Bath Time Woes Little Pepper Jack is almost 13 weeks old now. This weekend I decided he needed his first bath. He was smelling a little bit like urine. I used the bathroom sink since he is so tiny. Put about 3 inches of warm water in the sink and placed him in the sink. He reached octaves that I didn't know existed with his screaming. I managed to shampoo and rinse him the entire time thinking someone would be pounding on my door any minute. I gave up the idea of conditioner as both he and I were frayed at that point. So wrapped him in a towel with him wimpering away. Stupidly tried the blower dryer. More screaming. Turned that right off. Towel dried and combed him the best I could. Put him down and off he went playing with Lacey like nothing had happened. Lacey was beside herself pawing at me while Pepper Jack was crying. I've bathed cats easier. Lacey never cried when I bathed her, even when she was a puppy. What can I do to make bath time easier on Pepper Jack and me. I can't imagine how he will act once I start taking him to the groomer. |
Sorry but the visual is just hilarious, not to you I am sure. 13 weeks old, first bath, a horrifying ordeal for such a wee lil baby. He needs to get use to it. Each time will get easier. Most dogs don't likes baths, will run for the hills when they know it's "that time". Hair blowers are scary, loud noise they never heard, blast of jet force wind on a wee lil tike. These are all new to a little baby. Future baths, use blower on low setting, less noise, less jet air, use for a minute or less then towel dry. Most dogs HATE the blower. My 3 y/o adopted boy gets bathed in the shower, I keep his head out of the water spray, he's ok with that, when it comes to the blower, that's another story. I have to get him in a corner where he can't escape, use blower on low, I don't blow his face, he really freaks out, I use for just a minute or so, then towel dry him. It's getting better. I am sure puppy owners will come along and offer up ways to make puppy bathing less stressful for both of you. |
It's funny how so much noise can come out of such a little one. Peanut didn't like the sink either but doesn't mind the shower. I have a hand held shower head that I use. He seems to feel more secure standing on the floor of the shower. He even digs at the shower door trying to get in when I bath Diva. |
I've found using the kitchen sink works best because it's a flat surface and they feel more stable. I use a rubber mat that I got at Petsmart to give them more stability. I don't fill the sink with water, just run water over them to get them wet and to rinse them. I also used Cheerio's as a treat during the bath to help them associate it with a good thing. Blow dryer on lowest and coolest setting and I don't use it on their head. Gracie Ruth loves water in every form other than a bath. Go figure. :rolleyes: Maybe try putting both dogs in the bath tub together. He might not be so scared if he has your girl with him. |
Piper goes to a wonderful, reasonable, excellent groomer just down the street, lucky us!! I do know the mat is excellent in making them feel more secure; I also heard that putting your dog in the sink and then running the water (off to side and low pressure) helps. I gotta say, I cracked up at your description and loved your comment that you bathed cats that were easier--that's saying something! Sounds like you have a wonderful, rather dramatic little love puppy--whom I'm sure just drenches you in love (couldn't resist!) Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. ~Franklin P. Jones |
Thanks, everyone, for their suggestions. I will purchase a mat for my kitchen sink and give that a try next time. I did have the hair dryer on low. Wonder if they have puppy aroma therapy. I just know Pepper Jack is going to be banned from my groomer for excessive noise. Everytime I've taken Lacey to the groomer there is always at least one Maltese there that is yelping and whining. I always tell the groomer that I'm glad I have a Yorkshire Terrier instead of a whining Maltese. I'm being paid back for my comments in the form on one small and extremely vocal Yorkie puppy. |
I bathe Zoey in the shower. She does ok in there but LOVES the dryer! Go figure. She does her wiggle dance all over the place when I blow her. I did crack up at your description of his crying. Poor baby. |
You can use a small towel to put in the sink too if you don't want to purchase something just for his bath. They just need something to feel stable instead of being all slippery and out of control. I 2nd the kitchen sink suggestion. I found it to be much easier to use the faucet that I can pull out and use like a hose. I use the head to "massage" them first so they'd be little more comfortable and get used to the pressure. They don't LOVE bath time but at least they don't absolutely hate it like they used to. Also, I use "waterless shampoo" and spritz them with the conditioner in between baths and wipe them down with baby wipes every day since I don't bathe them too often. (like once a month) If you're interested, I got them from toplinepet.com. mimimomo is the owner who's also a member of this forum. |
Thanks for the link, Magnus. I'll check it out! |
My husband helps me by rubbing and talking to boo. He doest carry on and actually lets me blow his face. But maybe someone can sort of love on him during the process. Lol i only get the banchy scream whe he wants somthing. |
My puppy Oso doesn't mind the bath part, but the hair dryer is another story. Even when I dry my hair, he knows the drawer I keep the dryer in and starts barking immediately. He is starting to tolerate it some and hope in the next couple of months it will get easier. He gets a bath once a week. |
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We use a rubber mat in our kitchen sink and we do not fill the sink with water. It's more of a shower. I use the sink sprayer for the body and a measuring cup to pour water over the head. Max was 13 weeks old when we brought him home and he behaved the same way as Pepper Jack. Hang in there, it gets easier! Max still is not as easy as Teddy, who stayed with our breeder until he was 8 months and was very well trained to tolerate the bath. Max never wanted the dryer until he saw all of the attention Teddy got sitting for the dryer. I do a lot of massage while drying and the boys love it. |
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Appreciate all the input, but still hoping Pepper Jack will keep himself clean and not roll on his pee pad again any time soon. |
I bathe Huey weekly, too. He hates the kitchen sink!!! He doesn't care for the sprayer in the shower, either. I have found the easiest way is in the tub with me in it. He feels more secure if he can sit in my legs, so I just use a big cup to pour water over him. As for the blow dryer, he loves to sit several feet away from me and let me point the dryer at him. I can get him mostly dry that way. As I've said before, our issue is the comb -out afterwards. This morning, he was really good and gave me no trouble. Good luck! (I loved your description of having bathed cats more easily...) |
Gina likes the shower, she tolerates the sink but prefers the shower. I have a shower chair and a shower head attached to a hose, I give her the shower and my wife grabs her with the dryer heated towels, then we move on to the hair dryer which she loves to play with, she goes nuts when she sees it brought out, she runs towards it then away, back and forth several times. The only thing she doesn't like is the brush or comb, otherwise bath time is no problems. Cheers Quad & Gina:aimeeyork |
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