Does your dog look the other way when you want to bathe him? Chances are that you didn’t train him to get used to taking baths at a tender age. Like the saying goes, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. If you train him while still little, he will get used to it. Besides that, you have to create positive first impressions. If you just immerse him into the water, he will not be looking forward to bathing moments.
Bathroom Familiarization
A few weeks before you start washing your dog, you should spend time with him in the bathroom. This will make him get used to the place. You can actually play with him while there. You can throw in some toys to make him stay there a little bit longer. It would be better if you got him toys that come with mystery treats. Your generosity while in the bathroom will cause him to visit the place more often because of the rewards.
Warm the Water
Puppies can’t stand bathing with cold or hot water. This is because their skin is till delicate. Cold water can make them vulnerable to diseases. Hot water on the other hand can cause serious burns. Before you put the dog inside the water, you should first put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel if you had to take a cold shower during winter? You must therefore use water that’s not hot or cold. Lukewarm water is actually the most ideal because it’s balanced.
Use Non-slip Mat
Bathtubs are designed to be slippery. It’s therefore difficult to bathe your dog inside the tub. Lest you forget, the dog will not get inside the water on its own. You will have to use some degree of force. At the end of the day, you will have ugly scratches on the tub. The worse is that the dog can slip and get injured. To avoid such accidents, it’s advisable to spread a non-slip mat inside the bathtub.
