Help with giving dog a bath

[midwest07]

We adopted a dog about a week ago. He's 3-4 years old, so he's pretty set in his ways about how he goes about doing things, and most of his behaviors have been really great. We really lucked out.

However, we tried to give him a bath after getting him and he freaked out. I have known a lot of dogs that don't like baths, but this was a new level. My H tried to hold him by the collar and really by his whole body while I used the hose and soaped him up and rinsed him. If you got at all close to his neck/shoulders/head with the hose, he would scratch and try to get out of H's arms. He's about 60 pounds and pretty strong, so it was rather difficult. In the end, we kind of were able to wash his back half pretty well, but not the front.

It's certainly possible he had a really bad experience with baths earlier in his life. We don't know yet if he likes the water, as in, he may very well like to swim. We haven't tried putting him in a kiddie pool or tub and just pouring water on him, but that is probably our next step. We would rather not use wipes or the waterless shampoo, those seem to just kind of prolong the issue, he really needs a good bath to help with his doggy smell. I also would rather not take him to a groomer where they are going to tie him up and bathe him, which I think would just make him more scared.

Any advice?

[jackiegirl]

We have a bath hater as well. Is he food motivated? Oscar sure is so we treat the heck out of him throughout the whole process. The person holding him is responsible for the distracting with treats. It will definitely take some time - it's a process.

[aweilba]

My dog isn't a fan of baths either. If he likes peanut butter, try putting some on the side of the tub (if that doesn't gross you out). Hopefully, he'll be occupied enough by licking it off that you can give him a bath.

[yellowumbrella]

My dog is terrified of baths (both in the tub and with the hose in the backyard) so we've started taking him to a self-serve dog wash place. The tub is standing height for me, so they walk up a little ramp and then their leash hooks on. I wouldn't say that he loves it, but he doesn't freak out as much.

[jen812]

May 24, 2012 17:14:44 GMT -5 aweilba said:

My dog isn't a fan of baths either. If he likes peanut butter, try putting some on the side of the tub (if that doesn't gross you out). Hopefully, he'll be occupied enough by licking it off that you can give him a bath.

This is a great idea. My dog hates getting washed by the hose, but tolerates the bath tub. Maybe you'll have better luck there.

[midwest07]

Thanks for the ideas...it sounds like distraction is important! He definitely likes food, we have discovered that, so we will use some treats next time we try.

[Seesaw]

I adopted my basset hound at around that age and he also hated baths. It was exhausting wrestling and chasing him in the yard with the hose. He's like a tank! Plus he was so dumb that he'd choke himself pulling so hard (until he made crazy sounds in his throat) if I chained or leashed him during. We had to hold him by hand which doesn't work a panic slippery soapy dog.

I trained him by having him in the tub and someone help keep him from hopping out. I kept water pressure low and had the water a little cooler than my own shower temp, warm but not hot. Drain is open so the tub doesn't fill and something covers it to catch the fur (he has so much!). I used the hand sprayer and started at the back and body, verbally praising the whole time. He just got a firm "NO" when he tried to jump out which was prevented by the helper, then back to praise while the dog waits for his next chance to escape. He has to learn there is no escape. If the dog is bonded with one of you more, that person can have their legs or hands in the tub for the dog to snuggle/cringe up to for comfort. I started wetting his head with water in my hands and a soapy wash cloth. Eventually I moved up to rinsing his head with the sprayer pointed away from his nose, I cover his eyes and lift up his chin so the water runs down the back of the head. I come at his cheeks and chin from the side and bottom, not above. I do his nose and between the eyes by hand/wash cloth.

I praised holding still and being calm, gave comfort breaks and stopped the water (or just moved it back down to the legs) if he acted really afraid, scolded for trying to end it. At the end when we're all done, I signal to him that he's done waiting by saying "okay" in a happy voice and step back from the tub. He hops out and then it's the fun part with towel craziness and running through the house rubbing on everything. He gets his treats after the bath and he's dry. Then it's brushy time. He loves brushing enough to make it a treat by itself.

Bassets are stubborn.... he took three years to house break (my schnauzer took 3 months). He took a year to get used to warm snuggly tub baths. He still doesn't like the cold yard hose, but a few reminders of NO and good boyyyyy usually keep him under control. I always have to keep a hand on his chest. I don't know if that'll work on your dog since the basset is the only one I have to do it to (out of four dogs). But he was the scared one. I think hand on the chest is physically reassuring that you're in charge and got him right now, plus it won't let him move forward. He can still squirt out backward, so be ready to get your hand around to his chest again and push back again steadily with a good NO.

Just never be rough or get too angry during Not Scary training (or really ever imho). He'll know in your voice if you get really pissed and frustrated and he'll associate bath with you're being mad at him. It's ok if he doesn't get a full bath the first several times until he's lived through the situation a few times and seen that nothing bad happens. If mine is especially gross, I can shampoo him twice and condition him which all takes about an hour. He'll start whining alot after about that long. His patience is only so great, but he's come a long way from the beginning.

My shepherds learned in probably one week how baths work. The schnauzer was too small to escape much so he stop trying real quick.

I love washing dogs. I have one cat that will let me wash him regularly. The girl hates it and gets wayyyy too stressed for me to do it unless absolutely necessary. That super loud scared out of my mind meow is heart breaking.

[Deleted]

We put our dog - approximately 25 pounds - in a big rubbermaid container. It doesn't give him too much room to move. We've also found it easier to rinse him by dumping cups of water on him, rather than using the hose. The pressure might be too hard.

We use the container in our tub too and will rinse him with the shower head but on a gentle setting.

And he gets a couple of carrots during his bath and ham - his favorite! - right afterward.

[brittmk0922]

We have to bath my fiance's dog in the bathtub with a little water already in it and use the cup method. Anything else freaks her out. The house is a definite no go!

[straymo]

Our Lily really dislikes bathtime (she rarely gets one). You also have to remember that you've only had this dog a week and change is very stressful. This is yet one more stressful thing and he just may not be ready.

I would take it slow and easy. Lily is bathed in the bathtub and we taught her to jump in the tub and stay using treats (and no bath at the time). Do this randomly and often?

Have everything lined up and ready for bathtime, towels, water on low pressure if using a handheld, temperature all ready set so not too hot or too cold), keep talking to him and if he'll take treats at the time have one person bathe and one person treat.

Lily won't take treats, but will put up with the bath. I have also slathered peanut butter on the back of the tub to keep her interested. She won't eat it while I bathe her, but as soon as the water is off, she goes for it. Her reward.

[steph96]

We give our dog a bath in the bathtub since the hose scares her. The only way she will calm down is if someone hops in the tub with her.