Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We bathe our Golden, Murphy, in the bath tub (one to hold and one to scrub) with > a flexible shower wand.. We usually strip down and share the suds. When I take > a bath in the tub Murphy sits by the tub and hangs his head over the side with a > wistful look. He thinks every thing I do should be shared. When I’m getting > ready for bed at night he comes and sits by me at the sink with begging eyes to > have his teeth brushed and his face washed. He always wants to be where I am and > do what I do. One of the first things I had to teach him was "Other Room" so I > can use the toilet or get dinner without him under foot. He used to lie at my > feet under the computer table but now that it is summer in Tucson he prefers the > tile floors. > Annis-Murphy’s Mom > He’s never balked at a bath or shower since his first one, which I tried to > make very pleasant for him. At times, he’ll even jump into the tub while > visiting me in the bathroom.
Response:
> You would think being part Lab she would >enjoy the water, but not so but she loves the towel drying and >blow drying at the end.
yeah, there’s obviously something else going on with dogs that hate baths even though they love to swim. What’s up with that? Emily * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
:> You would think being part Lab she would :>enjoy the water, but not so but she loves the towel drying : and :>blow drying at the end. : yeah, there’s obviously something else going on with dogs : that hate baths even though they love to swim. : What’s up with that? When they swim their skin stays dry and warm. When you bathe them you force the water into their coat where it gets heavy, wet, and cold. Also they have sensitive noses and they may not appreciate the odor of the stuff we put on them that smells nice to us. Diane Blackman – – – – – – – – "The best trainers break a whole exercise down into manageable chunks for the dog to master, clearly communicate what movements the dog must make in performing each chunk, and motivate the dog to joyfully offer that behavior when asked." "Smart Trainers — Brilliant Dogs" by Janet Lewis
Response:
Same with most two years olds also. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > yeah, there’s obviously something else going on with dogs > that hate baths even though they love to swim. > What’s up with that? > Emily
Response:
I shower with Brooklyn, the 17 Month old, 87 pound Black Labrador. He seems to like it, especially the soaping and rubbing of his belly and privates. The mud literally pours off of him, and when we’re finished, I let him out of the shower for a good shake while I rinse off. I only bathe him when he’s been in something disgusting and we can’t stand the smell–usually about once every two months. After a towel drying, I let him out to zoom from room to room and roll on the carpets. He’s never balked at a bath or shower since his first one, which I tried to make very pleasant for him. At times, he’ll even jump into the tub while visiting me in the bathroom. Richard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I bathe my large ones (and small ones) in a large walk-in shower equipped > with a long flexible hose. This is pretty messy, so I "shower" with the > girls. I cannot imagine wrestling them in and out of a tub. However, during > the summer I bathe them outside because the water coming out of the ground > is over 90 degrees – and I wear clothes for that. One tip, don’t use > extreme pressure in the water spray as this can scare the dog. > I _have bathed a large dog outside (not mine) in cooler weather by running a > hose from my hot water heater and mixing it in large buckets with water from > the outside taps until it’s about 100 degrees or so and pouring it over him. > It takes two people to do this or an extremely obedient dog. > HTH > SC > Hello! > I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath > him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold > him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not > sure that is the best way to go for baths (I don’t know if I can hold > him in!). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bath a large dog? > The garden hose i’ve heard is an option, but the water just seems so > *cold* to me…. > Thanks, > Kari > & Koby
Response:
TWO PEOPLE. One to hold, one to wash. They don’t need to be bathed all that much, so you should be able to enlist a friend from time to time. And after a time or two, you might not need the help. Lots of praise, a calm soothing voice — all that and you should be able to bathe him in the tub. If not, there may be some pet stores that have self-serve dog washing, where you may be able to ask someone to help. Maybe you could get him used to the water in a baby pool beforehand? Tamara & Cobi (chocolate lab) who sends cheers to your Koby!
