What is the best way to introduce a new puppy to water (ie: getting a bath)?
Question by tentoes: What is the best way to introduce a new puppy to water (ie: getting a bath)?
I feel I did this the wrong way with Joe as as soon as we got him home, we put him in the sink and gave him a bath as he stuck to high heaven! He’s now not too fond of water (loves the hose, tolerates a bath, hates the ocean).
We’re possibly getting a new puppy and I’d like to introduce the puppy to water the correct way so that he’ll like the water. (the new dog will either be another Boston or a Shih-Tzu. Looking at both rescues and breeders)
Best answer:
Answer by Erika
When I gave my pom pup his first bath I put one of his squeeky toys in with him. He played with it the whole time and barely noticed the bath, it was a good distraction and before he knew it, the bath was over.
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Be sure to put a towel or something in the bottom of the sink or tub so he feels secure in his footing. Dilute the shampoo 7 ounces of warm water and 1 ounce of shampoo. Do not try to wet the puppy first, just apply the warm diluted shampoo. Rinse him with warm water with as little spray as possible. It is also a good idea to start at the tail and work up to his head slowly.
I don’t think there’s any good way to properly introduce a dog to a bath or not.
Three of our five dogs got baths immediately when we got them out of the shelter, but other than that, there hasn’t been any reason to give them one. Except for the time one rolled in dead fish.
Our house smells fine and there is no odor.
Unless you’re showing, visiting nursing homes, have a medical condition, or they roll in something dead, dogs don’t need baths more than once or twice a year.
Too much bathing causes dry skin and increases the possibility of distrust.
If you feel bathing a dog is something you want to do, do it as quickly as possible and get it over with.
Another alternative to getting rid of dog odor is spray Nature’s Miracle, or another dog deodorizer where ever your dog spends most of its time.
Have you tried a kiddie pool? It may not be as intimidating to him. Good luck. And, if you aren’t using flea and tick wash, you can use a mild soap safe for humans like Dr.Bronners tea tree liquid soap and get in there with him…just risne well afterwards, both of you.
If your first dog loves the hose and tolerates a bath, that’s GREAT! That’s way better than many dogs. Some dogs just never learn to “like” a bath, but there are some things you can do to make it less traumatic.
I recently adopted a, adult shelter dog. He had already had tons of horrible experiences, and he definitely wasn’t ready for a bath for a while. What I did was, I let him kind of hang out in the sink. I’d pet him and give him treats, let him chew his bone there…etc. Just for short intervals. I did this until he was totally comfortable with it. (About 3 weeks, but probably less for a new puppy)
Then, I would have him in there and just turn the water on in the other basin. That way, he wasn’t getting wet. But he got used to the noise and it wasn’t scaring him. Then gradually I would turn on just a bit on his side of the sink, then maybe the next day get him a little bit wet, then the next day no water at all…etc. Just work very gradually and be sure there are always treats available and lots of praise.
Your other puppy’s experience with his first bath wasn’t the best idea, but as long as it’s a pleasurable experience, there’s not always a lot you can do to make a dog like water. I’ve even known more than a few “water dog” breeds in my day that won’t even pee outside when it’s damp!
Best of luck
I have a dog that used to hate water, she would climb out of the bath tub when you aren’t looking, succeeding in making the floor completely soaked. I am naturally good with animals, and have had a lot of dogs before. When I got this dog as a puppy, she was really bad, I would have to have another person hold her while I bathed her. I gradually started working with her in a closed bathroom with a towel on the bottom of the tub because she kept slipping. I started without the water on and let her sniff the shower head, then turned on the lukewarm water and just played it around the tub around her and didn’t touch her with it. then I lightly ran it over her front paws where she could see it, she usually freaks out when the water touches her, but this time she didn’t even flinch. I very slowly ran it up her front legs and then her back legs, I did her tail then, and slowly ran it up her spine, I did the rest of her body the same way, talking to her in a praising light tone, I gradually added soap and massaged it gently in and out. She will now jump into the tub and sit patiently for her bath. There is a pond on our neighbor’s property and she now loves to play in it. I hope this helps!