Tip #2 Bath
There are two things in the word my hates the first one being the Vet touching her ears and the second and one that happens most common is a bath. You could be blessed with a dog who loves taking baths or like me and having a dog who hates them so much that she yells at me while the water and sprayed on.
I personally use the tube and will be saying hose as in the shower head hose, but sometimes big dogs need big spaces, such as outside in a kiddie pool with the garden hose.Â
I can’t help too much with the yelling unless you know your dog enough. I know my dog likes it when we sing, she only likes one song. But recently I have read some research on pet owners who use peanut butter on the side of the tub or you can buy a specials wall mat that they sell at the pet store. Most dogs will take to this, but you have to know your dog. A lot of dogs are food motivated while others need to hear your voice in a kind and calm tone because you stressing is causing them stress.
Next I want to talk about soap, what do you chose? We like to keep a handful of different types firstly we love Tropic Clean dog soap, they even have flea treatment soap. They are all natural eco friendly made for dogs with sensitive skin safe. But if you just need something quick and all purposeful I would suggest Dawn dish soap they fight grease (in old commercials after oil spills) you see them using dawn on ducks and turtles. A little bit goes along away, With a bonus they kill fleas.
Last things to talk about a dog in the bath can be handled safely at home but the bigger the dog or the squirmier the dog the more hands you’ll need. Big dogs make sense to have more than one pair of hands but to you a newly owner to a puppy of a small breed. You think you’ll be okay by yourself washing a chihuahua puppy/dog/elder dog when you find out that they don’t like water and are squirming too much for you to spray off all the soap, and you live alone. I can only suggest wearing clothes you don’t mind getting wet in and comfort hold the dog while spraying the belly or back give them a second before picking up the hose and spraying them, just like you they can be afraid of things that causes anxiety.
I will also say if you take your dog to the groomer, as long as you have money to do it then wonderful the groomers isn’t horrible either, those are people trained to care for pets. But, know your dog if you know they have separation anxiety maybe find a special groomer who takes special house call.Â
And to end make sure you give TONS of loves and kisses at the end of the bath, because we all need reminders of who the best girls and boys are.Â
(I plan on talking about flea treatments in the next tip)