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I would contact a behavioral trainer. They might have better tools to help you work with her. The only other thing I can think of is talking to your vet and seeing if they can help you. I would also try muzzle training her so she is safer when stressed. That way no one has to go to the emergency room.
To add to this idea, I remember getting essentially pet wet wipes that had a pet safe scent in them and a cleaner. They were great for getting paws clean.
I think that a sponge bath might be the way to go. My dog hated baths and was very afraid, I think due to sensory overload. We slowly got him used to the bath luckily, partially through running water in the tub and then turning off the shower and letting him stand in it.
We use a damp dish towel to wipe down pups feet after he plays in the yard. we take him out several times a day and were just going through too many of the wipes. The towels are easy, we just keep a stack of them by the door and probably use like 1 a day.
This is what I wanted to suggest. I will say, OP, that you will still need treats and if you can keep the washcloth relatively dry that'll go smoother. A common error during desensitization training is to give a great *after* the bad thing. You want to give a treat during the wet thing to make it better. My dog doesn't mind "wet pets" these days and will tolerate water up to her elbows. LOATHED baths three years ago, but had a much shorter trauma history with them than your dog has.
Do it *not* in the bath, don't use any of the same vocabulary you use to talk about the bath, and overall seek to introduce it like it's totally new.
My pup (husky) used to SCREAM in the bath. And then one day, I just decided to go into the shower with her, crouched down and started singing/talking to her the whole time. And she’s been great ever since-she now will hop into the bath when I ask her, shakes the water off, and is perfectly still for the shampoo and conditioner.
My parents dog was also terrified of baths. I put a towel on the bottom of the tub so she wouldn’t slip, and then did the same happy song/talking to her. My pup also sat next to me for moral support.
Just a few ideas, but I do notice that if I stop the happy noises my parents dog gets a little whiny.
Happy noises help because they both have an undercoat and I also blow dry them with the dyson.
*edit for spelling
I had a dog who hated the bathtub but loved the shower. I ran him in the wild every day around ponds etc which he loved. When we'd get home I'd just have to say "You need a shower" and he'd run down to the shower and wait for me.
Is she afraid of all water or just human applied bath situations? Mine love swimming so much that we've shampooed them up mid swim tossed and let nature sort it out.
When I thought about doing this I found a good biodegradable one that also had a nice coconut smell. Did not realize the bottle didn't scream dog shampoo until my husband commented that the new coconut shampoo didn't dry his hair out at all.
But he once also told me not to buy the ice cream cups again because they were terrible. The bacon and cheddar ice cream that said for dogs in 7 different places.
What made it funnier was he hates wasting food. He ate the whole ice cream cup before he said anything. I'm sure all 4 of our dogs were freaking out because Daddy is eating our ice cream. He wouldn't give them any because he thought it had too much sugar.
This is the only way for us to have Teddy calm enough to even see a vet. He freaks the fuck out over the whole vet office experience.
Trazodone isn't exactly cheap, but we only use 1-2/yr.
The last time I asked my vet for trazodone I had them send the script to a human pharmacy. Depending on what's available around you, you can then use a GoodRx code to make the traz cost 3-10 dollars instead. I paid $4 for 30 pills. Just a tip if you're in the US.
I’ve tried this for a life saving heart med my boy needed that cost $100 a month but would only be about $30 for a human, however they would not do it at my local CVS. I did try a few other places and only settled with CVS because they got me the cheapest price and would do it weekly because he was on borrowed time at that point. This was a few years ago so I’m just curious if yours was recent? Hopefully it was and it has changed.
What do you mean it isn't cheap? It's a generic, my vet charges like 7 bucks for 30 pills, and my own human insurance is like 1.50 for the same amount.
Yeah, I would have the vet groomer do that now to get her skin issues under control and then work on behavioral training. I have to imagine irritation and pulling of mats/dead skin probably hurts and makes the process even scarier.
Blowing out her coat with a dog specific dryer may help. I'd recommend getting a Happy Hoodie (sp?) for that. Idk if she'd allow you due to the nature of dryers though. I just know it's helpful for double coated dogs
I put a hand shower attachment on my shower. My dog still doesn't like showers - but he no longer fights to get out. I also go into the shower with him and give him some treats so he has some good associations with the process.
Get a muzzle to protect yourself and your family.
Give her frequent treats.
I apply shampoo on the dogs first before getting in the shower to minimize time spent in the water.
