How to Help Your Dog When It's Bath-time

When our dog sees you with a towel and notices that you’re preparing the tub, he might run away to the furthest corner of the house he can find. He may get more scared every time and quickly develop a bath-time phobia. If you don’t want this to happen, take note of the following tips to turn bath-time into a more pleasant experience.

Don’t let bath-time be traumatic

Baths are inevitable for pets, but there are a lot of things you can do to help them get through this stressful routine. Here are some ways:

Trick them

This may not sound very nice, but you already know that he’ll just run as fast as he can if he sees you getting the bath ready. It’s better, to make a more subtle preparations. If there’s someone else at home, maybe they can take your dog for a walk. While they’re gone, you can prepare everything you need for the bath.

This is just the first step to prevent your dog from seeing what’s happening and figuring out what’s coming next. When he arrives home, he’ll be crazy to see you. You can seize this moment to hug him in your arms and slowly carry him into the bathroom.

Stop them from running

This might seem obvious, but don’t forget to shut the bathroom door. Otherwise, he’ll dash out as soon as he sees his window, and you won’t see him for the rest of the day.

Talk or sing to him

It’s possible that your pet will begin to tremble and feel afraid. The best way to calm him down is by gently speaking to him, telling him that everything is going to be okay now because you’re with him and you love him.

You can also sing to him. It’s been shown that songs can directly influence pet emotions, proving beneficial to their mood.

It’s time!

Now, once you’re inside the bathroom and you’ve calmed your furry friend down, it’s time to put him in the tub. Don’t fill it and throw him in. It’s better to get him in while it’s still empty, then slowly start filling it with lukewarm water.

If you throw your pet in, the water might be too cold or too hot, and he’ll get scared. Start by gradually getting him wet. Start with the paws and slowly move upwards while you pet him. This will relax him.

Dry off your dog

Though it’s hard to believe, drying off is what dogs dislike the most. This is especially true if you try to use a blow dryer. Start with a towel by rubbing his head first, then work your way down.

After, dry off his back, paws, and stomach. Don’t be rough. Dry him off as if you were drying off a statue. Use circular motions and little pressure. It’s best not to use electric dryers because the noise and breeze are the scariest part of bath-time for pets.

If it’s sunny outside, take your dog out for a walk to speed up the drying process. Once you’re back home, you can brush and spray your dog with cologne (However, he won’t like that either). It’s a good idea to hold him in your arms and pet him to make everything less traumatic.

If you follow these simple tips, you’ll help turn bath-time from something traumatic into something your dog will enjoy.