Fear of the Bathtub..please help!

[Kamahi]

So there's a pond outside my house where all the dogs were swimming this afternoon.
Everyone was swimming, even Kamahi.
So this tells me he doesn't hate water, but he HATES the bathtub.

When we came inside to wash their feet off, I washed all their feet off with the hose, and none of them really minded it.

BUT, when I went to try to give Kamahi a bath, he freaked out. (and I made sure the water wasn't too hot or too cold before I even put him in the tub -- it was lukewarm)
Freaked out, as in, he was shaking from head to toe and literally screaming.

When he was younger(when we first brought him home), he wasn't too fond of the bathtub either..
but he's never acted THIS bad.


Though, I've always had to lift him in the bathtub, even now, when he's 80 pounds .
I can only imagine when he's 100+ pounds, I won't be able to lift him then...

I hate to see him like this. I don't give him baths that often(which I'm thinking is probably why he's acting like this) -- but it's confusing as to why he's literally terrified of the bathtub.
Nothing bad has ever happened to him while he's been in the bathtub, so I'm at a loss as to what might be causing this.

I've never had a dog who actually liked baths though.. but I usually picked them up and put them in the tub, though they NEVER acted as bad as this.

I'm even considering feeding him in the bathtub if I have to.
When I turned the water off in the tub, he seemed to calm down, but he loves water, sooo.

However, maybe that was because I gave him the bath, and he was just thankful it was over(I know I was - lol).

If anyone has any ideas on how I can help Kamahi, I'd be VERY appreciative.

[Jax08]

When did he react? When he was put in or when you started the water?

I taught Jax to jump in and out of the bathtub with a game. And she will stay in the bathtub for me, let me do whatever I need to do, doesn't even shake until I tell her it's ok to...but doesn't like it. She does NOT like the running water and seems to relax a bit when I turn it off.

[Kamahi]

Originally Posted by Jax08

When did he react? When he was put in or when you started the water?

I taught Jax to jump in and out of the bathtub with a game. And she will stay in the bathtub for me, let me do whatever I need to do, doesn't even shake until I tell her it's ok to...but doesn't like it. She does NOT like the running water and seems to relax a bit when I turn it off.

It wasn't when the water started, it was after when I picked him up and put him in the tub.
He hates the tub, and I would give him baths with the hose(which he doesn't mind too much) BUT that water is freezing.

When you say you made it a game for her, did you use toys, treats, etc.?

[crs996]

My dogs LOVE the water but look so hurt when they get a bath. There's no struggling, they just get this wimpy look on their faces. Our female GSD loved being sprayed by the hose, chasing the stream, etc, but getting hosed off produced the same wimpy effect. They can be such over-actors. lol

[k9pals]

Our dogs frankly acted the same way....Just a different environment I think. We made it better by getting in the tub or shower with them...made it a little more fun and less tense. We also got one of those handheld shower things that didnt splash or make the noise the shower head did.....Lets face it half of the time its how you are reacting to your dog that creates the tense feeling.
Good luck cleaning your doggie!

[middleofnowhere]

Rick has the right idea -
I am on my third "love the bath" dog. Here's how I do it - yoga matt for the floor, lots of towels for the floor. Treats. Non-slip matts in the tub. Draw the bath water. Then dilute the shampoo with water & soap the dogs down outside of the tub. (The late Barker Sisters were a two-dog-tubfull). Then ask them to jump in with you (yup) and use a plastic quart container to rinse them. If they want to jump in and out (that was Barker the Younger big time) let that be OK. You have lots of towels, remember? Keep it positive and fun and silly. And make towel down fun, too. (Every dog I've ever had has loved towel downs). Yes, the bathroom will be wet and furry. So will you. It's ok. Your dogs will be clean and untraumatized because you will approach this as fun, you will let a lot of behavior be OK.

[Kamahi]

Originally Posted by k9pals

Our dogs frankly acted the same way....Just a different environment I think. We made it better by getting in the tub or shower with them...made it a little more fun and less tense. We also got one of those handheld shower things that didnt splash or make the noise the shower head did.....Lets face it half of the time its how you are reacting to your dog that creates the tense feeling.
Good luck cleaning your doggie!

Thanks! I'll try that.
Maybe then he'll start looking forward to his next bath, lol.

[Kamahi]

Originally Posted by middleofnowhere

Rick has the right idea -
I am on my third "love the bath" dog. Here's how I do it - yoga matt for the floor, lots of towels for the floor. Treats. Non-slip matts in the tub. Draw the bath water. Then dilute the shampoo with water & soap the dogs down outside of the tub. (The late Barker Sisters were a two-dog-tubfull). Then ask them to jump in with you (yup) and use a plastic quart container to rinse them. If they want to jump in and out (that was Barker the Younger big time) let that be OK. You have lots of towels, remember? Keep it positive and fun and silly. And make towel down fun, too. (Every dog I've ever had has loved towel downs). Yes, the bathroom will be wet and furry. So will you. It's ok. Your dogs will be clean and untraumatized because you will approach this as fun, you will let a lot of behavior be OK.

I'm not sure I'd look forward to cleaning that up LOL
I'm willing to try the treats though, and making it fun for him to be in there.
Thanks!!

[Lauri & The Gang]

I'm a dog. (Ok, no smart-mouth comments. )

My owner picks me up and puts me in this very confined space. I feel something under my feet I've never felt before. I take a step to test the surface and my owner corrects me and tells me to stand still. I try again because I've never felt this type of flooring before and I want to understand it. My owner is getting upset because I won't stand still. Suddenly this thing starts spraying water.

Ok ... stress, anyone??

Mauser LOVES water. We have a plastic kiddie pools he lives in during the hots months and when we go to the lake it's hard to keep him out of the water.

He LOATHES the bathtub - because I never bothered to teach him it could be a fun place.

Luckily we have a walk-in shower in our first floor bathroom that he's not as afraid of so we use that for the most part. But one of these days I have to TEACH him that the bathtub can be a fun place.

Mauser loves tennis balls so here's my plan. The bathtub is in the 2nd floor bathroom so I'll grab the ball, tease him with it and get him to chase me up the stairs and to the bathroom door. Then I'll toss him the ball and chase him back down the stairs (he likes being chased).

Repeat, repeat, repeat. After a few of these I'll toss the ball into the bathROOM, wait for him to go get it and then chase him downstairs.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Then, while we've got this momentum going I'll run into the bathroom and toss the ball NEXT TO the tub.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Then the ball gets tossed into the tub. If he won't willingly jump in and get it I'll reach in, take it and hold it right over the edge of the tub for him to grab.

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Baby steps!! Getting him more and more comfortable with being in the bathroom, then near the tub, then IN the tub.

Never force the issue or you set yourself back to the beginning.

[Kamahi]

Baby steps...exactly.

Thank you all for the help!

We're going to start practicing these tips today. I'll be sure to give updates on his progress.