rmm001 Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 Any tips for how to make it a positive experience for both of us? The husky I had as a child was a nightmare to bathe, so I'm trying very,very hard to forget all about that before I get Gambit in the shower. I'm also bathing another member of the pack first, who, if she's not crazy about baths, at least just stands there and deals with it while giving us "what-on-earth-did-i-do-to-deserve-this-don't-you-love-me?" looks. Should I have him in the bathroom while I bathe her, to maybe let him see that its not so bad, or will that only make him nervous? I had hoped, before I brought him home, to bribe him with treats, but since he just spits them out that won't work. Should I keep him on lead? Any advice at all would be very much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greilly1976 Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 you could allways do it outside with a hose but i done mine straight away as they get used to it straight away thats all i can suggest or get missus to help you . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 ermmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Put your swimming costume on LOL !!! My two don't like a bath at all i have to keep a collar and lead on them and feed them a treat as soon as they keep still for more than a second I ache everywhere afterwards and my bathroom looks like i bathed an elephant *sigh* Does he NEED a bath do you think? Huskies are very clean and hardly ever require bathing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice and Cripton Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 I think you should bath a dog to socialise them even if they are rather clean. And Sarah has a point about the bathing suit lool >>>> He will feel very comfortable if you get in too I dont mean all the way but maybe you could sit on the edge of the bath with you legs in and wash him. Have cheese handy.....however dont be too soft with him. If he tries to wriggle out make him stay and dont say "good boy" if he is showing fearful behavoir >> When its done give him a nice towl dry and tons of praise and treats. I think the most unpleasant thing about the bath is that it can be cold and they can get very cold afterwards...so - Avoid ears and eyes - Keep water nice and warm and test on the back of your hand - Towl dry, and focus on the head, ears and feet (between his toes) <<< If these parts are still wet he will be very cold - I know hes a husky but he will be a wet one so keep him near a radiator - I used to keep them on my lap until they were warm - When a towl gets wet...change it to a new warm one - Keep the towl on the heater before you dry him Dont worry he will be fine, make it fun and try not think of him as fearful ... give him tons of cheese and he will be a happy husky lool Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 If I am going to bath my boys then I will take them for a walk to tire them out first which helps alot as they will just stay still. Sibes dont need to be bethed often (some older sibes have probably only had about 2 baths in their entire lifetime!) as they will, like a cat, lick themselves clean and lucky for us they dont tend to carry that doggy smell alot of other breeds do. I find a dog will be much more "obediant" during bath time when you make it enjoyable, like you say. A few methods you can do are: take Gambit out for a nice run or walk play with Gabit and his favourite toy do some training with Gambit play fun and active games with Gambit but a toy for Gambit that is just for bath time and play with his and that toy whist in the bath whilst he is in the bath constantly re-assure him by calling him a "good boy" and let him know where you are by keeping a hand on him where you are going to wash him to. if he is food driven, treats are also something you can take with you and reward him with treats when he is still/not trying to get away, etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmm001 Posted July 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 I'll be trying to see if he likes cheese tonight, then...peanut butter added to his treats was a no-go, he still just took them in his mouth and then spit them out. He does like sow ears, but I can't see that working too well in the bath...maybe if I give him one right afterward, though, it will create a positive association. I don't think I can really bathe him outside, we haven't got any really good concrete spots, so he'd just end up covered in mud from the yard. As far as whether I must bathe him now...I think so. The shelter he came from was filthy and all his white spots rather show that, plus he hadn't been combed in awhile. I'm doing my best to just brush away all the extra fur, but I'm hoping a bath will go ahead and loosen up what's left. Also, his skin just feels...dirty? Not clean, certainly, if you give him a good scratch your fingernails get gunk beneath them. I've read quite a few books now that suggest blow-drying, especially for long-haired dogs or dogs prone to shedding. Have any of you tried this? We'll be able to keep the water plenty warm and turn on the bathroom heater, but there really won't be a way to keep towels warm...except perhaps to just keep the dryer running...but then I'll be running back and forth. Thank you all for all the advice so far! I'll let you all know how it goes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted July 23, 2009 Report Share Posted July 23, 2009 ohh good luck I've never used a dryer on my two, let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siberian_wolf Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 When I first bathe Gizmo we tried the Hair dryer but he hated that and since we just stick to towel drying them as much as possible and then let them dry naturally around