Is it Possible to Help My Dog Like Baths?
How does bathing your dog go in your house? If it ends with you being exhausted and about as wet as your dog, you’re not alone! In fact, quite a few pet owners bathe their dogs less often than they should simply because it is such an ordeal. Here are a few tips to help your dog look forward to, rather than dread, bath time.
Figure Out the Why
First of all, try to figure out what it is exactly that your dog dislikes so much about bathing. Are they scared of water? Hate their lack of control while being picked up? Dislike the dog soap/shampoo scent? If you can figure out the reason behind their dislike of bath time, it can really help you help your dog conquer their fear. For example, if it’s the lack of control they dislike when being picked up, you have two options.
If the Lift Is the Issue
One is to practice lifting them different times while it's not bath time. Find a time when they're not overly energetic, and spend some quality time petting them. Then decide on a word you’ll say before lifting them. Sometimes just having a warning can be really helpful! For example, if you choose “up” say that every time right before you pick them up. Hold them for a few seconds, then set them down and give them a treat. I recommend practicing this with your dog (over several days) until they seem comfortable with being picked up, before trying the bath again.
The other option is to purchase bath steps for your dog. If you really don’t think they’ll ever be comfortable being lifted into the bath (or if they’re too heavy for you), try purchasing some little dog bath stairs so they can walk up into the bath themself.
Could the Scent Be the Problem?
Another thing some dogs dislike about being bathed is the scent of the soap/shampoo. If your dog seems happy being bathed up until you bring out the soap/shampoo, I recommend switching to an unscented one or at least one with a different scent than you are currently using. At least if the scent is the issue, that’s a nice easy fix!
When Your Dog Is Scared of Water
The final reason a lot of dogs dislike baths is because they’re scared of water. This type of issue can be a bit trickier, but we can still work through it. It will take a bit of a time commitment from you– but it can definitely be worth it in the end!
In cases of being scared of water, I recommend trying to make the bathroom a place your dog looks forward to visiting.
Choose a time of day that would be most convenient for you to bathe them (for example, 7 pm at night). Without filling the bath, call your dog into the bathroom and give them a treat once they come in.
Continue doing this night after night around the same time until they seem happy and comfortable to enter the bathroom for their treat.
Once they seem comfortable, around that same time fill the bath with a few inches of water. Invite your dog into the bathroom like normal and give them a treat for coming in (don’t put them in the bath).
They’ll likely be nervous if they heard the water. If they don’t seem to want to go in, try stepping out of the bathroom, and tossing the treat a foot or two into the bathroom (while they're watching). They may be more willing to run in to grab the treat if they know no one is in there to pick them up and put them in the bath.
Continue filling the bath a bit and inviting them into the bathroom for a treat every night (or whatever time you chose) until they seem comfortable coming in to take the treat from you.
Once they’re comfortable, one evening, try picking them up when they come into the bathroom (without setting them in the bath), give them a treat, then set them back down.
Once they’re ok with that, one day try setting your dog in the bath (that only has a few inches of water) and give them a treat. They may panic a bit, but if you keep doing this every evening for a few days, they should gradually calm down and not mind the few inches of water since they get a treat. I recommend giving them a type of treat you know they especially like.
Once they’re ok with the few inches, I recommend filling the bath a bit higher (before setting them in it, not while they’re in it). Doing this gradual filling and treat giving will hopefully help them see that the bath doesn’t need to be scary.
Once your dog is comfortable in the bath with enough water for you to bathe them, try pouring a cup of water gently on their back. If they panic, take them out and try again the next day. Once they let you do it without panicking, try bathing your dog with no sudden movements (and all the while giving them treats every few minutes during the bath).
This method can take awhile before your dog is comfortable with you bathing them, but hopefully it would help them genuinely learn to not be scared and possibly even look forward to a bath!
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
If you do get them to the point where they don’t mind being bathed, I recommend bathing them regularly enough so they remember bath = treats, and you don’t have to go through the training all over again. For medium and long haired dogs, they likely will need a bath between every four and six weeks. For dogs with short hair, every month to every three months should be fine.
Get Creative
One last little bonus tip is to get your dog bath toys. A lot of parents give their young children bath toys while bathing the kids to make bath time more enjoyable. Why not do the same for your dog? There are toys specifically made for dogs that float in the water. There are also toys you can stick to the side of the bathtub that you can spread with soft treats for your dog to lick. Get creative! The more fun your dog associates with bathing, the easier on you it will be.