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posted 03-19-2004 10:30 AM         

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Anyone have any suggestions for desensitizing a dog terrified of taking baths?

Jamiya

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posted 03-19-2004 11:05 AM         

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thats a hard one - I take it is Nala. Wylie is the same way, you think we were tortering her. she likes swimming in lakes, but freaks when it comes to a bath, When I call her over she hunkers down and scoots on her tummy, it is so funny. Maybe someone here who is a groomer can help
Honeybear

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From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 03-19-2004 11:13 AM         

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Ranger hates baths, unless I put him in the tub with warm water, and a toy, preferably a toy that sinks, it helps rinse him off when he goes under to find it! I also take showers with him, since I can close the door and he can't get out. Normally as long as I am in there though, he is fine!

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From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-19-2004 11:50 AM         

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mine prefer the tub as well, bring out the hose, and they run!

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posted 03-19-2004 11:57 AM         

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Afraid I can be no help on this one. My husky HATES bath time. We have to carry her to the tub. My pom used to hate her baths but we put her in the sink where we have a hose and put the water right to her skin. She loves this and will now sit still. The other one loves to be pretty so what ever it takes she will endure it.

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From:Brewton, AL, USA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 03-19-2004 12:22 PM         

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Oh, Gosh, Jamyia, we have to drag ours in whinning and tears to the "dreadful place with curtains". Which is quite odd, considering how much they enjoy running in the rain, in the puddles, in the lake, in whatever spells dirty water, or even better - the good old MUD!!! I swear, my guys just enjoy seeing me planted by the door with a towel in my hand. But if it's about getting spiffy clean - NO SIR - that's not for them.
I thimk the only way to make them not mind baths is only under anesthesia.

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posted 03-19-2004 01:04 PM         

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I just thought of the funniest pets video I saw years ago, it was hysterical - the dog about 50-60 # tall and they had picked it up and was trying to get it thru the bathroom door, well the dog took all 4s on each side of the door preventing them to go thru the door, as soon as they go thte paw off the door, the dog would put it right back on, picture a dog spread eagled being held by someone with theirs paws ont he door!

honeybear

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posted 03-19-2004 02:50 PM         

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That's a really tough one Jamiya, and I'm not even sure it's possible with some dogs. I would try something like the following: get her in the bathroom (near but not in the tub), start with a wet washcloth, try running it over her, graduate to maybe squeezing it out a little on her back, all the while speaking soothingly, then later get her in the tub and praise her, then let her out, then in the tub with the washcloth..... you'll probably have variations on these ideas, but you get the picture. Don't push too much at any one time-- end the lesson on a positive note.....

Having said all that, you may just not be able to get too far before she freaks out.... I've bathed dogs who are really scared, but I just try to make it as pleasant as possible; knowing of course that they're not being hurt and that they'll survive. Sometimes you just have to do it...

It might sound cold, but if you have trouble doing it and you don't think the desensitizing is working.... take her to a groomer and have THEM be the bad guy. I don't mean at all to sound cold about it, but sometimes this is what people do when they don't feel that they can handle it. It's not easy seeing our dogs frightened, and yet, of course there are things we'd like them to do, like be clean once or twice a year...... anyway, good luck!

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From:Perth, Western Australia
Registered: May 2003

posted 03-19-2004 06:13 PM         

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try using a bucket full of water and sponge. sometimes the running water and noise cans care them.

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From:Vancouver BC Canada
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-19-2004 07:01 PM         

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Let me start by saying I am NO expert on this but our old rottie hated having a bath. There was no way to get the old man even in the bathroom and the hose outside wasn't much better. What we did was fill his Kong with all is fav stuff, including cooked hotdogs. We hooked the hose up to the kitchen tap, used warm water, and a really light setting on the garden hose. While it was never his favorite past time, he knew that he got to eat whatever he loved during that time. Good Luck
Bev

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From:Roy, Washington
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 03-19-2004 09:27 PM         

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Hi, I'm a groomer and so many clients comment on how it is nearly impossible to bathe their dogs becuase they fear it or hate it. But I'd say it is rare for us to bathe a dog that fights it. The majority relax and are very co-operative. I'm sure part of the reason is that they know it's gonna happen regardless and give in, but I can give a couple tips. Make sure they have very secure footing. This can make a huge difference to them. Matts with those suction cups aren't secure enough. Keep a lead on the dog and secure it to something in the tub so he knows he can't surprise you by escaping. Believe it or not, that will help also him to relax. Use luke warm water. Check it on your wrist like a baby bottle. Any warmer makes it very uncomfortable. Save the head for last and use a wash cloth on his head for better control. Massage his favorite parts (Back, belly etc.)a little longer than needed. All the while talking to him with calm praise. We've had "crazy" dogs actually start to fall over they were so relaxed. One other thing that doesn't have to do with this much, but please rinse, rinse rinse. We see too many home bathed dogs come in that foam up as soon as the water hits them. This can make it very uncomforatble to dogs and can cause skin problems. Happy bathing!

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From:Santa Maria, Ca.
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-20-2004 09:48 AM         

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Raindigger, that was great advise! That is what I have to do with Freebie, using his leash to tye him to the nozzle. It works very well! I would give anything to have a bathing table! it just kills my back having to bend over to bath him, but then I'm no spring chicken anymore.....

Good luck Jamiya! I'm sure you'll do fine now with all the great advise you got.

Susan

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posted 03-20-2004 08:03 PM         

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Thanks all. Nala doesn't need a bath very often. When she rolled in the Foul Dead Thing a few months back, I took her to our Bath and Barkery where they have tubs you can use to wash your dog. Nala panicked before she even made it into the room. We had to force her into the tub and tie her and she still struggled through the whole thing. The water did make a very scary sound, though. With the help of an employee, we got the job done but we were all soaked in the end. Forget the air dryers - we just let her shake and toweled her off at that point.

So this time I just needed to hose her tummy off outside, but she was terrified. I had her secured to a tree, but it didn't help much.

Poor baby. Good thing she doesn't need it very often. Maybe I will try a wet washcloth next time!

Bonnie just stands there. She lets you wash her, and dry her off. She stands good for everything - eye drops, putting a harness on, anything - and lets you manipulate her legs and feet however you need to. Good doggie!

Jamiya

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From:Dallas, Texas
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 03-21-2004 04:22 PM         

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Jamiya, your fould dead thing experience sounds interesting! Ranger just got a bath today, only I tried a new approach, since it is a little hard to get him in the bathtub, and he slips so easily. I bought him a 7$ wading pool from wal-mart and filled it with water. First, I let him play in it with his frisbee, then I soaped him (he didn't mind that part) then I rinsed him. That was interesting. Had to hold himwiht one hand, spray him wiht the other. Then, he was so wet when I tried to dry him, that the towel was soaking and he was too, so I took him inside and trapped him in the smaller bathroom with the blow dryer. At least this time he sat next to the door and waited (right next to the only socket in the bathroom!), last time he ran and sat next to the tub, so I had a hard time drying him because the socket is on the ocmplete other side of the room! At least he got 3 milkbones in the end, maybe if he remembers that next time he will behave better...

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