Do baths calm dogs
Why Do Dogs Hate Baths? (& Tips for Bathing a Scared Dog)
Your pooch loves to splash in puddles and won't stay out of the pool, but when it's time for a bath, they tuck their tail and hide. Why do dogs hate baths so much? If it's not the water, what is it about getting clean that makes so many dogs shiver and whine? Discover what might be behind your dog's fear of bath time, and keep reading to learn how to bathe a dog who hates baths.
Why Do Dogs Hate Baths?
While it's true that not all dogs like to play in water, this doesn't necessarily explain why your dog doesn't like to take baths. Even water-loving breeds like Labrador retrievers often balk at being bathed. So if it's not about the water, why do dogs hate baths? A number of factors could explain why your pup hates going near the tub or sink.
Recalling Bad Associations
Just one bad experience associated with bathing can traumatize your dog and teach them to fear baths. Getting scalded by hot water, slipping and falling in the tub, getting water up the nose or getting stinging shampoo in the eyes can all make your pup feel like baths aren't safe. Even upsetting experiences with other grooming activities, like pain caused by getting their nails clipped too short, can create bad associations with bath time if they're done in close conjunction with baths.
Loss of Control
When your dog goes swimming or splashes in a stream, it's a fun activity they choose to participate in. Baths, on the other hand, are typically forced on dogs, and involve being handled and having their bodies moved around in ways they don't like. This loss of choice and control over what happens to them can be very upsetting to a dog.
Unfamiliarity
Dogs who are new to baths, or who aren't bathed as often, may simply be freaked out by the unfamiliar experience of being plunged into a tub of water and soaped up with shampoo. This, in turn, can create negative associations that make them fearful of future baths.
Bath Time Feels Stressful
Sometimes, dogs aren't the only ones who hate their bath times. Dogs take their emotional cues from their pet parents. If you treat the bath like a stressful experience, your dog will follow suit, points out Dogster. Shouting at your dog, handling them roughly and hurrying through the bath all teach your dog that baths are something to fear. Even if you're gentle with your pup, if you bathe them while you're frustrated with them, they'll be able to sense your frustration, which can be enough to make them dread baths in the future.
Do Dogs Need to Take Baths?
Does your dog actually need regular bathing? It depends. Much of the reason for bathing dogs is simply to make them easier to live with. You don't want your dog tracking mud everywhere, nor do you enjoy cuddling a stinky pup. Short-haired breeds with healthy skin don't actually require bathing for their own benefit, and they don't really need to take regular baths, unless they tend to get dirty a lot. In many cases, wiping them down with pet wipes might be all that's needed. However, if you have a wrinkly breed like a pug or shar-pei, you should also be sure to wipe the folds between their skin regularly.
Long-coated and curly-haired breeds, on the other hand, benefit from regular shampoo and conditioning to help keep their fur from matting and becoming unmanageable, although daily brushing can also help. Hairless breeds like the Mexican hairless need regular baths to prevent their skin from drying out. Conversely, dogs with oily skin, like cocker spaniels, also need frequent baths to prevent oil buildup.
How to Bathe a Dog Who Hates Baths
If your dog has the type of skin or coat that makes bathing necessary, the best thing you can do is recondition them to enjoy baths, or at least to not be afraid of them. This involves replacing negative associations with positive ones along with time and patience. How much so depends on whether your dog is terrified of baths, just mopey about having to take them or somewhere in the middle.
1. Stay Calm
First, make sure you're projecting a positive attitude about giving your dog a bath. If you're feeling rushed, stressed or frustrated with your dog, you should wait to bathe them until a time when you're more relaxed, which will in turn help your dog feel calmer.
2. Create Positive Associations
Start turning your dog's fear of the tub into anticipation by moving your dog's food bowl into the bathroom next to the tub, and leave a trail of treats leading up to it, recommends Wag Walking. Don't attempt to give them a bath right away, but give them time to form positive associations with the bathroom and the tub. When you think your dog is ready, move their bowl into the tub. Allow them to climb in on their own if they're large enough, reinforcing a sense of choice and being in control.
