[i.love.dogs.]

Hi! I have a Boston Terrier. His name is Jake. When I give him a bath he always want to jump out. How could I make him want to stay in? Should I give him a treat after or tell him good boy or talk to him while I am washing him? Any sugestions?


Thank You So Much!

[briteday]

If you are bathing the dog in the tub or sink, put down a matt or towel in the bottom of the tub. Dogs don't like to slip around on their feet, or worse. Also, some dogs I've had just don't like baths. In that case I leave a collar and leash on during the bath, attaching the leash to the soap holder in the tub so that I can have my hands free while bathing the dog.

Be sure that the water is neither too hot or too cold, don't get soap in the eyes, and praise your dog the whole time.

[i.love.dogs.]

I use a little plastic round pool. the kind for little kids. The you can buyat walmart for maybe $10. Should i still put something down. I use a hose to but I dont have a nosel thing at the end it just pours out, Shoul I start washing him inside in a tub?

[Shanette Peters]

Originally Posted by i.love.dogs.

Hi! I have a Boston Terrier. His name is Jake. When I give him a bath he always want to jump out. How could I make him want to stay in? Should I give him a treat after or tell him good boy or talk to him while I am washing him? Any sugestions?


Thank You So Much!

could try doing simple obedience using the tub...get him to lay down, learning to be calm in the tub, and try to stay calm yourself, if the water might startle him have a bit of water in the tub before he goes in, or pitchers ready then even consider using a cloth to wash his face..i had to do that for one dog who was startled by the running water.

[Purplex15]

you need to bath the dog in an area where he can be tied. if someone was trying tobath you, and you could, wouldnt you try and get away. put the dog in the tub at first, tie him in, and just love on him, give him treats. do this for a week or so everyday so that he associates the tub with good things. once you start bathing him do the same thing. one thing i can say is dont feel up he tub then put him in. dogs do not like being put in water at all. give him treats whenever he is good. with time, he will get better.

as a rule of thumg with groomers, we always use nozzles b/c water from the hose does not do well on the coat.

[Shanette Peters]

Originally Posted by i.love.dogs.

I use a little plastic round pool. the kind for little kids. The you can buyat walmart for maybe $10. Should i still put something down. I use a hose to but I dont have a nosel thing at the end it just pours out, Shoul I start washing him inside in a tub?

do you do his bathing outside when using the kiddy pool? it is possible he doesn't like standing on the plastic or just too many distractions in the area. If you want to continue using the pool I still think teaching him to be calm in the pool (at times you aren't bathing him) praise him for even standing still in the pool/tub can help. I personally don't restrain/tie up the dog i am bathing, however i will put either a grooming noose or a collar to hold on to them. I will let a bit of water in the tub durring the bath - if the feet are really dirty - to kinda soak them. If it is having water on the face or by the ear - some dogs don't like that, i've used a washcloth to wash the face till they get used to the water on the face. Personally i will use a pitcher,nozzle,hose(which one dog really loved) what ever works for that dog. make sure the water isn't too hot nor cold either. Just remember it will probably take a few tries before Jake is at ease with baths - don't give up. Hope that helps

[doggone6]

Every dog I've owned has been absolutely appalled the first time they were bathed, and recent experience with my Shih Tzu puppy has done nothing to change my mind about that (and I've bathed a lot of dogs in my day ;-) Let's face it, from a dog's point of view dirty & smelly = GOOD!

Gentle persistence on your part is required, as your little fellow needs to understand that although he may not LIKE the bath, it isn't going to hurt him and he IS going to have it, lol! Do put a plastic mat in the bottom of the tub so your dog won't slip and slide around, and you may want to dilute your shampoo 1:4 with quite warm water and pour that over him before gently sudsing. This will be quite adequate for cleansing and you'll have less to rinse out later. For some reason, small dogs seem to prefer this to having shampoo squirted on an then rubbed in. (Big dogs just want you to finish so they can run around and dry off, hopefully not before they find something nasty to roll in.)

It'll get easier!