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Bath Time: Tips for Success

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Bath Time: Tips for Success

What does your dogs bath time look like? Do you wash them outside with the hose or indoors in the bathtub? Do they run for dear life at the first sight of the the scene or jump out of the tub when you turn to grab the shampoo? Maybe you have that dog who bites spastically at the evil water snake the instant you turn on the nozzle. Share your experiences in the comments at the bottom of the page.

Washing the dog doesn’t always go as well as planned. Often times owners end up dirtier than the dog ends up clean. Here are some of my own personal tips to help make the process go smoothly. Who knows, you both may even start to enjoy bath time!

1. Start by preparing your dog (mentally) for their wash routine. This is best done when your dog is a puppy but you can work on it at any age. If they already don’t like the area, begin there - use high value food rewards to help counter those negative perceptions.

2. Be prepared to get wet. I always choose a sunny day for bath time outdoors; wear a bathing suit for dog bath time and embrace the event along with the vitamin D. Embrace the well-known shake off!

3. Prepare your ‘wash station’ beforehand, whether that be outdoors or indoors. Shampoo, conditioner, towels, leash, hose, treats etc. If you are washing your dog in the bathroom, have more towels than you think you need. Dogs coats hold a lot more water than our skin does.

4. Put the leash on your dog before you bring them to their wash station. This makes a world of difference. You can hold the leash, put it under your foot or tie it to something sturdy to go hands free. Don’t let your dog off the leash until the whole process is completely done and you are ready for them to fly free. After removing the collar and leash, it’s a good time to throw those in the wash too.

5. Take your time. Start with slow exposure to your steps, keep the water pressure low. Sometimes just the noise can overstimulate or trigger them. Continue to give high value treats throughout all of this.

6. Only wash your dog with DOG cleaning products. Use natural shampoos and conditioners, if possible, because they are gentler on their skin. Puppies should use puppy specific shampoo. Some breeds have more sensitive skin than others.

7. Remain calm through the process. Keep unnecessary talking or commands to a minimum or better yet, don’t ask anything of them at all. Focus on cleaning rather than commanding. Refrain from comforting your dog during bath time, it often has the opposite effect on a dog. Instead, make it positive by telling them calmly that they are being a good boy/girl. You can put cotton balls in their ears to keep them from getting water inside and refrain from spraying water directly into their ears. Many dogs are bothered by water in their ears and can easily get ear infections if they aren’t kept dry.

8. Dry your dog with towels or a blow dryer - yes, dogs can be trained to sit or stand calmly for this. Kiera loves both! And she is especially soft and floofy after a good blow-dry. Allow your dog to lay in the sun on a towel afterwards to encourage relaxation post bath time while they finish drying.

9. After their bath, refrain from throwing them a party. You want to keep the positive feelings flowing DURING the process, not wait and then celebrate AFTER the event. Show them by your own response that it’s just a part of life - no big deal.

Your dog might not LOVE bath time but you have the power and ability to make the process easier for the both of you.


Train on,
Ariel Santa Maria
CANINE COACH

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Hey, it's Ariel, your Canine Coach. Welcome to the New Year and a new perspective