Once your dog is able to be in the bathtub without fear, remove their food and try turning on the water. Give them toys to play with in the tub as well as treats. You might try smearing some peanut butter on the wall and letting them lick it off while the water runs. When your dog is able to tolerate hearing the running water and getting their paws wet, try splashing a little water on them, keeping things fun and light and making a game out of it. Gradually work up to wetting them down and lathering them up with shampoo, while at the same time showering them with praise and soothing words. At any stage of this process, if your dog becomes agitated, stop and try again tomorrow.
3. Prevent Negative Associations
Take precautions to make your dog feel safe during bath time. Place a non-skid mat or non-slip stickers in the bottom of the tub to prevent them from slipping, and consider using a bath harness like the ones used by professional groomers to help your dog feel more secure. Take extra care to be gentle with your dog. Be sure to test the temperature of the water and make sure it's not too hot or too cold. Avoid spraying or pouring water directly in their face; instead, use a washcloth on the face and other sensitive areas. And save other dog grooming activities, like trimming nails and brushing teeth, for another day.
While a number of possibilities can answer the question of why so many dogs hate baths, the solutions are the same regardless of what triggers your pet's dislike. With plenty of patience, gentleness and care, you can turn your dog's attitude toward baths around and make bath time more enjoyable and less stressful for you both.
Contributor Bio
Jean Marie Bauhaus
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and blogger who has been writing in the pet health and lifestyle space since 2014. Her clients have included Hill's Pet, American Kennel Club, Chewy, and more.
How to Make an Oatmeal Bath for Dogs With Itchy Skin
Many dogs will experience dry skin, itchy skin, or some type of skin issue at one time or another, whether its due to a change in weather or allergies.
When your pup is feeling itchy or their skin is irritated, its natural to want to help them. One at-home remedy for itchy skin that can help your dog feel better is an oatmeal bath.
More consistent itching or hot spots will need a veterinarians expertise, but if your dog only has minor itching or you notice some flaking in his coat, an oatmeal bath is a convenient and inexpensive home remedy.
Heres everything you need to know about oatmeal baths for dogs.
Benefits of Oatmeal Baths for Dogs
Whats so magical about an oatmeal bath? Oatmeal is a skin protectant with anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe itchy and irritated skin.
Oatmeal baths can help relieve a number of bothersome skin conditions, such as canine atopic dermatitis.
Oatmeal baths also help the skin form a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and slows the loss of hydrating ingredients from your dogs skin.
Dog Oatmeal Bath Ingredients
This at-home remedy is so simple that you may have all the ingredients in your kitchen pantry already.
Blender, coffee grinder, or food processor
Plain, unflavored oatmeal (instant oatmeal, quick oats, or slow-cooking oats all work equally well)
Warm waterbut not hot, as hot water can dry out the skin and can worsen inflammation
A bathtub
You can add either of these options to increase the moisturizing properties of your homemade oatmeal bath:
- 1 cup of high-fat milkfor an extra-creamy mixture
OR
- 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or olive oil
Dog Oatmeal Bath Recipe:
Now that you have your ingredients, heres the recipe for the perfect oatmeal bath shampoo.
Blend or process the oats on the highest setting in your food processor, blender, or coffee grinder until you have a very fine, consistent powder.
Test 1 tablespoon of the powder to see if the oats are ground fine enough to absorb water. Stir the tablespoon of the ground oats into a glass of warm water.
If the oats easily absorb the water and the liquid becomes milky-looking with a smooth feel, you've blended long enough.
If the liquid doesn't turn milky, process the oats to grind them even finer. Test again. Repeat until you get a milky solution with a fine, silky feel.
How to Give a Dog an Oatmeal Bath
Once your oat powder is prepared, you are ready to give your dog a bath.
While bathing your dog, try to keep your pup from drinking the bathwater, although a lap or two of the solution will not be harmful.
Pour the oat powder into a tub of running warm water and stir evenly.
Fill the tub as much as your pup will allow. Most dogs will tolerate the water level to at least the bottom of their stomach, if not higher.
Put your pup in the tub.
Using a cup, slowly pour the solution over their body. You can gently rub some of the oatmeal directly onto any particularly bad areas.
After you have massaged the oatmeal into your dogs skin and fur and let him soak for 10 minutes, rinse the mixture off with warm water.
