Bath Time - YorkieTalk.com Forums

listentodylan · 05-28-2009, 11:47 AM

When I gave Owen his first bath, he was absolutely fine. Then I took him to Petsmart to get a puppy cut and everything seemed fine until I went to give him a bath just recently. He flipped out. Jumped out of the bathtub 3 times, wouldn't let me rinse him.

How do I make him like the bath again?

What are some good positive reinforcers?

erickajm · 05-28-2009, 11:49 AM

Positive reinforcement.. plenty of praise and treats!

capt_noonie · 05-28-2009, 03:37 PM

Uni knows the word "bath" and doesn't like it! But afterwards she gets treats, playtime,, and dinner! Just keep at it, and make it a routine, with rewards at the end. Eventually they will know it is just a part of yorkielife!

MyDuke · 05-28-2009, 06:58 PM

Duke is the same, he runs away from the bathroom when he hears "bath" but I guess he's going to learn to get use to it. It has gotten a bit better but def treat afterward.

yorkiepuppie · 06-04-2009, 10:28 AM

i don't think most dogs like being bathed or groomed. i am sure there are some out there that do. but at best, most just tolerates it. i do the positive reinforcement thing, reward, praise, and treat. but milu still gets SOOOOO scared when she is getting her bath. i feel bad, but it must be done!

jdonica · 06-07-2009, 01:28 PM

I do not have this problem at all, as my Harley tries to get in the bath everytime that someone starts to run the water! When Harley was smaller, I would bathe him in the kitchen sink. If you were using the actual bath tub maybe you could try this and the smaller area would make him feel comfortable. When daddy gives Harley a bath he usually puts him in the shower while he is in there and Harley loves that too. Just a couple of ideas!

Jeri and Harley

yorkiepuppie · 06-09-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdonica

I do not have this problem at all, as my Harley tries to get in the bath everytime that someone starts to run the water! When Harley was smaller, I would bathe him in the kitchen sink. If you were using the actual bath tub maybe you could try this and the smaller area would make him feel comfortable. When daddy gives Harley a bath he usually puts him in the shower while he is in there and Harley loves that too. Just a couple of ideas!

Jeri and Harley

gosh! i am so jealous! milu acts like she is going to have a heart attack everytime we bath her. she is ok with us washing her body, just really hate getting her head wet!

Marilize · 06-10-2009, 10:03 PM

Strangely enough, for us, swimming helped a lot. Cash hated taking baths, now he tolerates it very gracefully. And all this thanks to a hot summer and my parents' pool.

He dives into the pool (head under water) to get a ball and has been known to submerge himself if the ball sinks. Whenever we are near water now, he wants to swim.

Getting his face wet in the pool has completely changed his attitude to bathing. He used to be hard to handle - not impossible, but he put up as much protest as he could - and now he just gracefully waits until I am done.

Weneebug · 07-01-2009, 05:17 AM

Harley does not really like getting a bath but for some reason everytime one of us get a shower or a bath he acts like he wants to get in too. In fact, the other day he came downstairs soaking wet and guess where he had been? He had jumped in the shower while my daughter was taking her shower and decided he didn't like it so he jumped out. He was running around soaking wet. He hates to be dried off so needless to say I could never catch him.

05-28-2009, 11:47 AM	#1
listentodylan Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MI, USA Posts: 74	Bath Time When I gave Owen his first bath, he was absolutely fine. Then I took him to Petsmart to get a puppy cut and everything seemed fine until I went to give him a bath just recently. He flipped out. Jumped out of the bathtub 3 times, wouldn't let me rinse him. How do I make him like the bath again? What are some good positive reinforcers? __________________ Owen's Mommy http://www.youtube.com/barehonesty

05-28-2009, 11:49 AM	#2
erickajm Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 3,200	Positive reinforcement.. plenty of praise and treats! __________________ Zoe Peppee Brady EARL!

05-28-2009, 03:37 PM	#3
capt_noonie www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County Posts: 17,408	Uni knows the word "bath" and doesn't like it! But afterwards she gets treats, playtime,, and dinner! Just keep at it, and make it a routine, with rewards at the end. Eventually they will know it is just a part of yorkielife! __________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12

05-28-2009, 06:58 PM	#4
MyDuke YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ & NY Posts: 356	Duke is the same, he runs away from the bathroom when he hears "bath" but I guess he's going to learn to get use to it. It has gotten a bit better but def treat afterward. __________________ Owned by a Yorkie name Duke

06-04-2009, 10:28 AM	#5
yorkiepuppie Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Posts: 2,883	i don't think most dogs like being bathed or groomed. i am sure there are some out there that do. but at best, most just tolerates it. i do the positive reinforcement thing, reward, praise, and treat. but milu still gets SOOOOO scared when she is getting her bath. i feel bad, but it must be done! __________________ www.yenspiration.com i love milu

06-07-2009, 01:28 PM	#6
jdonica Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cadiz, KY, USA Posts: 216	I do not have this problem at all, as my Harley tries to get in the bath everytime that someone starts to run the water! When Harley was smaller, I would bathe him in the kitchen sink. If you were using the actual bath tub maybe you could try this and the smaller area would make him feel comfortable. When daddy gives Harley a bath he usually puts him in the shower while he is in there and Harley loves that too. Just a couple of ideas! Jeri and Harley

06-10-2009, 10:03 PM	#8
Marilize YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cape town, South Africa Posts: 703	Strangely enough, for us, swimming helped a lot. Cash hated taking baths, now he tolerates it very gracefully. And all this thanks to a hot summer and my parents' pool. He dives into the pool (head under water) to get a ball and has been known to submerge himself if the ball sinks. Whenever we are near water now, he wants to swim. Getting his face wet in the pool has completely changed his attitude to bathing. He used to be hard to handle - not impossible, but he put up as much protest as he could - and now he just gracefully waits until I am done. __________________ Cash & Orio RIP Beautiful Joni

07-01-2009, 05:17 AM	#9
Weneebug YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Forsyth, GA Posts: 296 Blog Entries: 1	Harley does not really like getting a bath but for some reason everytime one of us get a shower or a bath he acts like he wants to get in too. In fact, the other day he came downstairs soaking wet and guess where he had been? He had jumped in the shower while my daughter was taking her shower and decided he didn't like it so he jumped out. He was running around soaking wet. He hates to be dried off so needless to say I could never catch him.