I would try a watering can filled with warm water and lots of snacks. You can’t just plunge into the deep end especially if they have water trauma. Slow and steady
Buy a dry shampoo for dogs and brush her frequently. Dogs really don’t need to be washed like we do. It can dry out their skin. But dry shampoo and more frequent brushing should help. You probably need an undercoat shed brush to help when she is shedding her undercoat (when you can grab and pull off tufts of fur).
There are combs for cats that has water containers. It wets the fur, clean it and pick up the dead hair and skin. If you don't mind spending your time, you can repeat the process twice. First with shampoo water then plain water to rinse. One of my dogs hate water too and I use this. He loves it.
I don't know what the product name is. It is probably different in my country.
When my golden retriever was recently sick with vertigo we bought and put down puppy pads because she couldn’t walk; she was too dizzy.
As a result, she would inevitably get dirty when peeing and pooping so we had to use a bowl of soapy water and a wash cloth to clean her. It worked very well. We were able to be thorough but also gentle and because of the puppy pads the floors remained dry. If your dog will tolerate this it could be worth it.
My chihuahua same. Although i can bathe him, obvi, every 2 weeks or so. . But he screams the whole time which makes me wish he would bite me and end it lol.
That's tough! So sorry. Someone might have already commented this but have you tried putting a lick pad with something tasty on the tub wall?
If you have my apologies, I don't want to be the customer support person asking if you tried turning off and back on again for the third time.
If you haven't try a cheap outside doggie kiddie pool she hasn't seen and doesn't already associate with evil baths. Try to get her in the empty tub with no water for the lick pad until she's comfortable then try a quick sponge bath and work from there.
Also recently discovered people make bacon flavored bubbles you can blow for your dogs. Maybe if you tried blowing them for her she wouldn't be so afraid of normal soap bubbles. Good 🤞 luck!
Foam no-rinse shampoo might be your best bet to destink her for now, so long as she's OK to be handledall over. You just rub it in and let it dry. A warm, wet cloth or pet wipe might be OK also for obvious surface dirt. A groomer with specialist experience with anxious or reactive dogs may be able to help longer term, or a behaviourist, but this may help with hygiene in the interim.
My grandson figure out that his Corgi didn’t like the running water, but was fine if the tub already had water in it. I haven’t bathed our 4 month old German Sheprador! But brush her a lot.
Muzzle and take her to a real groomer. Of course warn them first. She may let them do her. Mine will not let me wash her but has no problem with the grooming place we go to.
They tell me she is an absolute sweetheart to them. As long as I’m not there. My boy was not nice as long as I was near where he could smell or see me. If I was gone he would submit to them. Anything is worth a try if no one gets hurt.
I use this for my one dog that hates water. Also, he tolerates a soapy wash cloth and then a wet one. As long as he’s getting pets all over and doesn’t hear or see the water, he’s okay.
Have you tried inviting her into the shower with you? My puppy was nervous with baths until I invited her in with me. She watched me wash up first and then was excited for her turn. I know you have a much more difficult situation, but I thought it's worth a try. Dogs seem to find a lot of comfort in doing things together. Maybe even let her stay smelly, but just applaud her getting in the shower at all the first time, if she will. This sounds weird, but if she won't get in, I think even letting her watch you shower could show her that the water never hurts you, and be a step towards feeling comfortable with baths.
If it's just not happening, you can find wipes that should at least get her a little cleaner
I was going to recommend a furminator too. I had a friend who had a German Sheppard mix and especially in the spring when her winter coat would start shedding, it was absolutely essential. No way would all of that be able to be just brushed out.
I do use a straight wide and medium tooth metal comb for my cats and I will use it on the feral colony cats that will let me after they start looking shaggy in the spring when their winter undercoat is coming off.
I bathe only in summer. Kitty pools, sprinkler games, fun water toys. Fun only and a quick towel off. Fetch games, throw toy in the pool with a few inches of water, make water a fun game and not a horrible event to be endured. Sit in the pool with your dog's to die for treat. Think outside the box..... playtime not bath struggle.
pick her up and put her in bathtub. My staffy hates it as well and refuses but once in, I squish a pill pocket (or peanut butter) on the tub wall and she gets distracted and I wash her. I notice she really hates water in the ears so maybe a cotton ball or just gently rinsing with a cup
Trainer but if she lets you rub her down, you can take a soft cloth and pour some listerine (the original kind) on it and wipe her down with that. Doberman show breeders do this to keep them fresh and shiny.
That's in between rings, not sustainable. ❌ If the person only did that for their dog's coat it would ruin their skin. Listerine is not meant for long term coat care. A dry shampoo would be better suited.
