Puppy bath in bathtub

kieranlavin · 02-12-2007, 11:26 AM

Normally we wash our dogs in the bathtub and I sit on the edge with my legs down and the dog just sits there and lets me give a bath. We have a sprayer and a cup and, although there are a few moments of hesitation and resisting, it's pretty smooth.

Last night my wife was taking a bath and I had been meaning all day to give a bath to the young (8-month-old) Tessa (toy poodle - 4lbs). While she was still able to stand in the water with her head above the water, she would dip her head down into the water and just sit there. It first happened when my wife dunked her head into the water to rinse (despite my plees not to and to use a cup instead!) Anyway, my wife dipped the puppy's head into the water and the dog just sat there. My wife thought it was funny so later she did it again. I could see bubbles coming up like the dog was trying to breath underwater! It seems like we have a dumb puppy on our hands. Don't they naturally want to NOT drown and try to swim and keep their head above water?!? I'd be interested if anyone had any similar situations but I'm not really worried since we are always with the dogs when they're in the bathtub so it's not a big deal. Just funny/interesting

britishbandit · 02-12-2007, 11:41 AM

Actually it is a big deal. Dunking the puppy underwater isn't the best idea. It can cause water to get deep into the ear canal and cause infection. I hope your pups is ok, and doesn't develop one, but you should avoid doing that in future.

kieranlavin · 02-12-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by britishbandit

Actually it is a big deal. Dunking the puppy underwater isn't the best idea. It can cause water to get deep into the ear canal and cause infection. I hope your pups is ok, and doesn't develop one, but you should avoid doing that in future.

Yes, yes, yes... I agree with you on that point and yelled at my wife as she was doing it as well as afterward for that very reason (good thing I am usually the one giving the baths) I did pay pretty close attention to drying out her ears. What I was saying that it wasn't a big deal and kind of laughing about was the dog's reluctance to keep her head above water to BREATH!