Nobody wants to have to struggle to bathe their dog, especially when that dog is a heavy one. This is why it is very important to start the bathing process with your puppy so that he understands what you expect from him early on. A properly trained dog should not have to be thrown into the tub and then held down to wash him. A dog should behave nicely in the tub and he should climb in when he is asked to do so. This may sound crazy to some people, but by starting bath time positively from puppyhood, your dog will learn that, aside from the wet part (which some dogs enjoy), bath time doesn’t have to be so bad. With a little patience and a bit of encouragement from the start, your puppy will be climbing into the tub on his own in no time.
You have to start slow and make sure you have treats. Bring him into the bathroom, talk to him, and reward him when he is calm. Praise him consistently unless he acts out, then you should ignore him. Slowly move toward your tub and introduce it to the puppy. He should have no fear of the tub at this point because he has never been in one. If your puppy is tall enough, coax him to climb into the tub on his own by leading him with treats. If he isn’t tall enough, lift him in and then give him treats once he’s inside to boost that positive atmosphere. Once he has fumbled his way into the tub, shower him with praise and rewards.
At this point, you want to introduce water without scaring him, so place him on the opposite side of the tub, or better yet, encourage him to walk there himself. Slowly turn the water on so that it is at a slow trickle. Either he will become curious or he’ll try to back up even further. Don’t allow the water to touch him at this point, let him go to the water. You can even try and lead him to it using treats. Do this until he stands willingly in the water.
Once the puppy is standing willingly in the water, start to sprinkle little droplets over him to show him that it is not going to hurt him and that it is not scary. Put treats in the water on the floor of the tub to encourage him to go into it. Slowly increase the amount of water you pour over him making sure that he is never frightened. Praise, voice, and treats are important here. Keep going until he is soaked and remains comfortable. Then slowly add a little puppy shampoo and rinse.
By performing bath time like this repeatedly, soon your puppy will have no problem at all getting into the tub and enjoying his bath time. By forcing the situation to be positive completely, your puppy has no choice but to view bath time as a pleasant experience.
You have to start slow and make sure you have treats. Bring him into the bathroom, talk to him, and reward him when he is calm. Praise him consistently unless he acts out, then you should ignore him. Slowly move toward your tub and introduce it to the puppy. He should have no fear of the tub at this point because he has never been in one. If your puppy is tall enough, coax him to climb into the tub on his own by leading him with treats. If he isn’t tall enough, lift him in and then give him treats once he’s inside to boost that positive atmosphere. Once he has fumbled his way into the tub, shower him with praise and rewards.
At this point, you want to introduce water without scaring him, so place him on the opposite side of the tub, or better yet, encourage him to walk there himself. Slowly turn the water on so that it is at a slow trickle. Either he will become curious or he’ll try to back up even further. Don’t allow the water to touch him at this point, let him go to the water. You can even try and lead him to it using treats. Do this until he stands willingly in the water.
Once the puppy is standing willingly in the water, start to sprinkle little droplets over him to show him that it is not going to hurt him and that it is not scary. Put treats in the water on the floor of the tub to encourage him to go into it. Slowly increase the amount of water you pour over him making sure that he is never frightened. Praise, voice, and treats are important here. Keep going until he is soaked and remains comfortable. Then slowly add a little puppy shampoo and rinse.
By performing bath time like this repeatedly, soon your puppy will have no problem at all getting into the tub and enjoying his bath time. By forcing the situation to be positive completely, your puppy has no choice but to view bath time as a pleasant experience.
Kady Stansbury is the dash of artistic temperament that makes any site a success. She is a certified dog trainer with more than 5 years of experience in her kitty. She is also a tremendous writer who has over the years developed a formidable reputation and is much sought after as a Dog Blogger. She has successfully conducted one on one sessions where her students have learnt the basic commands of dog training lightning fast.
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