Layla hates water! She's started to scratch a lot lately. I'd appreciate any ideas how to wash her most effectively, sans H2O.

We have many pet stores nearby and a cool store called Red Barn. They may have many of the dry shampoo items.
Thanks so much.

Chuck S
Los Angeles, CA

WIth an itchy dog I would not use any of the dry shampoos, I would be worried about further irritation.

What have you done to find the cause of her itching?


Mine hates water too, but that is his problem and he will get over it.

I hook him up to the porch and wash away, talking happily and stuffing him with bits of chicken the entire time.

Sure he hates it, but it doesn't hurt and it is over quickly.

After several times of stuffing him full of treats the entire time he no longer flops on the ground like a toddler having a temper tantrum...that does not make it easy to bathe him!!!

I checked her for fleas. None visible. If she had fleas, so would I!

Wow, great idea re: treats while washing her. I may try that. Any comments from others about this? I don't want her to associate her dislike for water with me, though. I still like the idea.

Thanks

Chuck and Layla (I don't know if Layla'd actually thank you, though.)

I'm with Jennifer on bathing. They'll get over it. My rott won't step in puddles but he'll stand perfectly still for a bath and then play with the spray afterwards.

Secure them with a line, keep them still with one hand, and wash away.

The other trick is to be as efficient as possible, I have towels, my kong zoom groom thing, shampoo and anything else I need lined up and within reach.

I can wash my 70lb boy in less than 10 minutes start to finish.

Yeah, thats good. Quick and easy without thinking about it too much.

This is so great. I love this forum. Well, wish us luck 'cause I'm going for it soon, after our morning walk. I'll post with the results, that is if she doesn't bit my hand!

I'm in the wash anyway school of thought. It's best to deal with it now and desensitize instead of come across a problem when you NEED to wash her.

I wash mine in the tub at home. If a dog is scared of water he eats in the tub, next to the tub with water running, etc. He comes in when I shower and lays on the floor with a kong/bone.

Just start slow, make it a relaxing event and most important make sure the ending is relaxing instead of the dog bolting out the bathroom door or off leash in the yard. Oh and treats never hurt anything!

One thing you can do is have only an inch of water in the tub (not cold). Don't have the faucet gushing loudly to add more -- just slowly and quietly.

I wouldn't even consider dry stuff with an itchy dog; I want all pollen and dust and dust mites and other allergens off the dog. If they are in the fur, the dog is breathing them in 24/7.

Rinse really well. Don't use people-products (way wrong pH). The treats are a truly great opener, believe me. With one dog I had who was horrified at the whole process, I saved the creme de la creme treats just for baths .... lining them up on the nearby toilet cover (hey, it's a dog!) where she could see and smell them and I gave them liberally, like after every cup of clear water-rinse poured over.

I also skipped the head, using just a washcloth the first few times rather than possible water in the eyes, nose, etc.

Don't get water inside the ears. You can hold the flap down (closed) later when you start using more water on the head area.

You can do this. The efficiency thing is top priority. Don't have to get up and move away for anything. Let the water drain and have a huge old towel ready to envelop the dog in before letting her out, then head straight outside before unwrapping her (alternatively, allowing the shaking to happen in the tiled tub area).

You may want to start another thread about the itchiness. And don't think that fleas on the dog means fleas on you; the dog is the preferred flea playground. You may see a couple floating in the tub water.

But regardless, an itchy dog has a fair likelihood of either flea hypersensitivity or atopic dermatitis. If the dog has atopy, frequent bathing (or at least thorough rinsing) is a good thing.

The old thing about drying the skin with bathing isn't a concern unless you use people products or don't rinse carefully.

And finally, I hope the dog is on fish oil and E.

I made a game out of baths early on (after my dog acted like I hit him with lava the first time I put water on him...he's actually very happy playing in water and swimming now)


I ran about 3 inches of water in the tub, prepared the towels and removed anything in the bathroom that couldn't get soaked with dog water (toothbrushes, anything paper, clean towels, etc) and we played bob for treats (chicken, pepporoni, all super tasty things) and by the end of it he was rolling around in the tub where upon a soaped him up in a few seconds then we played "treat everytime you stand under the shower spray. I let him hind in the corner at first but he wanted the treat...took about 3 minutes before he figured out the game. Our baths now are nearly as treat intensive and they take about 10 minutes for a shampoo, condition, and rinse.

I use an oatmeal dog shampoo for dry skin when I bath him, the conditioner is the same way.