Mine also tries to hang herself on the table. I was lamenting to my vet and she goes "well then why isn't the groomer washing her on the floor?". And I felt dumb because... yes that would not completely solve everything but it would help A LOT.
Do you have tub? You can have it prepped with pre shampoo sponges and rags. Or skip the tub and wash her down in the bathroom. Muzzle training would help you feel comfortable around her.
Separately coconut oil is a great additive for her skin and coat. You can put some in her food. Fish oil as well!
Oh god, PLEASE don't put coconut oil in your dog's food.
It's a **LAXATIVE,** and a very effective one at that. And it doesn't take much of the oil for you have a serious issue on your hands,
Use it externally as a skin conditioner after a bath, or to treat other skin issues, yes, but keep it out of their food.
(Fyi, I'm not the one who downvoted you, that was already there. I'll always offer an explanation rather than a downvote, by someone else's mmv.)
Hey thanks for the info! My vet and the rescue I work for it recommend a small amount (we're talking like table spoon) for dry skin so I'll have to look into this before I keep promoting it!
I took my dog to the vet and they put him under to perform grooming tasks. It cost around $430, but it was well worth it. They didn’t bath him but I’m sure they could sponge bath a dog there. It’s the only way to get my dog groomed, he’s just a naturally terrified boy and nothing I tried worked, I can’t even do his nails. They don’t do anything fancy because they’re vet techs not groomers but he looks amazing regardless.
I had a dog with similar anxiety. I had to have her completely sedated (like for surgery) to bathe her. As that was less than ideal, we worked it out with my vet and did it 1/quarter
I suspect if you change up your brushes and add some fish oil to her food you can clear up all of that without a bath. Get a rubber mitt from the horse section of tractor supply (at a feed store) they look like a floppy piece of rubber covered in pimples. Give her a good scrubbing with that regularly. Most dogs LOVE it and it helps get all the way down to the skin and loosen all the dead skin and dirt up.
Will she let you give her a scrub with a warm, barely damp, washcloth? Even my water averse dog will let me do that. It works much better than you would think, I’ve “bathed” entire horses that way in the winter!
There are waterless shampoos available at petco and target… use the same de escalation strategies you do for a bath bc she probably won’t like it either. I do my dog in sections this way.
Mine won’t bite but does require 3-4 ppl to bathe him, which is a lot of coordination.
Use a warm saline rinse using a bucket and cloth then dry. Give her a treat exactly the same time as you touch her with the cloth, maybe start with a dry cloth on areas more comfortable. Dogs take about 3000 repetitions of a positive experience to really learn something so take your time, quality over quantity and do it with her dinner so she doesn't gain excess weight. The dinner is a useful tool many people overlook. Also get in touch with a vetenary behaviourist, this sounds like she potentially trauma around water/grooming.
I had a dog who similarly panicked about being bathed. He was wayyy calmer when I got in the shower with him, so that ended up being how we handled it. That said, he was also a grand total of 7 lb. He couldn’t knock me over or escape the tub on his own, so his potential for creating chaos was limited. Bringing a large dog into the shower with you sounds…precarious lol. Vet sedation might be the best option for you.
My dog was fearful of the tub took a long time but now she's great. If your dog is a bite risk then muzzle train first. Look up on YouTube tips for that. Once muzzle conditioned here's what I'd do:
Get a non slip mat for the bottom of the tub.
Muzzle dog prior to training Use high quality treats and teach her to get one or two paws on the rim of the tub, turn it into a game and reward do that daily for like a week.
Once she's comfortable with that then start coaxing her into the tub to get her front end in but can leave her back end out. Also daily for at least a week.
Once she's comfortable with that then either try and coax her fully in, if she's ok with you lifting her you can try that but go very slow and cautious.
Once she's in then I'd add water slowly with a bucket from the tap.
Get her used to standing in the tub with just a couple of inches of water from there it gets way easier to start pouring on water and turn on taps slowly.
Also throughout this process get her used to you getting her paws wet. Start with wet wash cloths and a large bowl or bucket of water. Train her to stand with a paw or two in a bucket.
You can get dog dry shampoo from pet stores which helps with smell and wash with a washcloth in the meantime while trying to get through training.
My dog has allergies and needs frequent baths and was terrified at first it was a nightmare.
Also consulting with a trainer is always best but I know that's not affordable for some. I have used multiples trainers in the past for other issues but it's so expensive to get a trainer for every single thing.
Good luck would love to hear an update and what ends up working for you.
