If your bitch is in season, and you are not planning to mate her, you can give her liquid Chlorophyll available from your local Health Food shop or Dorwest herbs have some tablets which help mask the smell.

Start with 5 mls and increase it daily to about 2 caps full daily for a medium size dog. Chlorophyll is non-toxic, soothing to body tissues and safe for use by dogs of all ages.

Non Toxic Disinfectant - Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol and top up with tap water. Use on all wipeable surfaces, the alcohol dissipates quickly and the vinegar acts as a natural non-toxic disinfectant.

Old Cot Mattresses can be used to make great dog beds and are usually covered in a waterproof fabric so easily wiped down and kept clean

An amazingly easy way to remove fur from your furniture, curtains, cushions and any other fabrics is with rubber gloves. Pop a pair on, dampen them slightly, then sweep your hands over the hair-ridden areas. Use your fingers to get into those hard to reach areas, and hair will quickly stick to the rubber. Baby wipes also work well to remove hair from fabrics.

Benzyl Benzoate Emulsion can be applied to the area with cotton wool - ensure the dog is unable to lick the emulsion.

For hot spots and insect bites
3 capsules sage
¼ teaspoon Epsom Salts
2 cups of Water

Combine all ingredients and bring to the boil.
Cool to room temperature and then strain out the powdered Sage.
Store in a spray bottle in the refrigerator to keep fresh.
Spray or wipe on to hot spots, insect bites, or any other skin abrasions as many times a day as possible.
You should see an improvement within 3 days, and hair regrowth in a week.

Use a rinse of Calendula to clean the wound followed by Calendula ointment.

Colloidal Silver can be used on all wounds to kill bacteria, viruses, fungus and yeast.

Cut Heal - provides a protective wound covering without the need for a bandage.

Colloidal Silver can be used neat on wounds - kills bacteria, viruses, fungus, yeast

If the paint is water based and not yet dry use baby or dog shampoo - avoid shampoo with harsh chemicals.

A different approach is required if the paint has dried and/or oil based. Massage salad oil, vaseline petroleum jelly or peanut butter into the coat to break down the clumps of paint and try pulling the paint out with your nails/fingers. Remove excess oil with a paper towel.

A product made by Avon (Skin so Soft), can also help remove oil based paints and tar.

Baby socks make excellent bandages for sore paws that need to be kept clean and dry.

Salt used in the winter to keep pavements and roads ice free can damage your dogs pads - Try Mushers Paw protection which also stops the build up of snowballs in heavy snow conditions.

http://www.snowpawstore.com/food-and-health/dog-paw-and-pad-care/musher-secret-paw-wax.html

Dogs can also get sores in the summer from hot pavements and can get blisters and sore pads - for minor burns wash in an antibacterial wash and wrap in a loose fitting bandage, for more serious burns, you may need to visit your vet.

Cracked pads can be moisturised using bag balm- and soft pads hardened using sugical spirit or Tuf Foot.

To remove pet hair from furniture and car upholstery place a rubber glove on your hand and wipe over seats.

Bounce tumble dryer sheets will have a magnetic effect when collecting dog hairs.

Great for dogs with dry, scratchy skin and for other skin problems that require frequent baths. 
1/3 cup Glycerin
1 cup puppy shampoo
1 cup White Vinegar
3 cups of water 
Mix all the above in a plastic bottle, shampoo as normal, rinsing well. When storing, ensure you shake it up really well to ensure the glycerin is mixed in thoroughly.

Dry flaky skin can be treated with Oatmeal because it is high in certain chemicals like phenols and avenanthramides, both of which relieve skin itching, inflammation and irritation. In cases of eczema and psoriasis, oatmeal's natural ability to balance the skin's pH makes it a valuable tool for relieving itchiness and, when used on a dog, it can help soften his coat while relieving hot spots and allergic reactions to ticks and fleas.

Simply add a handful of oats inside a nylon sock, slide the open end of the sock over the bathtub's tap and fill the tub with lukewarm water filtered through the oats. Soak your dog in the water for about 15 minutes, and the oatmeal water will condition and moisturize his skin. You can buy Oatmeal shampoos.