Response:
I bathe my large ones (and small ones) in a large walk-in shower equipped with a long flexible hose. This is pretty messy, so I "shower" with the girls. I cannot imagine wrestling them in and out of a tub. However, during the summer I bathe them outside because the water coming out of the ground is over 90 degrees – and I wear clothes for that. One tip, don’t use extreme pressure in the water spray as this can scare the dog. I _have bathed a large dog outside (not mine) in cooler weather by running a hose from my hot water heater and mixing it in large buckets with water from the outside taps until it’s about 100 degrees or so and pouring it over him. It takes two people to do this or an extremely obedient dog. HTH SC – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello! > I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath > him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold > him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not > sure that is the best way to go for baths (I don’t know if I can hold > him in!). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bath a large dog? > The garden hose i’ve heard is an option, but the water just seems so > *cold* to me…. > Thanks, > Kari > & Koby
Response:
Shomer, and Haver before him, and Lex before him, and . . . is convinced that I cheat. If I try to push him into the tub, he is too strong. If I try to get into the tub and pull him in, the same applies, plus the lack of room. Finally, after trying all the physical approaches, I cheat. I point my finger at the inside of the tub and say, "Get in." Slowly, slowly, one foot at a time, like an extreme geriatric canine citizen, he climbs into the tub. Then he stands there, head down, ears back in extreme submission, giving the look that says, "I’m sorry. Whatever it is I did, I won’t do it again." (But alas, he does–get dirty enough to need a bath.) You realize, of course, that I am assiduously careful not to get water or soap into his eyes, that I am praising and petting him all the while, that the water is neither cold nor hot, and that the process is interrupted by the application of treats to his mouth. It makes no difference–WATER is involved, and in the Doberman lexicon "water" is the ultimate four-letter word. What is annoying, however, is how he struts around showing off his gleaming coat once dry and clean! avrama & shomer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello! > I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath > him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold > him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not > sure that is the best way to go for baths (I don’t know if I can hold > him in!). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bath a large dog? > The garden hose i’ve heard is an option, but the water just seems so > *cold* to me…. > Believe me, the water from the garden hose won’t be too cold for a > Lab/Husky. Think about it, these dogs swim in icy ponds and streams and > are used to the snow. One way to control a dog when you want to give him > a bath is to put him up on a sturdy table or bench outside when you bath > him. They are a little uncertain being up in the air and it isn’t as easy > for them to bolt. It’s also a lot easier on your back. > Annis-Murphy’s Mom
Response:
>> Hello! > I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath > him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold > him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not
<snip> I’m no expert, but this is what I did w/ my 73 lb. SPD/Lab mix (she was the runt). When she got older and bigger she became more difficult to manage in the bathtub. So I worked harder w/ her regarding the "stay" command. I kept my body between her and the door (which was shut during this process – she gave in quicker when she realized the door was shut and knew even if she did ever manage to get out, she wouldn’t get far). During the bathing process, I’d watch her eyes and when she started to think about jumping out, I’d tell her "stay". If she lifted a paw to get ready to dart out, I’d put my hand on her back and again tell her to "stay". After I’d towel dried her off, I’d stand up, walk back a foot and with each bath I’d wait a little longer and walk a little further away before telling her "okay" as a release and open the door until she learned the process. This has taught her to stay in the tub until all was finished and waiting for the release command. You would think being part Lab she would enjoy the water, but not so but she loves the towel drying and blow drying at the end. I’d also throw in a few "good girls" and talk to her calmly during the process and end it with a nice treat. Oh I almost forgot, I also installed a shower head with a long hose to better rinse her down with. I also watch her reaction to see if I have the water temperature to her liking – when she starts lifting her paws that means its too hot or too cold.
Response:
> Hello! > I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath > him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold > him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not > sure that is the best way to go for baths (I don’t know if I can hold > him in!). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bath a large dog? > The garden hose i’ve heard is an option, but the water just seems so > *cold* to me….
Believe me, the water from the garden hose won’t be too cold for a Lab/Husky. Think about it, these dogs swim in icy ponds and streams and are used to the snow. One way to control a dog when you want to give him a bath is to put him up on a sturdy table or bench outside when you bath him. They are a little uncertain being up in the air and it isn’t as easy for them to bolt. It’s also a lot easier on your back. Annis-Murphy’s Mom
Response:
:> Hello! :> :> I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath :> him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold :> him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not :> sure that is the best way to go for baths (I don’t know if I can hold :> him in!). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bath a large dog? :> The garden hose i’ve heard is an option, but the water just seems so :> *cold* to me…. : Believe me, the water from the garden hose won’t be too cold for a : Lab/Husky. Think about it, these dogs swim in icy ponds and streams and : are used to the snow. One way to control a dog when you want to give him : a bath is to put him up on a sturdy table or bench outside when you bath : him. They are a little uncertain being up in the air and it isn’t as easy : for them to bolt. It’s also a lot easier on your back. : Annis-Murphy’s Mom Actually it might be too cold to be comfortable if you are *bathing* the dog. The coat of the dog is designed to insulate the dog from icy ponds, snow etc. If you take your dog for a swim in some ice laden body of water then probe his coat it should be dry near the skin. Bathing is an entirely different prospect in which the dogs insulating coat is deliberately breached and the dog actually has cold wet water on its skin. When I was bathing my dog outdoors I hooked the garden hose upto the laundry room sink so that I could mix cold and warm water and make it a comfortable temperature. Eventually I tired of that, and decided to take things more slowly, gradually acclimating the dog to the process of getting in the tub, being wet down, lathered up etc. With firmness, lots of patience and lots of treats I now have a dog that will get into the tub on his own. The first step was not to directly force the dog, but to simply prevent retreat. He was encouraged to the bathroom, praised and treated, and while I intentionally did not haul him toward it neither did I let him get further away. I also did a lot of practice in an empty tub when I had no intention of giving him a bath. That kind of divided the problem into two parts – one was the previous bad feelings about the tub itself, the other dealt with not wanting to get wet. I found when I made the water warmer, more like it would be comforatble for me I had much less resistence. Diane Blackman Read the puppy reports http://www.dog-play.com/report.html – – - - - - - - – "Much of the tension [a dog] experiences results from fear — the more confidence he gains, the less fearful he will be; the less fearful, the less tension and stress he needs to dissipate." "The Body Language and Emotion of Dogs" by Myrna M. Milani, DVM.
Response:
Hello! I have a Lab/Husky dog 8 months old. When he was little i used to bath him in the tub. He did ok with that, definately needed someone to hold him in the tub though. Now, however, he is so much bigger and I’m not sure that is the best way to go for baths (I don’t know if I can hold him in!). Does anyone have any suggestions on how to bath a large dog? The garden hose i’ve heard is an option, but the water just seems so *cold* to me…. Thanks, Kari & Koby
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