Use a towel to dry your dog off and brush out their fur. Never use a hot hair dryer on a dog. Your pup will be slippery due to the moisture of the bath.
Oatmeal Bath for Dogs: Spot Treatments
If your dog has a localized itch or minor skin rash, it isnt necessary to do a full-body oatmeal bath and soak.
You can apply a thicker paste directly to the affected area and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
Use the same blended oatmeal recipe, but only mix in enough water to form a thick paste.
While oatmeal baths are not a cure all for skin conditions and diseases that dogs can get, they can be a great addition to your dogs grooming routine, especially during drier winter months.
If your dog is suffering from fleas, yeast or bacterial skin infections, or another problem such as an endocrine imbalance, they will need prompt treatment from your veterinarian.
By: Laci Schaible, DVM, CVJ
Featured Image: iStock.com/Wojciech Kozielczyk
Why Do Dogs Get Hyper After Baths?
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, at no cost to you.
If youve ever had the pleasure of giving your dog a bath, you know that after-bath zoomies are real!
My Mini Poodle Baloo cant stand bath time!
He hates water in general (something went wrong with his Poodle genes ;)) and he never goes deeper than dipping his paws in water.
But being bathed and having shampoo rubbed all over him must be the worst. So, hes super duper hyper after every bath. Hed literally be running and zooming around for a good hour if I didnt stop him.
If that sounds familiar, youre probably wondering: why do dogs get so hyper after baths?
Well, thats what youre going to learn in this article.
If youre in a hurry, heres the summary: Dogs get hyper after baths because theyre either relieved that its finally over or because theyre cold and try to warm up their internal body temperature. Other common reasons are that they try to shake off the uncomfortable feeling or scent and to get rid of pent up energy.
Why Do Dogs Get Hyper After Baths?
Giving your dog a bath can be a hard enough experience on its own. But if your dog gets super hyper after bath time, that can make it even more difficult.
So why do dogs get hyper after a bath? There are lots of reasons so lets take a look at some of them!
Relief
Most dogs dont really enjoy getting baths.
Once his bath is over, he might just be so excited that its done that he gets a little hyper!
Its just like when we feel reliefyour dog is getting a boost of energy because hes so happy his bath is over.
Shaking Off the Uncomfortable Feeling
Its not nice for your dog to be wet. During his bath, he feels super uncomfortable, especially since he has to stay still and wait while you rub that weird shampoo stuff onto his coat!
When he finally gets to be free of the bath, he might start running around to shake off the feelings of discomfort he had.
Its like when we feel uncomfortable and need to go for a walk to get away from the source of our discomfort. Your dogs trying to get rid of that terrible feeling he had during his bath!
Releasing Pent Up Energy
Even though your dog might sit through his bath, that doesnt mean he likes it. It might be stressful for them to be confined to the tub, and they probably dont understand why you keep rubbing that weird-smelling stuff on them.
This stress will gather during their bath, and when its finally over, that energys got to get out somehow! Your dog might get zoomies and act hyper in order to release all that pent up nervous energy.
Raising Internal Temperature Through Physical Activity
When we get out of the bath, the air hitting us makes us cold. We wrap ourselves up in towels to keep ourselves warm.
Dogs, on the other hand, will start running around to raise their internal temperature and warm themselves up again. Like humans, when dogs exercise, their temperature rises, which keeps them from getting too cold.
Plus, running around and rubbing themselves on grass or furniture will help dogs dry their fur off.
Trying to Get Rid of a New Scent
Dogs have a very different idea than we do of what smells good. You might think his lavender-scented shampoo makes him smell amazing. But your dog is thinking, Hey, whats that weird smell on me?
To try and get his own smell back, your dog might try running around the house, rubbing himself on furniture to get rid of the new smell and get his own scent back.
How Can I Calm My Dog Down During and After a Bath?
Understanding why your dog gets hyper after his bath is one thing, but stopping him from getting hyper is another!
Here are a few ways you can help your dog stay calm during his bath, and afterwards.
During Bath: Keep Him Busy
If your dog has problems staying still and calm during his bath, try keeping him busy while hes in the bathtub. There are a few ways you can distract him while youre washing him.
One of the best ways is to give him something to do with his mouth. For example, try spreading a little peanut butter on the bathtub that he can lick up.