Or add to your dogs diet - Oatmeal is safe for dogs to eat as long as it's cooked plain, unsweetened natural oats and not the artificially flavoured kind.

Petzlilfe also do a range of calming skin shampoos HERE - mention you are a Collielife viewer to get a discount on your order

Rub eucalyptus oil into the affected area, leave for an hour and shampoo out.

To remove burrs or sticky substances such as paint or tar, soak the tangles or dirty fur with vegetable oil. Tangles can be combed out, and the oil can be washed out with shampoo.

To clean dogs' teeth put a plaster on your finger, dip it into bicarbonate of soda and rub on teeth.

Alternatively use a specialised product like Petzlife Gel/Spray or the stronger alternative Vetzlife, spray or rub onto the teeth twice daily for a month and you will see an improvement in breath smell and reduced tartar - mention you are a Collielife viewer to receive a 35% discount or if ordering online.

How to trim dogs nails the easy way without using nail clippers - click here

Acidophilus available from any good health food shop, like natural yoghurt in a capsule and puts the friendly bacteria back into the system. Especially useful when dogs are on antibiotics.

From personal experience I have found Protect from Dog Health to be excellent for upset gurgly tummies, you only need a very small amount which can be put direct on the dogs tongue. I have been using it for over 25 years and would not be without it.

16 oz Hydrogen Peroxide, 1 tablespoon of Baking Soda, and 1 teaspoon of washing up liquid. Mix all ingredients into a plastic squirty bottle and shake until completely dissolved. Let the solution set for an hour before using. Test the solution on a small, hidden part of your carpet or (non-color set fabrics such as Indian cotton rugs may fade). Completely saturate the urine stain and allow the solution to soak in. Do not blot. Do not scrub. Do not walk on the area. Allow to air dry. Once dry, vacuum up any residue left by the baking soda. Gentle brushing with a towel or soft brush may help.

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For dried in urine smells spray on undiluted Listerine mouthwash to the area twice daily for two days.

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Mix 1/2 a bottle of white vinegar with water and add 4 heaped tsp of baking soda. Keep it in a spray bottle and bring it out when your pet has an accident. First blot the stain, then spray your stain remover liberally on top. Leave for 10 minutes then blot again.

50% water and Apple Cider Vinegar in a spray bottle, can also be sprayed directly onto bitches when in season to help mask the smell or if you have an incontinent dog can be used as a wash.

Trimming dogs nails the easy way....

I had an unfortunate, and probably painful experience for the dog concerned, with some traditional nail clippers many years ago, and it wasnt until I saw an article in the Dog World recommending a Dremel sanding tool that I was able to trim my dogs nails myself. This was some 20 years ago now, I still have the same Dremel tool, but I still cringe if I see anyone using nail clippers.

I have the Dremel Mini Mite (above), they dont seem to make this model anymore, but there are various ones avalable from Diamond Edge and some of the larger DIY stores.

It has two speeds, the slower speed, although it takes longer, is quieter, and easier for awkward dogs that are put off by the noise.

Replacement sanding bands are available, but make sure to use the sanding bands and not the grinding stones - the latter will cause the nail to heat up.

The only thing you have to be careful of is trimming the dew claw on the Rough Collie, as the longer featherings which can get caught up around the tool.

I have seen various ideas for getting round this, from putting a sock or stocking on the leg and poking the nail through it, or what I find easier is some micropore tape on both the underneath of the claw and on the top to keep any straggly hairs out of the way, any kind of tape would do the same job. (see below)

Some tips I have picked up along the way are to only use the sanding tool for very short periods - 2 - 3 seconds at a time max, and I tend to hold the nail I am working on to lessen any vibration from the sanding tool.

I use a different method for each dog, the older ones will let me do it while they are lay on the floor and generally fall asleep, you may find it easier with the dog on a grooming table and when trying the Dremel for the first time, get someone to help in case the dog really doesnt like it and throws a wobbly.

Hope you find this useful - there is an excellent article on the internet here which goes into more detail than I have.

A video I found on you tube below
I do think the sound of the Dremel used here is far louder than the one I use, but it does show how quick and easy it is