There are dogs that don't let themselves be bathed. They can even panic. If we ourselves then become frantic, everything gets even worse. Does this apply to your dog? Here are some tips:
One question first: Which is worse? Is it that the dog loses trust in us or that he stays dirty for the time being?
We must not gamble away our dog's trust. Under no circumstances. The dog doesn't know why we rinse him with warm water, even though he clearly shows us that he doesn't want to or can't stand it.
What to do?
A patient and experienced dog groomer can help. The bath is carried out by a person who is level-headed and professional and with whom your dog has no emotions. The "bath tub" of a groomer is also designed to meet the needs of your furry friend. This makes handling much less stressful for everyone.
Especially for shelter dogs with poor experience, it is often the better decision to call in a professional.
Nevertheless, we should try to get our dog used to the bath. This can be done in tiny steps and with a lot of praise. If the dog reacts with restlessness or fear, we were too quick and have to start all over again. If possible, a calm helper should be available for the exercises.
The procedure:
Let the dog be lifted into the empty bathtub (shower is easier) The prerequisite is that the dog has not yet had any bad experiences here, otherwise it will be even more difficult (tips for such dogs below). Praise, praise, praise. We don't turn on the water. If this works out stress-free, then step 2 follows
Fill the shower tray or bathtub with a little lukewarm water. It is enough to cover the bottom. Praise, praise, praise. If this works well, move on.
Turn on the shower when the dog is in the shower/bathtub. Turn on the tap just a little, the water should be lukewarm (always keep one/two fingers on the underside of the shower head to notice temperature changes immediately). If the dog remains calm, touch the front legs with the hand holding the shower head, then shower the front legs. If this works without any problems, shower the hind legs.
Bath
What about dog washing facilities?
Someone here once sat in one of these washes himself.
By the way! If a dog likes to swim in ponds and streams, it doesn't mean that he also likes to be bathed! These are two completely different things for the dog.
Our tip: A dog bathrobe is not a fashion accessory, but a really great invention for the "drenched poodle". Depending on the coat structure, it can take hours until the dog is really dry again. During this time he will shake himself frequently. The bathrobe catches the wetness and speeds up the drying process.