Dog that doesn't like water!

My dog Lucy does not like water so i have to put her on a leash to keep her still while I am giving her a bath. That does not work either because when i try to start spraying she starts pulling on the leash and ends up chocking herself or pulling of the collar. Then I try to tighten the collar but it just makes it worse. If someone has a way to get a dog to like water please let me know as soon as possible.

I believe a fellow member posted a video on youtube on exactly this subject

[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdkNfk7XSDY[/MEDIA]

stream of consciousness that helped me

watch the latest episode of it's me or the dog with Victoria Stillwell and the white lab with the walk in tub. FOOD FOOD FOOD. go slow and don't get frustrated. smear peanut butter on the sides of the tub. may the payout worth the effort. gradual slooowwww exposure with high rewards. get him to walk in water and treat the heck out of him. toss a bunch of chicken in running water on the concrete and let him dare to go get it with no pressure.

where are you bathing him. are you dragging him to the bathroom and hoisting him struggling into the tub despite his fear? are you getting angry or frustrated? do you have a tether in the tub or do you grab him and haul him back? i think if you tightened my collar I wouldn't really like it either. what about a martingale collar which won't slip off but loosens if he's not pulling??

My dog doesn't like the new house with the much smaller shower so she really doesn't like going in there. I wait for a warmish day and have a hose that connects to the kitchen faucet-out the window and we have warm water. does the tub have a big rubber mat so the dog won't slip? much more can be accomplished with patience, FOOD (good meaty food like cut up hot dogs, chicken, even peanut butter). I talk calm and am calm. One of the people that stays with me during the day said the whole thing is like a Zen experience...

think of this way if someone said let me spray you with water for a dollar while u have ur good clothes on or even naked in the cold would u let them? maybe for $20 but not for long.... but if they offered $100 or $1000 I bet you might allow it for a while. make it worth it..get a martingale collar, a walk in tub with rubber mat in the bottom, warm water hose for $10 at most with a shampoo dispensing sprayer so it goes faster. and be nice rub soft and don't scratch or be rough--I’m sensitive headed maybe dogs can be too. use nice soothing shampoo's, don't spray or get water in their ears or faces they hate that..I don't wash my dogs faces...i do ears very carefully and tickle chin to keep head up and water off face. do the face with a wet towel if u must. oouch that stings.. you can cover/close the ear opening with ur other hand even for floppy golden ears like my dogs and NOT get water in there. their ears get greasy and need a good wash. brush BEFORE the bath so the tangles don't get worse...brush AFTER they dry so the tangles won't get worse.

when ur done have some fun and make baths a prelude to his favorite toy or game-it's most likely not the water but the circumstances and routine surrounding bath. try totally changing all that. Victoria got the dog into the tub with food before ever introducing water. My older dog doesn't like a bath because my ex treated her roughly and was impatient with her trying to get away from his nasty attitude. she has long hair and he had no idea how to shampoo long hair. it does make a difference I HAVE LONG HAIR. i used to fear my mother washing or brushing my hair. REALLY FEAR IT. Rub softly in s's all one direction WITH the direction of the coat so tangles and pulling are minimal. don't scrub back and forth like ur scouring a floor it hurts. try brushing their hair backward they don't like that either so don't shampoo that way.

you can get your dog very clean with soft circular rubbing which is very like a massage with maybe 5 more minutes’ time. be nice and wash with luke warm water--they aren't fond of hot or cold. get sensitive skin or soothing DOG ONLY shampoos. HUMAN SHAMPOO NO NO even baby shampoo because it is the wrong PH and can really damage skin. Don't get mad when they shake and they WILL so get over it. put the towel out and sort of rub like a nice spa rub down and then hold it over them. they'll shake to resettle their coats. and for Pete’s sake cut ur nails and don't use them on dog skin...or use gloves. i had a shampoo girl at a salon start scraping my head with her fake talons and almost jumped out of the chair.

BTW great video..i typed this before watching the vid to see how well I did and I think we agree...sloooowww gradual positive associations and FOOD. Don't do the bath right away do some tricks, get used to all the other things first. DON'T get mad STOP...try tomorrow a little more and a little more.

First, loved your video Krazykaine3, really excellent! Saw the VS episode, not sure if this is the exact one she used, but very similar, also there's another one, not sure if big enough for your big boy, didn't look at the measurements, but at least it's a start.

