Why Your Dog Hates Baths (and What To Do About It)

Why Your Dog Hates Baths (and What To Do About It)

 

Is your dog less of a splish-splasher and more of a splish-and-dash-er? If nothing strikes fear into your dog’s eyes like the words “bath time”, read on to learn how to keep your pet clean without emotional turmoil.

 

Why dogs hate baths (with solutions!)

 

1. Your dog doesn’t like water

Not every dog is cut out to be a champion swimmer. Your pooch may prefer to keep dry and cozy than dive underwater, and baths are no exception.

To this we say: The best bath is no bath™.

Keep your pup fresh and clean longer with Earth Rated dog grooming wipes. Gentle enough for daily use, they’re the perfect way to keep funky pet smells at bay longer. Because less frequent bathing schedules are ideal for everyone.

 

 2. The tub makes your dog anxious

What may seem like an ordinary bathroom fixture to us may look like a claw-footed nightmare to your pet.

If your dog is intimidated by the pristine water-prison in your bathroom, it’s time to get them acclimatized! Try getting them used to the tub while it’s empty first. Lots of encouragement, not to mention treats, will help show your dog it’s not such a scary place after all.

And a trick to relieve bathtub anxiety: distraction! Swipe some peanut butter to the side of your tub so your pet has something more pleasant to focus on as you wash them. Just make sure your peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol, which can be toxic to dogs!

While getting them used to the tub may take time, as you want to go at their pace, a great option is to use dog wipes in the meantime to keep them fresh.

Once you’ve replaced your dog’s negative associations of your bathtub with happier memories, you’ll be on your way to easier bathing experiences!

 

3. Your dog hates the sound of running water

Dogs have a keen sense of hearing. From thunderstorms to vacuum cleaners, loud noises can be too much for your pet, and running water is no different.

An easy fix when your dog seems spooked when you turn on the tap is to, simply, run your dog’s bath while they’re out of the room. And of course, always test the water temperature before letting your dog into the bath.

 

4. They feel helpless in the bath

Alright, so you’ve raised the Michael Phelps of canines. But while they’ll jump into a lake at a moment’s notice, bath time gives them the heebie-jeebies. What gives?

It might be a control thing! After all, there’s a big difference between swimming freely and having water dumped on you.

To ease your dog’s apprehension, place a nonslip mat on the bottom of your bathtub. Your pup will feel more relaxed and in control when they’re not sliding around the wet, slippery tub. With gentle washing and positive reinforcement, you can help show your dog bath time is no cause for alarm.

 

We hope these methods work for you and your pup! If you tried them out, let us know how it went over on our Instagram.

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