Hates Bathing

[RKCM]

My Chatter hates water! She is absolutely fearless with people,strange sounds, and other dogs but she hates water. She acts like a cat- will twist, move and just doesn't want the water on her. I have tried warmer water,cooler, changing the tub, massaging and still it's the water she hates. I would skip her but with housedogs, bathing is just necessary. Has anyone else seen this? She has always hated it but it is getting harder the older she gets. My other dogs have always LOVED the water and just strange???

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get her over this hatred of water?

[Shadowlands]

I had a beagle that hated water so much that when he knew it was bath time, he went as stiff as a board. I washed him in the laundry tub and he was the only dog I knew that would imitate those cats you see in car windows...you know with suction cups for feet...all four legs spread eagle!! He would hook one paw over the edge and try to book it!! Lol!! So I do feel you as that is so much work. The only thing I can say is maybe have her go in the tub regularly when there is no water involved...encourage and treat. Once she has seemingly gotten more relaxed with that, I would have her enter the tub when there is already a little bit of water added. Running water can sometimes be what the issue is. Do that regularly and of course encourage and treat. Keep repeating until she is more tolerant to a bath. She may never like it (you never said how old she was) but if she can be a little more tolerant and easier to handle it will make your life easier. Lol! Just an idea...that one is tricky as I have found dogs either like water or they don't, there is not usually a lot of middle ground. But she can be taught to tolerate bath time and be more relaxed. My border collie will run out in the rain and splash through all the mud puddles, but enter a clean bath and she freezes up...but she will obey instruction...lots of soggy treats helped with that!!
Good luck and if anyone else has a suggestion, I know I would love to hear it too.

[RKCM]

All my dogs love water and love the rube down. They will find a mud puddle and run through it just for fun, but this dogs just hates it. Some love the boat and like to swim. We will try the tub when I feel better. I bathed all my dogs yesterday and I'm so sore in my arms,back, and legs...feel like I've been beat. Getting old, I guess. But I sure have clean dogs.

We dremeled the nails today and I found a great tool at Walmart. They have a small dremel for about $20 and it's quiet. Even Lucy my old girl, thought she was at the parlor. LOL

Thanks for the advice. I'll try that.

[Aesa]

Apollo dosen't loves the water, but he will still there when i give him his bath, Aesa loves water like there is no tomorrow. Logan my GSd thinks water has the only purpouse and thats to drink it, he hates it. Oh well i'm the boss here and i just tie him up and give him his bath, no matter how much they will fight, i'll be the one on the end who wins and i'll get it down. I think there isn't much you can do, to make him like it, but no matter how much they do hate it or how much they fight it, it will my way :)
OR you really need to have lots of time and start with babysteps, treats and clicker training and lots of praise, like you would do with a little puppie.

[RKCM]

Aesa, she did get a bath and stayed in the tub but it wasn't easy. Not sure what I'd tie her to.............She tolerated it but just so shocked of how much she hated the ordeal. My other dogs think it's grand.

[Shyan]

I got Crom used to bath time by constantly treating him throughout the bath. He hasn't had a lot of baths so far, so he's still not a big fan of it, but he's a lot better than when I first tried to bath him.

Sometimes my friend comes over to help. She'll clicker and treat him while I bath him, and usually hold a handful of kibble in front of his face when I have to pour the water ON him... which he hates... lol... the treating does help a lot though. Then when we're all done he gets a nice handful at the end.

Crom loves the AFTERbath though :) he runs like mad around the apt, rolling and playing and all that.

[Shadowlands]

Shyan, that is the best way to teach them to appreciate the water. Keep clicking and treating!!
Forcing them may do nothing but teach them to avoid. Potential problems can arise from doing so (there is a fine line between teaching them you are"boss" and forcing a dog who is truly anxious to do something).

[RKCM]

Thanks Shyan and Shadow for sharing with me....we agree.