Not only will this keep him distracted, but it will also help form positive associations with the bath instead of negative ones!
Keep in mind that just spreading peanut butter on the tub might not keep him busy for long. Consider buying your dog a bathtub lick mat.
They are relatively inexpensive, and they make your dog work a little harder to get the peanut butter. You can attach these mats to the wall for your dog to lick at while you focus on getting him clean.
Here you can see the peanut butter trick in action:
After Bath: Hold Him Still
If youre looking for a quick fix for your dogs hyperactivity, try holding him still for a while after his bath. When dogs get excited, they stop being aware of their bodies, which makes it difficult for them to settle down.
By holding them, you help dogs become more aware of their bodies again, which encourages them to settle down.
It might seem weird, but it seriously works! You probably wont even have to hold your dog for very long before he starts settling down. He should start relaxing in a minute or two.
Just make sure you arent wearing any clothes that you mind getting wet if youre holding him immediately after his bath!
In General: Teach and Reward Calm Behavior
One of the best ways to stop your dog from getting super hyper after his bath is by training him to be calm.
This isnt an immediate fix, but its definitely the best long-term option when it comes to dealing with your dogs zoomies.
The best way to train for this behavior (and to train for anything, really) is through positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement basically means rewarding behavior you want your dog to continue doing, and ignoring behavior you dont like. Its completely force-free and doesnt use any fear tactics. Instead, it encourages dogs to make the right decisions for themselves.
So, if your dog tends to get really hyper, try to catch his calmer moments and reward him for them.
Also, make sure that your dog is getting enough physical and mental stimulation. This will help tire your dog out, which will leave him with too little energy to get really hyper after his bath.
Mental stimulation can also be a wonderful training tool if used correctly. Check out Braintrainingfordogs to learn how to train your dog to be the best dog he can be by using mental stimulation! Or have a look at Dogpackrs review first to see if its a fit for you and your dog!
Related Questions
Before we wrap this up, lets look at a few related questions you might have.
Why Do Dogs Get Hyper All of a Sudden?
If your dog gets hyper and it seems to be coming out of nowhere, there are a few things that might be causing the problem.
If your dog isnt getting enough stimulation, he might be bored and this is the only way he knows to get rid of all his excess energy.
It could also be that something is making him itchy or physically uncomfortable. He might be hyper because hes trying to get rid of the feeling of discomfort.
He might be feeling overwhelmed or overtired, which can make a dog get hyper. Its a lot like toddlers or kids. When they get tired, they tend to start acting out. The same is true for your dog!
Some breeds also tend to be a little more hyper and energetic than others. Thats something to consider when it comes to your dog as well.
For more information check out my article on why your dog is suddenly acting hyper and how to help him stop.
How to Calm a Hyper or Overexcited Dog
If your dog is jumping around, barking, running around your house, and acting generally crazy, he might be a little overexcited.
Usually, this kind of overexcitement comes from having too much energy. If thats the case, it just means that you need to exercise your dog some moreand make sure to incorporate brain games too!
If your dog is overstimulated, this can also lead to zoomies. Stress is another reason why your dog might be having trouble settling down.
If your dog is hyper or overexcited and youre looking for ways to get him to calm down, check out my other article on how to calm an overexcited dog quickly.
Also make sure to get my free guide for a calm dog to learn the 3 things you must know to own a calm dog!
Conclusion
Whether its because your dog has rolled in something gross, or just because its been a little while since the last one, bathing your dog is important. However, thats something your dog might not necessarily understand! For him, the bath can be stressful and uncomfortable.
When his bath his finally over, he might get rid of his pent up energy by running around like a maniac or try to warm himself up and dry off by rubbing himself on grass or furniture.
If your dogs hyperactive behavior is a bit much for you, prevention is the best solution. Train your dog to be calm and reward calm behavior. While hes in the bath, give him something to do like licking peanut butter off the tub or off of a lick mat. This will help keep him busy, and it might even help him make positive associations with the bath.
With a bit of work and patience, you can help your dog grow accustomed to the bath and stop him from getting hyper after a bath. That means a much more enjoyable experience for you and your pup!
P.s.: Dont forget to check out Braintraining4dogs if you want to take your dog training game to the next level. It offers a 60-day money back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