Also, just must say, have 2 GSDs also, so am a huge fan, have seen some of Kaine's videos on youtube, he's fabulous!!! Was so happy to see you here:dogtongue2: He's so handsome! Give him a big hug from me and my three (2 GSDs and 1 Aussie mix).

I googled and searched for that VS bath and can't find it. I was thinking it HAD to be cheaper than the buster bath which is temptingly on tall legs. That would be much easier on my back but $200 + was kind of pricey. I'll dream of the walk up stainless affairs. If anyone finds the one from VS post it please. It was really nice. The buster seems like a dog jumping out while clipped on could dump the whole works but maybe not.

Not sure, but I am thinking that is the tub. I used to get loads of stuff from vendors at my old store, and got stuff from them. Found the tub at another place I used to get info from, better description *(and price), legs are detachable. Maybe check this one out, at least it couldn't tip? PetEdge: Portable Booster Bath Tubs Still pricey, tho. Need to stick with mine in the shower, bathroom door closed - have had one escapee all soaped up take a run thru my bathroom/bedroom - yikes, oh not pretty :msngiggle:

This is the one i saw that looked ez on my back but is $$. VS had one that sat on the ground with a tether hook at front and rubber mat on bottom. Still the legs on the first tempt me despite the $$ and the shy girl will def take a bit of training to get into that one but doable. Puppy will fly up in that one I bet tho.

Snooks, not sure if you looked at the larger photos, but the legs are detachable, there is a collar/tether "thingy" (sorry for the technical term there), and a mat on the bottom. Might work, altho def not cheap. ??

I don't really know... Jewel has the same problem! I usually hold her until she calms down. The groomers say she is just the NICEST, SWEETEST, most COOPERATIVE dog... PSHT! Not for me! LOL I am going to try something, I will update you later if it works... Good luck!

ah didn't notice legs come off!! ha! thanks.

please let us know how it works out with Jewel

My dog hates water and the whole bath thing. i just use waterless shampoo and call it good. Debby

Debby, mine didn't either, but, Buddy's early votes were completely vetoed.

but, it's been remarkable, how overtime, he has become accustomed to them, and just goes along with them, and is calm in the tub now. Took a while, but, he has figured out, "i guess i do live through this afterall..."

ONe tip i was grateful for, that i got here on DTA, was, use tepid water, i mean barely warm water, not real warm like we use. Made a difference for Buddy, he was way way more comfy then....

poor lil thing, i was probably making him really uncomfortable in those early days...I'm sorry Bud!

Hi lucy97,

Most of the dogs just hates water and they don't want to even touch water...It is really difficult to make them feel good in water.
Instead of a bath, try giving him a shower. This is especially good if you have one of the hand-held shower heads. Your dog should feel much more relaxed and less scared standing on firm ground than in a tub of water. You will probably stay much drier, and you may even get less of a backache. Your dog can get just as clean and get a cleaner rinse, and the wetting and rinsing process is so much quicker this way.
If you do bathe your dog in the tub, you will need a rubber bath mat inside the tub. This will prevent him from slipping and will make him feel much more secure.
Some people like to bathe the dog outside with the hose and a bucket. This may be fine on a nice hot day.:dogtongue2:

Regards,
Saarachee
limepaw.com

I always do it outside.

First start off by making it a fun experience! Bring out her favorite toy and lots of treats. DO NOT use one of those spray nozzle things! I cannot emphasize that enough. They tend to scare dogs. try using just a really nice drizzle setting. Start by dipping your hand in water. Rub it all over your dogs body. Speak to her in a low comforting voice. Continue to do that until she's fully relaxed. When she seems relaxed try drizzling the water on her with a sponge and always using your hand and rubbing her a lot! Slowly graduate to using the hose. Good Luck!

When Shadow was just a few months old I took her and our son on a fishing trip to a quarry that had flooded years ago. The rangers stocked it with bass and it makes a great place to take kids for a day of fishing.

Shadow saw the water and headed straight for it. She ran right off the bank of the pond which was at least 10 feet to the water. Steve freaked and thought for sure she was going to drown. It kind of startled me as well but I tried my best to hide it.

Shadow just paddled her way to a spot where I could fish her out. She had no problems with water and even liked getting a bath, as long as we didn't make her sit in the water.