the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 a non-slip bath mat at the bottom of your bath will help loads i think this is why Blaze HATES baths with a passion (though he could be feeling Bingos fear) as the hard slippy surface may make him want 2 get out as soon as his paws touch it - just a thought let us knao how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Best of luck!! All of mine hate bath time, but i find it far easier if there are 2 of us there,,,,one to hold the collar and one to wash Bath mat Nix suggested helps alot.added to rep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austinville Posted July 24, 2009 Report Share Posted July 24, 2009 Bo hasn't had a bath in over 7 years. We do wash his feet if necessary, but that's about it. He keeps himself very clean and has never smelled. He never liked baths, but would get them when he got mucky. I found that a non-skid mat helped ease his moods at bath time. Also, as others have remarked, he was more relaxed if I was actually in the tub with him - go figure. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmm001 Posted July 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thanks for everyone's advice, it actually pretty much went off without a hitch. We bathed the whole pack today, not just my boy, and we kept him in the bathroom while we bathed George (our hound foster) and Mickey (Jeff's Blue Heeler). Jeff helped me get him into the tub, but he had to go pick Lady (yellow lab foster) up from visiting at the shelter, so Gambit was actually the only one I had to all by myself (!). He was shivery and not liking it at first, but he got to where he really liked it...I originally tried to bribe him with a sow's ear, but he wasn't interested enough to focus on it. He was quite good, really, though-except maybe for when I washed his face, he didn't like that, although he still just stood there. He just glared at me during that bit. And he likes the blow-dryer, huzzah! I decided to just try it, and figured if he didn't like it I'd just go back to towels, but he immediately laid down and closed his eyes and just soaked it up. Tip for anyone trying it- don't dry them all the way, it's bad for their skin and hair...just like ours. He did go curl up on Jeff's bed afterward, though, while I was cleaning up the bathroom, and left a lovely big wet spot . Oh well, the only really bad thing about that is it meant he got in trouble within ten minutes of getting out of the bath, so I hope it doesn't create a negative association. He had already gotten a sow's ear for reward, though! Brushed him again after his bath and it loosed up another lhasa apso's worth of fur, so I'm sure he's feeling better. I'll be putting up my first pictures of him in the Main Chat so you all can see him without fencing in the way! Thanks again to everyone for all the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 awwww glad it all went well - brings a whole new meaning to sleeping in the wet patch!!! ROFL sorry lol xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Aww your lucky he was such a good boy!!!Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice and Cripton Posted July 25, 2009 Report Share Posted July 25, 2009 Thanks for everyone's advice, it actually pretty much went off without a hitch. We bathed the whole pack today, not just my boy, and we kept him in the bathroom while we bathed George (our hound foster) and Mickey (Jeff's Blue Heeler). Jeff helped me get him into the tub, but he had to go pick Lady (yellow lab foster) up from visiting at the shelter, so Gambit was actually the only one I had to all by myself (!). He was shivery and not liking it at first, but he got to where he really liked it...I originally tried to bribe him with a sow's ear, but he wasn't interested enough to focus on it. He was quite good, really, though-except maybe for when I washed his face, he didn't like that, although he still just stood there. He just glared at me during that bit. And he likes the blow-dryer, huzzah! I decided to just try it, and figured if he didn't like it I'd just go back to towels, but he immediately laid down and closed his eyes and just soaked it up. Tip for anyone trying it- don't dry them all the way, it's bad for their skin and hair...just like ours. He did go curl up on Jeff's bed afterward, though, while I was cleaning up the bathroom, and left a lovely big wet spot . Oh well, the only really bad thing about that is it meant he got in trouble within ten minutes of getting out of the bath, so I hope it doesn't create a negative association. He had already gotten a sow's ear for reward, though! Brushed him again after his bath and it loosed up another lhasa apso's worth of fur, so I'm sure he's feeling better. I'll be putting up my first pictures of him in the Main Chat so you all can see him without fencing in the way! Thanks again to everyone for all the help. Oh excellent...added to rep, By the look of the pics hes a very beautiful boy and im glad it all went okay Alaska often shoots me evils when she has had a bath:rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidjk Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 well iw as going to post the same exact thing, god knows what micha has gotten into but she smells rotten. i am going to giver her a day or two to see if the smell fades, she loves swimming so maybe that will help also, but if not then it will be bath time for her. she has never had a bath before, but she needs it as she smells worse than a teenage boys room. after readin everyones helpful advice, i think i will be able to pull it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted July 28, 2009 Report Share Posted July 28, 2009 oops lol if you do bath her try and get your wife to get some pics :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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