I have about a 7 month old puppy which I am training as a patrol dog.Today I bathed him and he went off the hook.I was wondering if there my be a better way to make that a better experance for him.With the water hose set on the shower setting he went into a defensive mode with deep growling he was getting very stressed.As soon as I saw that I immediately quit with waterhose.I already had him shampooed up so I went to using a cup and that helped some but he still didnt like it. I just dont want to hurt his drives because hes making a excellent dog.This is something I have not run into.This is my first Training with a totally green puppy.I would appreciate any tips
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: chris roten
I have about a 7 month old puppy which I am training as a patrol dog.Today I bathed him and he went off the hook.I was wondering if there my be a better way to make that a better experance for him.With the water hose set on the shower setting he went into a defensive mode with deep growling he was getting very stressed.As soon as I saw that I immediately quit with waterhose.I already had him shampooed up so I went to using a cup and that helped some but he still didnt like it. I just dont want to hurt his drives because hes making a excellent dog.This is something I have not run into.This is my first Training with a totally green puppy.I would appreciate any tips
Have you tried desensitizing him to the hose? Treat near hose. Treat near hose turned on. Treat while hose slightly wets his feet. Etc.
Like Steve's dogs, mine have all learned to love (or in one case, at least tolerate quietly ) baths. One who needed to be lathered with an anti-fungal shampoo and then leave it on for ten minutes really taught me about diverting the dog. We did marker work in the bathtub with very high-value treats while the shampoo did its work. I rinsed with a plastic pitcher from the faucet.
Another one, one who loved the kiddie pool, I lathered him up in a couple of inches of water in "his" pool and then rinsed with the hose set on a mild trickle.
Eventually, no elaborate diversions like these were needed with any of them. (This doesn't apply to your guy, but I do my senior in the tub because I think cold hose-water probably does his old joints no favor, and warm water probably feels good to them.)
First time I washed my ACD cross down to the skin wet I thought I was going to get hurt.His reaction surprised me. Like bathing was a horrid violation of his body. With no treats ready, ended up holding him by the scruff of the neck with one hand washing with the other, him growling and baring his teeth,biting the spray hose.
Next time I had steak pieces on the shelf where you keep shampoo, as he started to get "stiff" I gave him steak.
Next few days I noticed him checking out the shower stall to see if there might be goodies remaining in there.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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Quote: betty landercasp
First time I washed my ACD cross down to the skin wet I thought I was going to get hurt.His reaction surprised me. Like bathing was a horrid violation of his body. With no treats ready, ended up holding him by the scruff of the neck with one hand washing with the other, him growling and baring his teeth,biting the spray hose.
Next time I had steak pieces on the shelf where you keep shampoo, as he started to get "stiff" I gave him steak.
Next few days I noticed him checking out the shower stall to see if there might be goodies remaining in there.
Isn't it amazing how distracting a HV treat and calmness on our part can be, even when the "bad thing" is really causing anxiety? It's like a South Park episode I always remember where Cartman is pondering "Hmmm. Share the profits or have my penis cut off. Share the profits or have my penis cut off. Hmmmm." I picture the dog's little brain going "No bath, no steak. Or bath with steak. Hmmmm."
And personally, I don't give a darn about the bribery when it's something so un-fun for the dog.
Same thing with an unpleasant "procedure" like ear drops or eye ointment. The HV treat is right there on the edge of the coffee table, and the whole time the procedure is happening I'm murmuring about the treat and the dog is staring at it (along with the other dogs). Then O Happy Day everyone gets a treat, with the first one to the patient!
Your dog checking the shower is similar to my dogs dashing over to me now when the "procedure" equipment comes out to see the treat.
Have you tried it with warm water? The first time I bathed my puppy I wanted it to be as comfortable as possible, so my wife ferried warm water from the bath tub to my back porch. A couple times of that and he seemed to be good with it.
Now he desperately wants into anything with water lol! That's a whole other issue, boxer dogs are obsessed with drinking water. He will drink until he throws up, if I let him, even if he just had his fill of water haha! Goofy dog.
So yeah, I would try to make it fairly warm and use a bucket to pour the water over him. As long as he tolerates it, you win.
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Bathing 7 month old puppy
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Re: Bathing 7 month old puppy
) baths. One who needed to be lathered with an anti-fungal shampoo and then leave it on for ten minutes really taught me about diverting the dog. We did marker work in the bathtub with very high-value treats while the shampoo did its work. I rinsed with a plastic pitcher from the faucet.
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