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02-13-2011, 06:29 AM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The South
Posts: 272
| She is terrified, I'm worried. Ever since we brought home Bri, she has been terrified of water and the blow dryer. She used to just run away and hide and I didn't think much about it. But, recently every time water comes on or a blow dryer comes out, she crouches down and literally shakes so hard. It breaks my heart. Does this happen with any of y'alls yorkies? Do you have a solution? I've tried letting her see the blow dryer and i've tried bribing with a treat. Nothing is working. OH! Just to clarify, this isn't just when she is getting a bath, but whenever I'm getting ready. TIA!
__________________ Mommy to Bri |
Welcome Guest! | |
02-13-2011, 06:49 AM | #2 |
Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas
Posts: 21,173
| That's really pitiful. I wish I knew how to help her. I hope someone has some ideas. The only answer I have is to be very gentle with her and use the low setting on the drier, if you aren't already, so it is quieter. Kacee loves the blow drier. I sit down on the floor with her on a big, fluffy towel and she'll stretch out on her side as though she was in heaven.
__________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel |
02-13-2011, 06:55 AM | #3 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| With water and hairdryers, I always make it a happy experience. I talk to my boys happily and praise them. Massage helps too. I always follow up baths and drying with a play session, or something else desirable, like a meal. Keep working at desensitizing Bri. Stay calm, confident, and patient and make everything fun. Don't try to comfort her. Instead, be silly and let her know it is no big deal. Give her kisses or distract her with her favorite squeaky toy. Good luck!
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
02-13-2011, 06:58 AM | #4 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member | Quote:
That is adorable! I wish Taycie loved the blow dryer but she is like the OP's little one. The minute I say "Bath" she lowers her head and ears and runs to her bed. She dosen't shake until I get her in the sink but she freaks out the entire time she is getting a bath. I give her a few treats while she is in the sink and talk to her and speak to her softly, just trying to calm her down. The best thing for me is to move quick. Its hard though because I like to let her conditioner sit in her hair so usually I will wrap her up in a towel and sit on the couch and wait 5 min then go back and rinse it off. I have also found to just let her air dry. She runs around my apartment like a crazy dog after her bath so she dries really quick.
__________________ Emily and Taycie Love you little girl | |
02-13-2011, 07:05 AM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ft Lauderdale,Fl USA
Posts: 79
| I had a sheltie that would always shake when it was time for his bath. He just hated to get wet. Just give lots of praise when bathing, and maybe just towel dry? |
02-13-2011, 09:46 AM | #6 |
YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The South
Posts: 272
| Thanks for the advice! I feel so terrible when she gets so upset. She's normally so sweet and happy, but this brings out her pitiful side
__________________ Mommy to Bri |
02-13-2011, 10:02 AM | #7 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stroudsburg, PA. USA
Posts: 514
| Mine were afraid too But it's gotten way better. They still run and hide, they don't like showers, but they actually come back after the shower to get blow dried . Nicky loves blow dry (he takes a nap while I'm drying him off). Here's what I did: I would start singing a shower song I made up every time I was getting ready for my shower (happy, upbeat attitute type of singing). Since they nap on my bed while waiting for me to be done in the shower, I leave the door open and let them watch me using the blow dryer. All the while I'm smiling and saying things like, oooh, nice dry-dry They hide when they hear the water from the bathtub because they now know it's their turn, but when I finally get Nicky, which is always the first to get showered, I give him a treat and start singing the shower song again. I'm very careful with his face, since their eyes are so delicate and they hate water near their nose and ears. I dry him off with the towel--carefully, because it can be painful to rub their skin and hair, and let him go on the floor to shake off the rest for a bit, he comes back, I use another smaller towel, and he goes off again. Then I do the same with Nini. This helped, along with a dog shower hose I bought at Petsmart and a mat so that they don't slip all over the tub. I also make sure my feet are inside the tub so that I can feel the temperature of the water. I test the temperature in the sensitive areas (behind my knees and ankle area), just like testing a baby bottle for an infant's feeding . Niky likes it a little warmer and Nini prefers it a bit cooler. I have the feeling that the blow dryer made the biggest difference, though . I bought "Infinity Pro by Conair" $35 and I gotta tell you, I love it for them (I don't make a dime on this endorsement in any way shape or form). I tested it at the store to see if the warm air temperature changed on this dryer like it does on my other dryers at home. It did not and that's why I bought it, thinking of my babies and their fear at drying time after a bath. I can even use the high setting on the "cool" section, but the air is NOT cold, it's warm, unless I keep my finger on the blue button for 'cold'. I can get very close to the skin and not worry about burning my babies . At the groomer's the air they use to dry them IS COLD. I tried it on myself (cold air) while my hair was wet and I did not enjoy that at all. That's why my babies would shake uncontrollably when taken out of the groomer's "drying kennels" they were freezing I also tried warm air on my wet hair, but after a few seconds, it would get too hot. Warm is good, BUT on wet hair it feels like someone turned on the AC. So, I use the warm setting at about 8" away from the babies and move it vigorously and constantly, so it doesn't feel too warm. If I notice that they're shaking, I go with the cool setting and move close to the skin so that it doesn't feel too cold on the wet hair and skin. I play it by ear now that I know that they were afraid of the temperature changes on my old dryers and different taste in water temperature of my fur-butts
__________________ Nini & Nicky (kids) Katt (mommy) |
02-13-2011, 10:35 AM | #8 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Albany, Indiana
Posts: 457
| Both of mine are terrified of the dryer so I only tried it a couple of times. I use a small space heater. I sit on the floor and sit them in front of me on towels with the heater on in front of us. While they are drying I am brushing. Works like a charm, actually, they enjoy the heat and have never been afraid of the heater. I think because it doesn't make as much noise and the blowing isn't as intense. They are calm and that makes us all happy.
__________________ My Sweet Baby Girls Chloe Primrose Pink ** Willow Patchouli Blu Miss Abigail Last edited by camile; 02-13-2011 at 10:36 AM. |
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