actually because my hands still feel like there's product on them after I've given her all the patting over I can.

Ingredients List:

🐕Aqua (water's fancy name)

🐕Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil

🐕Cetearyl Alcohol (natural fatty alcohol that moisturises and emulsifies)

🐕Behentrimonium Chloride (natural conditioning agent)

🐕Glyceryl Stearate (natural emulsifier)

🐕Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil

🐕Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

🐕Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil

🐕Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water

🐕Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water

🐕Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil

🐕Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil

🐕Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil

🐕Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

🐕Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil

🐕Cetyl Alcohol (natural fatty alcohol that moisturises and emulsifies)

🐕Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum (legume based thickener)

🐕Panthenol (natural moisturising agent)

🐕Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

🐕Benzyl Alcohol/Dehydroacetic Acid (tiny amounts of organic-approved preservatives to stop germ growth).

Looking at the ingredient list, it's easy to see why it smells so good! The rose and sweet almond oil really come through. I love Vitamin E as a moisturising ingredient - so gentle and so effective. 

I really didn't think I needed this product until I tried it. Now I can't imagine not having it. 

Wash

"How often are we supposed to bathe our dog? Daily?" - My boyfriend, who has also never had a dog before.

"Google says once a month. MAXIMUM."

"What?! But she STINKS." Visible repulsion from him.

I mean, honestly, the conditioner and wipes alone have helped this so much. After most walks and events, I just give her a wipe all over, some conditioner all over, and a spritz of the cologne, and she's as good as new!

But Sydney weather is erratic. One day it'll be 40 degrees Celcius, and the next day it'll be raining and totally muddy. 

Sometimes, life happens, and this happens.

I love rolling around in mud! - Bijou, dreading her bath coming up

Honestly, it was avoidable, but she was having so much fun that I didn't want to stop her.

The wipes are good, but not that good. 

We have her booked in to get groomed once a month, so if I'm giving her a bath, it means it's more than recommended and could strip her natural oils. 

The wash lathers easily, the scent doesn't irritate Bijou, and it contains lots of ingredients to restore the natural moisture and oils in her coat.

🐕Aqua (water’s fancy name)

🐕Coco Glucoside (coconut & glucose derived cleansing agent)

🐕Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum (legume based thickener)

🐕Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

🐕Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil

🐕Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense) Oil

🐕Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Water

🐕Chamomilla Recutita [Matricaria] Flower (Chamomile) Extract

🐕Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice

🐕Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil

🐕Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

🐕Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil

🐕Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil

🐕Benzyl Alcohol/Dehydroacetic Acid (tiny amounts of organic-approved preservatives to stop germ growth).

You might notice a lot of the ingredients are similar to the conditioner and the wipes. That's a good thing! 

It got her really clean without overly stripping her. No itchy dog after using this.

Spring Cologne

Last but not least, the spring cologne. Admittedly, I've used this less than the other products, but it does the job. The subheader is 'rose, geranium, and orange" but honestly it smells more like rose than the other ingredients.

It's a pleasant scent, but it's fairly subtle. Dog's noses are a lot stronger than ours, so I believe this factors in the brand's decision to make it fairly light.

 

I've sprayed Bijou with a cologne I bought from her groomer, and she runs away and looks at me all miffed when I do it. Next thing I know, if I'm walking her she'll find a particularly stinky spot to roll around in to get the scent off her.

"Stinky moss! Save me!" - Bijou, wanting to smell like nature.

It was quite funny the first time I saw her do it.

Anyway, it's lovely and if you enjoy a rose scent, you'll enjoy this. I was personally hoping it'd smell more like orange. I probably would have liked one of the other scents more, but when I was carting a 6-pack of the wipes by itself, an offer came up to upgrade to the set for a little less. The caveat was that it chose the scent of the cologne for me. (A little hack for those of you thinking of getting the set - cart the wipes first and see if an offer comes up!)

I'd love to try one of the other scents next time I get the set. Calm sounds like a lovely soothing scent - the key ingredients are what I personally use in my pillow spray to help me calm down and sleep at night. Sweet sounds delicious - orange and vanilla! 

I think Bijou smells good enough after using the other products, so a cologne is fairly extracurricular. Scent is just such a personal choice! 

Bonus: Lickimat

Ahh, Bijou's favourite. As I was unboxing this, she stole the lick mat and ran away with it to play with. There wasn't even any food on it! She just loves the texture of this and can chew at it like it's a toy with nothing on it. It's very soft compared to the lick mat I already have. It's also such a cute colour!

If you're reading this post, I probably don't need to tell you the benefits of a lick mat. But the brief summary - anti-anxiety, enrichment, and slowing down eating. I spread peanut butter on it and stick it to the tub as I'm washing her. It helps her stay calm for maybe the first half of the bath. Which is better than neither half of the bath.

It doesn't have to be used in the bath - use it for a treat or for calming an anxious dog.

This was free with a minimum spend of $100 at time of purchase. This promo might not be on still, sorry!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bijou 🐾 (@its.bijou.the.bichon)

Final words

And that brings me to the end of my honest review of DOG By Dr Lisa Starter Set!

In summary, I'd highly recommend the wipes, conditioner, wash and lick mat. The brand on the whole aligns with my values so it feels good to shop here:

✔️ Dr Lisa is a practicising veterinarian 

✔️ Based in Sydney, Australia

Products:

✔️  Not tested on animals

✔️  Vegan and eco-friendly

✔️  Recyclable

✔️ % donated to the RSPCA

If you've made it this far, you deserve a prize!

Use my dog's code BIJOU15 at checkout for 15% off orders over $50.

Wow, this post was way longer than I thought it would be. Is long-form content dead? Am I yelling into the abyss? Let me know in the comments if you made it!

With love, 🐾

Bijou and Bijou's Human