My 9 week old ESS hates baths - really hates them! Of course she's into everything in the garden and she wees down her legs too so I try and keep her quite clean.
I tried to bath her in the sink to start with thinking as she was so small she'd be easy to control in there - but she didn't like it and I KNOW I didnt get all the shampoo off her. So the last few times I've had her in the bath and used the shower head to rinse her off (not in her face). Everytime the water from the shower head goes onto her she gets herself in a real state, lunging up away from it.
When the waters not on her I can get her to sit and she just looks miserable and wet but then I have to rinse her and she goes off again.
I thought puppies were supposed to find bathtime fun? She thinks it's a kind of medieval torture and even though I give her treats and cuddles after she still hates baths!
Is there anything I can do to make it more fun for her?
Is this normal??

Sorry to be a bit dense, but what is a ESS?

liberty (having a blonde moment)

English Springer Spaniel
:D
Bec

Sorry, trying to sound like an expert and have seen the abbreviation and trying to show off and "fit in"!!
English Springer Spaniel

No apology needed, it's just me.....been one of those days :)
Thanks for the explanation :)

Liberty

English Springer Spaniel, blondie!! ;)

Actually, Caroline, I'm wondering why you feel you need to bath the pup at all? Ordinary garden dirt will brush off, and any wee can be rinsed off with a damp flannel. Many dogs are only bathed for a show, and others are never bathed in their lives (even indoor dogs!) and don't smell if the food is right for them and they are properly groomed.
:)

Edit: to most dogs, bathtime is like a mediaeval torture - some will grow to tolerate it, but most only enjoy it when it stops!

I have a few of my dogs who hate baths. All dogs need a bath at some point in their lives and one of mine in particular my 6 month old Newfy bitch has a dreadful habit of weeing down her legs and she usually stinks as a result so regularly needs her bum washed, or my house will smell like a public convenience!! Have you tried getting in the bath with her she may feel it is more relaxing as she will trust you. My husband can recall plenty of times he has been having a nice soak in the tub when......... ALong comes a puppy or grown dog to share his bath. He usually ends up with scratches all over him though. Or try putting the plug in and letting the showner fill the bath gradually, occasionally lifting the shower head and spraying gently.
Some dogs never get used to having a bath, Delilah my oldest maltese hates it and being white has several. Even being heavily in whelp doesn't stop her from being kept clean, as long as we manage to avoid a water birth. LOL
My old GSD, bless him used to charge up the stairs & jump in the bath as soon as he saw his towel!! Rehgardless of who was in it at the time.

My 8 month Chocolate Lab loves bathtimes... I don't quite know how that happened! As soon as I turn the shower hose on she jumps in the tub and tries to eat the water, she thinks it's a game! I also feed her little biscuit treats while she is in the tub. One thing I did notice though is when she was younger she used to slip around a bit and get a bit spooked by it. We bought one of those non slip rubber mats which seemed to help as she was more sure on her feet. This might help your pup.

My old lab would tolerate baths if the water was cold (like a river - she loved swimming!). 3 of my dals will just about put up with it because they are good mannered - the fourth we have yet to try - he's nearly 4 and has never needed a bath yet! He's the only one that will willingly enter the bathroom!

I know this might sound crazy, but, my puppies hated it when i bathed them and used the shower hose to rinse them off, so I tried putting them in the shower with me. It worked!!! They just stand still and let me wash them. It is ten times easier and definately less messy. Maybe they think that it can't be that bad if I am doing it myself. Who knows how their brains work :)

I quite agree, glad there is someone else out there as mad as me!!LOL :)

hi
have you tried Bath Wipes from Simple Solutions?
They're like large, heavy duty baby wipes, but for dogs. They clean 'em up really well, and the coat dries straight away....they smell nice too!

I buy them from Pets at Home, about £2.50 a pack. (Using for pups first season at the moment, and keep them in for "smelly times" with old Cherry.)

Sami

Thanks for all your replys everyone - next time she is really filthy I will get in the shower with her and until then I shall try the wipes!

I don't recall bathing any of my dogs - they tend to be a clean sweet smelling breed anyway, although they get muddy, but that brushes off, or for example with my current dog, she gets a paddle in a stream if she is too muddy to tolerate :D

My inlaws have Westies and bath them just quickly in plain water after a walk, because they like a very well kept house and with the mud off, they let the dogs go anywhere.

Lindsay

HI,
I ve got a husky pup i've bathed him and he hates it, I don't think its anything to worry about.
I on;y bath him when we go up the beach, he gets covered in sand and i've been told leaving it in their can cause problems with his coat. He loves the sea but hates baths!!!!!
Xanthe and Bandit

We use "Quick Baths" which we buy from Wilkinsons (stores around the country selling everything but the kitchen sink!). They are a thick wipe and are great from freshening pups/dogs up. Not sure of the make - just used our last pack the other day - £2.50 for a pack.

I find using a damp cloth wrung out from a weak warm soapy water solution just as effective for cleaning mucky dogs legs :)
Lara x