Goes mad when getting washed

gsdemack · 02-28-2013, 05:19 PM

Tonight is the second time I've washed her - I placed her in shallow water in the bath and she was squealing and going crazy and trying to jump out.

I think it must have been fear as she wasn't biting - would that make sense?

Once she got out, I had to let her go after half drying her. She was mad with energy running all over the house up and down - never saw her as pumped up. She was wagging her tail aswell.

Will she get used to it or is there a better technique?

Thanks.

BellaLuna · 02-28-2013, 05:53 PM

How old is she? I had this happen to me a few times but as time went on they would all get better.. As far as the running around like a spaz afterward that really never went away they would do it for like 5 minutes to get all the pent up energy out..

gsdemack · 02-28-2013, 05:54 PM

10 weeks now!

Rua · 02-28-2013, 06:08 PM

Try and get her used to being washed if you can...they will get used to it eventually.

The way I got mine to behave while being washed was to get in the shower with them at first. lol We have an enclosed shower, so they couldn't escape. Eventually, I was able to get them so used to being washed that I don't need to get in with them anymore. I can leave the shower door open and they will sit there while I wash them down with me on the outside.

But the mad happy freaking out and running around the house like a demon AFTER the shower still happens everytime. It's like it ramps them up!

mego · 02-28-2013, 06:11 PM

I second the sitting in the shower too, also make sure there's a mat or towel on the floor so she isn't loosing her footing alot, that upset mine!

breyer08 · 02-28-2013, 06:12 PM

Ever since her first bath, I have used the same technique with Ava and it works every time. Before I get her in the tub, I cook some chicken in olive oil, cut it into small pieces and put it in a bowl. I get the whole bathroom ready (towels, tub, shampoo) and then I tell her to get into the tub (the first time I had to lift her in). Once she is in the tub, I start to wash her, and she gets little bits of chicken every so often throughout the whole process. It is the only time she ever gets chicken, so it is a huge incentive for her to behave during bath time. It's a process that has worked every time, so I highly recommend it!

BellaLuna · 02-28-2013, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rua

Try and get her used to being washed if you can...they will get used to it eventually.

The way I got mine to behave while being washed was to get in the shower with them at first. lol We have an enclosed shower, so they couldn't escape. Eventually, I was able to get them so used to being washed that I don't need to get in with them anymore. I can leave the shower door open and they will sit there while I wash them down with me on the outside.

But the mad happy freaking out and running around the house like a demon AFTER the shower still happens everytime. It's like it ramps them up!

I have gone in with them too Lol... I also sometimes use a spare lead and hold in tight in one hand to have a little more control so jumping out isn't easy..

**Cassidy's Mom** · 02-28-2013, 08:11 PM

At 10 weeks old you can bathe a puppy in the kitchen sink.

Galathiel · 02-28-2013, 08:29 PM

One of my German Shepherd puppies LOVED water and being bathed. I would give him a washcloth to play with while I soaped and rinsed. If I left the bathroom door open while my son took a bath, he would run hop in the tub and do donuts around the tub, creating a giant whirlpool.

The next GSD mournfully howled while being bathed.. I've had both extremes.

Fancy · 02-28-2013, 09:50 PM

Mine hates bathing also. First bath I bathed him in the upstairs tub by himself. He scratched and clawed. Second bath he had daddy was in tub with him and he howled and carried on. Hubby was loving and nice and tried to soothe him. He quit howling finally but still clawed and acting frantic.

I am hoping he will finally calm down. My other dogs love water and even cry to get into the pool.

02-28-2013, 05:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
gsdemack Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 129	Goes mad when getting washed Tonight is the second time I've washed her - I placed her in shallow water in the bath and she was squealing and going crazy and trying to jump out. I think it must have been fear as she wasn't biting - would that make sense? Once she got out, I had to let her go after half drying her. She was mad with energy running all over the house up and down - never saw her as pumped up. She was wagging her tail aswell. Will she get used to it or is there a better technique? Thanks.

02-28-2013, 05:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
BellaLuna Master Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Port Saint Lucie ,FL Posts: 567	How old is she? I had this happen to me a few times but as time went on they would all get better.. As far as the running around like a spaz afterward that really never went away they would do it for like 5 minutes to get all the pent up energy out.. __________________ Marlena Bella Luna 9-23-09

02-28-2013, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rua Master Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 571	Try and get her used to being washed if you can...they will get used to it eventually. The way I got mine to behave while being washed was to get in the shower with them at first. lol We have an enclosed shower, so they couldn't escape. Eventually, I was able to get them so used to being washed that I don't need to get in with them anymore. I can leave the shower door open and they will sit there while I wash them down with me on the outside. But the mad happy freaking out and running around the house like a demon AFTER the shower still happens everytime. It's like it ramps them up! __________________ ~ Juno ~ 25/10/11 ~ GSD ~ Bowser ~ 07/10/12 ~ GSD

02-28-2013, 06:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
mego Master Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 582	I second the sitting in the shower too, also make sure there's a mat or towel on the floor so she isn't loosing her footing alot, that upset mine! __________________ Lara “美” 12/14/2012

02-28-2013, 06:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
breyer08 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 269	Ever since her first bath, I have used the same technique with Ava and it works every time. Before I get her in the tub, I cook some chicken in olive oil, cut it into small pieces and put it in a bowl. I get the whole bathroom ready (towels, tub, shampoo) and then I tell her to get into the tub (the first time I had to lift her in). Once she is in the tub, I start to wash her, and she gets little bits of chicken every so often throughout the whole process. It is the only time she ever gets chicken, so it is a huge incentive for her to behave during bath time. It's a process that has worked every time, so I highly recommend it! __________________ Ava Marie (4/3/2012)

02-28-2013, 05:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
gsdemack Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ireland Posts: 129	10 weeks now!

02-28-2013, 08:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 27,406	At 10 weeks old you can bathe a puppy in the kitchen sink. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 FDCh-G TF-III Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

02-28-2013, 08:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
Galathiel Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: East Texas Posts: 326	One of my German Shepherd puppies LOVED water and being bathed. I would give him a washcloth to play with while I soaped and rinsed. If I left the bathroom door open while my son took a bath, he would run hop in the tub and do donuts around the tub, creating a giant whirlpool. The next GSD mournfully howled while being bathed.. I've had both extremes.

02-28-2013, 09:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Fancy Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Indiana Posts: 34	Mine hates bathing also. First bath I bathed him in the upstairs tub by himself. He scratched and clawed. Second bath he had daddy was in tub with him and he howled and carried on. Hubby was loving and nice and tried to soothe him. He quit howling finally but still clawed and acting frantic. I am hoping he will finally calm down. My other dogs love water and even cry to get into the pool.

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