Mox has been a mud dog since day one and as much as she loved getting dirty, she hated baths. She was terrified, she would shake, cry and any chance she got to possibly escape, she would go for it.
We tried waterless bath foam and grooming wipes, but they were no match for the dirt this dog can acquire. So two years later and after a little trial and error, Mox loves baths. In fact, she will try to join in if we aren’t careful. We know we aren’t the only ones who’ve ever owned a dog that loves to get dirty and hates to have baths, so below are some things that worked for us.
We Made the Bath Not a Scary Place
We started by putting her favorite toy in the bathroom, then after a couple weeks in the tub (no water running and empty tub) and having her fetch it several times. She is very fetch/play motivated, so toys worked well. If your dog is more treat motivated, you may want to start with treat.
After she was comfortable getting in and out to rescue her toy. We put treats in her food bowl and placed it in the tub (again no water) to keep her in their for a longer period of time than just fetch time. I suggest using a combination of your dog’s favorite treat and working up to something that lasts a little while, like Kong Easy Treat.
My dogs will do anything for these Cadet Duck Breast Treats. I cut them up into small pieces, about the size of my fingernail to use as training treats.
Kong, Peanut Butter Easy Treat, 8 oz
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After she started spending a couple minutes in the bath tub, we started putting her food in with the treat and doing her twice daily feedings in the bath tub. It wasn’t long before she would just go in just because she could.
Then we started feeding her right outside the tub with the water on so she would get used to the noise.
Now that we had built up her confidence, we invited her into the bath and turned on the water. We didn’t give her a bath, just turned on the water with her in the tub. We gave her a treat and told her how good she was. We continued to do this daily over the next two weeks pushing a little further each time, turning the shower head on, getting her feet wet, getting fully wet, etc. Before we knew it she had completed a full bath with no stress!
I still think this is the biggest factor in why she enjoys baths now.
Ways We Keep Bath Time Enjoyable
We bathe her inside with warm water using the shower attachment, which we turn off if we aren’t using it. She still hates baths with the hose outside even in the summer (who wouldn’t?).
We make sure everything is in place before we even tell her it’s bath time. Shampoo in the tub, Dirty Dog Mitt, Dirty Dog Mat down, Dirty Dog shammy for drying (big Dirty Dog fan, their products have saved our home from so much mud, dirt, and water).
Dirty Dog, Shammy
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Earthbath, Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo, 16 oz
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Dog Gone Smart Large Dirty Dog Mat
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TIP: Throw the Shammy or towels in the dryer before bath time so they are warm and cozy when your pup gets out. Both of our dogs love this! Especially, after outdoor hose baths.
Mox is fueled on praise, so anything she does that is good or what we want her to do, we tell her. We make bath time about bonding time, spending extra time on the things Mox loves, like the lather and the dry off because we want her to enjoy it and feel like a pampered pooch.
Getting the right soap is also very important. We had a soap that Mox did just fine with and we used it on our other dog (Maple) and she got a rash, we switched and it made bath and post-bath much more enjoyable.
Of course after every bath or grooming session, both our dogs get rewarded with their favorite treat or chewy because routine is very important to both of them and routine of something to look forward to is even better.
Ongoing training is so important. We want to make sure the dogs always think of the bath as a happy place, so we will often just invite them into the bathroom just to give them a treat or praise.
Other Helpful Tips
Brush the dogs out well before the bath, this makes the lather and rinse so much quicker and more effective.
Safari, Medium Dog Flexible Slicker Brush
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Safari Double Row Dog Undercoat Rake
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Trim your dog’s nails after the bath. Just like people’s nails, they get softer in water, this will make the nail trim process easier.
Safari, Professional Dog Nail Trimmer
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Make sure you always have styptic powder right next to you when nail trimming.
Safari Pet Styptic Powder
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