Some dogs seem to enjoy bath time, while others appear to hate it with a passion and will run and hide behind the sofa at the mere mention of the word. But is there a way to make baths more fun for your dog so that he actually enjoys it, or at the very least tolerates it a little better?
Getting the dog in the bath is often the biggest struggle, so you might try and make a game out of it to get the dog excited. Failing that you could always trick him into jumping in the bath by throwing a toy into it. Rewarding your dog with a small treat once he's in the bath can also help to break the negative association with bath time and make the animal think of it as something more positive or at least, in human terms, having a 'silver lining'.
It may sound silly, but using a soothing tone to talk to your dog can also work wonders for keeping him or her calm. Conversely, if you get frustrated and shout at the dog, you may only make it more nervous about bath time.
Think about what dog shampoo you use
Once bath time's over, it's a good time to dig out the dog grooming supplies, such as combs and clippers, so that you can get it looking its best, and get all of the necessary tasks the dog dislikes out of the way in one go. You might also consider using dog coats on walks, particularly during the winter and in bad weather, to keep the dog's fur in good condition and reduce the number of dreaded baths that need to be taken.
Related articles
- How Much Should You Feed Your Dog? (dog-gonnit.com)
- Groom for Improvement (dogboardingchicago.wordpress.com)
- What Causes a Smelly Dog to Smell? (everydayhealth.com)
- What will happen if you give a dog a bath 2 times (wiki.answers.com)
- 3Door 42? Black Wire Folding Pet Dog Cage Crate Kennel (dog-gonnit.com)
- Five Tips for Dog Grooming – Fur, Teeth, Ears and Nails (therealowner.com)
