Hello there, maybe you're like me - you've had many bathing experiences. Some you might want to repeat, and others, well - we've all had the ones we'd rather forget about. Or maybe you're new to this? A new puppy or rescue dog, you're checking prices at local dog salons. There must be a reason that many people, if not most, take their dogs to someone else to have them groomed. The good news is, whoever you might be, and whatever category you place yourself in, you're not alone. I don't blame you for looking for a salon, because let's face it, bathing at home can be a disaster and it's a guaranteed mess. But with a few tips, you might find it's not so bad. My goal is to have a trauma free, minimal mess bath - and these are the things that help me achieve that with my five month old Border Collie and five year old Aussie.
The best recipe, I always say, to avoid disaster is to be completely prepared. The times that have been a horrible mess have been the times I was dashing to find a towel, trying to find dog soap while holding a dog in the bath, or trying to wrangle the dog to stay in the tub while I get the last of the soap out! Compared to that, being prepared is bliss. So here's a list of tips, many in the order I would go about doing them. Many of these you can also apply to grooming at the "do it yourself" dog grooming stores. I happen to love those, because who couldn't say that they'd like to leave the mess?!?
1. Prepare all the necessities before you get the dog.
~ Dog Soap - Don't use human soap, it will not be good for the dog's skin...Also, having conditioner is a wonderful way to lessen the trauma of brushing afterwards!
~ Towels - lots of 'em. One for your lap to dry your hands on as well as to use as a shield when the dog shakes with shampoo flying!
~ Treats - reward often. Praise the dog too. If you have a helper, and the pup tends to use her teeth too hard on your skin, put the treat in a shallow Tupperware. This works well with children who want to help.
~ Leash to tie the dog into the tub
~ Large cup or dish to dump water onto the dog - or one of those bathing attachments. (I'm searching ebay for one of those!!!)
2. Plan where family members and other pets will be. When you finish bathing the dog, they will be very excited. Some puppies will run around, acting spazzy. If you have young children, have them sit on a couch so that the dog can not jump up on them or bite them. This is not time for chase. With other pets, it's important to make sure that they can escape the excited wet dog. It's best, if the other dog does not like excitement, to put him in another room with the door closed, as well as the bathroom door closed, just in case one of the dogs get out of the room, there's still a door between them. It's not a pleasant way for a resident dog to get use to the new puppy when the pup is jumping on them or biting them.
3. Why tie the dog into the tub instead of holding the leash or having a helper hold the leash? I like to tie them in for a few reasons. The first is this: Holding a dog into the tub when they don't want to be there is difficult, and the frustration you feel will travel right through your hands, through the leash, down to the dog. Face it, they already don't want to be there, and your frustrated emotions are not going to impress a good feeling upon the dog. The second reason: If you hold the leash, you will not be able to keep it completely still. Every time the dog pulls, they will feel the give in the leash. This will encourage the dog to keep fighting in the hopes of getting free - it's very rewarding. They will give up more quickly if it's tied. I just tied my leash to the facet short enough that the dog couldn't jump out.
4. Check the water before pouring it on the dog. Do not try to fill a tub full and have them lay down in it. This is even more threatening. If they thrash around, there's a chance they will go under, terrifying them even more!
5. Don't use too much soap - the more soap the longer the dog must stay in the tub. If you're worried they won't handle it well, soap up only one part of the dog, so that you can rinse that area quickly if you need to get them out.
6. Use messaging and calm quiet words to keep the dog nice and calm.
7. After you finish the bath, take the dog on leash to go outside. With all the stress of the bath, they may not realize they need to go potty, especially if they get "a high" from being wet. Keeping them on leash is important. Most dogs will go roll in dirt or sand, rub against bushes or trees, or even roll in the grass after a bath. If they are that excited they may not listen to you when you call which could be disastrous if they get out of a fenced area.
8. Take your dog's collar off until they are completely dry. Hotspots can occur when moisture is held close to their skin.
I hope these tips help you out, whether your a long time dog owner, or brand new to all this fun. Keeping all these things in mind has certainly increased the amount of good experiences for me and my two loving fuzzballs.
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