Bath Time Blues

I’ve mentioned before that we bathe our dogs at home in our second bathroom. Ares and Chaos are both small enough to fit in the tub with room to maneuver around them and Chris installed a detachable showerhead to make things that much easier. It’s so much more convenient and cheaper than taking them to a groomer plus it’s more comfortable for them. But just like human kids, not all dogs like bath time.

When we introduce the boys to something new we incorporate high value treats, aka treats they don’t usually get that make them super excited like real cheese or bacon. This hopefully helps them form a positive association with the unfamiliar situation, object, person, ect. While this is a great training method, it doesn’t always work.

The first time we tried to give the boys baths at home they were both like hell no. But you guys probably know by now that Chaos is very food motivated plus he’s a total people pleaser and will usually do something if there is food involved or just because mama wants him to even if he’s not thrilled about it. And Ares is a little shit and could care less. I love them equally but Chaos is typically easier to work with. Even though we tried to it the right way and slowly introduce at home baths with delicious treats and lots of gentle coaxing and praise, bath time is still a sore subject for Ares. On the other hand, Chaos LOVES baths.

After the first few times that Chaos reluctantly got his baths, he figured out bath time = yummy treats and all of mom or dad’s attention. I said “good, bath” every time I gave him a treat during those first baths so now if you say bath or bath time he is all waggly tailed and running off to the bathroom. He waits outside the tub while I get the water going and towel and treats set up and the second I tell him to get in he’s ready before I can blink. He even turns left and right for me and lifts his feet. He doesn’t get the really good stuff treat wise anymore since those are reserved for new/scary things but he still gets regular treats and that plus lots of affection is good enough for him.

We followed the exact same process with Ares but he’s not as food driven as Chaos and has a stubborn streak a mile long. If he doesn’t want to do something the chances of you convincing him otherwise are slim. He still tries to hide when he knows it’s his turn for a bath. When I pick him up to carry him to the dreaded tub he hangs limp in my arms with a facial expression that indicates he’s succumbed to impending death. We have made a baby step forward finally and he no longer tries desperately to escape the tub of torture while I try desperately to contain him. Now he just stands there with a perma-scowl like I’m the meanest mom ever for making him do this. He will however not miss a chance to shake off sending water, shampoo and loose hairs all over me and the entire bathroom.  He especially hates getting his head wet.

When the shampoo has been rinsed both dogs will stay in the tub long enough to be dried off with a towel and then they are supposed to jump out and stand on the towel while I wipe their feet. Of course Chaos has this down pat and lifts each paw for me, waiting patiently until I say all done and he gets more treats. The second I take the towel off Ares he leaps out of the tub and takes off like he’s being chased by a bear, leaving wet paw prints down the hallway in his wake. He then promptly proceeds to roll around all over the living room rug, snorting in disgust.

As Alan Jackson would say, there ain’t no cure for the bath time blues. But at least we’ve only got one with an attitude.

Happy weekend!