poor puppy :( we can only wash our puppy in the bath because my mom is not a fan of washing a dog in the same place we wash our dishes...lol

My DW is the same way, so I wash Gus in the kitchen sink when my DW goes out. If she ever catches me my life will never be the same again. I don't even want to think about ----. The sink is so convenient due to the sprayer for rinsing.

Nikko had (has?) giardia, so since like day 3 after we first got him, he has been in the bath getting his butt washed off with baby shampoo at least 2 - 3 times a day. I talk to him like a little kid while he's in the knee-deep water in the bathtub - "oh, you're so patient with me, thank you, thank you. yes, i know i know this isn't fun, but we're going to make you better, and all clean too.... so pretty, so handsome. you're so good at this, such a good boy" and so on. (i'm pretty sure that's like an exact transcript, lmao).

Point of the story is, we've washed his butt SO often ever since we got him, he's actually totally OK with it. He just stands there, right where I want him, in the bathwater. I think it's all about frequency - he knows very well now that if he puts up with the butt bath, we play with him like crazy afterwards and love him to death (freedom after a bowel and bladder empty-ing, that's what we're suppossed to do in housetraining, eh?). Every time i've tried to pour water farther up on his back though, or wash his face with a warm washcloth, he gets really unhappy and tries to crawl out of the tub. But even still, he's not actually all that bad. I think he's resigned himself to what bathtime means, and that it's inevitable - at least for now. We'll see as he gets older and we stop needing to bathe his bum so often...

Lauren & Nikko

bath
 

just gave our little kayden her first bath. i took keely momma's advice and gave her a few treats. one right after she got in...two during the bath...and one right after she got out. she did just fine! whew! the realy joy was watching her run around after i took her out of the towel. haha she even let me brush her...but when i put her brush down, she attacked it! i don't plan to bathe her often...maybe once a month or so.

I've taken Roxie into the shower with me before. It's a bit of a challenge but it works. If you disinfect the kitchen sink afterwards it should be ok. Roxie also hides when she sees me getting things ready for a bath. She doesn't mind the bath but hates the water in her face so I do that last. Make sure she/he can't slip and slide because they can hurt herself and even dislocate something. I always put down a dish towel in the sink to make it less slippery.

Another thing to add is as much as she acts like she doesn't want it, you can tell that when it's over she feels soooo good. She runs all over and rubs all over everything. Jumping and playing and saying how much better she feels!! :)

Space Heater
 

For those doggies afraid of noisy hair dryers, try using a (safe) space heater. London sits on a towel in my lap in front of a space heater while I brush her coat and give lots of treats.

She smells so yummy after a bath I just wanna eat her up! :animal36

It has to get done weither they like it or not.
Just make sure you have rubber sticky thing or a towel at the bottom it makes them feel safe & they won't slip.

When i first brought Suzi home i'd bathe her in the sink, then the bathroom sink. But, it was hart to get all the shampoo off her, so I tried the bathtub. The bathtub worked the best for Suzi . In fact, I caught her jumping inside the tub a day later , lol .
i try to be very careful on the Temp. of the water. Not too cold, not too hot. I really feel that is the key to making it a nice experience for your dog. I do not use the dryer on Suzi though. I wrap her up in a nice big towel and hold her for a while. She calms right down , then while she is still semi wet I'll brush her out real good. Brushing while wet makes it easier to get any tangles or knots out. I try to make it is nice time for Suzi.
Just remember if your dog is too anxious he/she will not accept a treat. Not until they feel better. :aimeeyork

I tried to associate treats=good=bath..She still doesnt care for it much but she if she gets through it there will be treats.