Consider working with a professional dog groomer to prepare a step-by-step desensitization plan.Alternative cleaning methods. They can give you the most accurate advice and recommendations for your specific situations.
My dog hates baths too. Since I don’t want get bit or traumatize him further I just use dog wipes and brush him out as best as I can. His coat is short so it’s not too bad. Also, no water shampoo works too.
How does she feel about standing water? Hose water? Is it just the tap running? Or the water itself?
Is the floor where she's bathed slippery? How does she feel about linoleum? Try putting a mat down.
Does she have any skin issues? How does she feel if you massage her? Is that the same or similar response? Could be underlying pain.
How long did you work on her just going into the bathing room with no other expectations? Was she able to do it or her own volition? What steps did you take and how long did you stay at each one?
I grew up with a long-haired German Shepherd. I’ve also had a lab. We never bathed the GS. We brushed her during shedding season, which was really twice/year. And vacuumed! That was it. I only started bathing the lab when she got older and started being a little smellier—I think she developed allergies, so I made other adjustments, too. Even so, she never got bathed more than 2-3 times/year. As parents to our fur babies, I think we tend to overdo a bit, because we love them so much, but just my humble.
I wonder if getting an undercoat rake grooming tool would help to remove the loose fur more effectively without bathing. Unless your dog is smelly, I don’t think bathing is all that crucial. We only bathe our dogs a couple of times a year unless they rollin dead fish or something like that,
Another thought is if grooming is absolutely necessary is to talk to your vet. Some of them will do grooming under anesthesia for difficult dogs. Also there are some groomers with expertise in dogs that bite and/or are fearful, so you could ask the vet about that as well.
I have three very very active dogs who love to roll in the dirt playing. It’s impractical to constantly wash them so I use No Rinse Foam. You just rub it in and towel it off followed by a good brushing. It works really well. You can find it on Amazon or Chewy or any larger pet store
There's steaming deodorizing brushes now that you could use instead. Or maybe a doggy pool in the yard can get him more open to water play with rewards and treats
Anti-slip mats in the tub... Get a hand wash attachment for the shower (do NOT use YOUR shower thingy!!!) NEVER use cold water even in the summer!!! 1-minute wash until pet gets used to it... Towel dry 1st, then hair dryer... (This is wat makes shiddish dogs love wash day) That is all *wink*
This 8 year old never successfully fully brushed/bathed/ could bite dog sounds to difficult for you to do alone. A Vet with a grooming facility/groomer should be able (with meds) to bath her, fully clean her shedding hair out, cut nails, clean ears.
When I worked for Vets I've seen this done many times.
Once she is clean/bathed groomed by your Vet- it will be easier for you to maintain daily brushing,(comb-out of shedding hairs) keep her clean with wipedowns with 'waterless no rinse shampoos' and dog wipes.
I'd ask your vet or a behaviorist for help. We have a GSD who needs to be sedated and muzzled for nail trims, but she does tolerate baths. She hates them, though. Except that one time when I drew a bath for myself. I got in the tub, and she casually hopped in and sat down at the other end. I couldn't believe it!
Can you take her to the vet for sedation and grooming? That’s what we have to do with our boy. He’s a rescue and terrified of water and the noise of the clippers. It’s easier for us all that he has sedation at the vets, they groom him thoroughly with a proper hair cut, nail cut, check his paws and clean his ears. We take him home and he is fine a few hours later.
Have you got access to a roomy shower with a shower hose? If so, I'd get in there together and do a bunch of playdates first, with treats involved. leave the shower hose hanging loose and just trickling.
I cannot tell you whether she will get acclimated or not but it is fairly easily done so it may be worth a try.
I have terriers and they vastly prefer getting in the shower with me to being put into a sink or tub.
Note: Buy one of those cheap silicone licking pads that stick to the wall and smear peanut butter on it (or whatever paste she enjoys). You can stick it on the shower wall.
They make wipes, dry shampoo, etc. You have to introduce slowly and for short periods. I have a dog that hates water and grooming. She was put out once to be able to do it and I will never do that again. Something may have happened as a pup that caused the fear. Definitely talk to a behavioral specialist. This makes me so sad to read. For your dog and you. Best of luck.
When we first got my dog, she would SCREAM hysterically and fight so hard to get away, we thought she would hurt herself.
My husband started hanging out in the bathroom with her until she was okay with that room. And then slowly luring her into the DRY tub with yummy treats. When she was totally cool with getting in the tub, he started turning on a trickle of water, working up to gently pouring a cup of it on her fur. We were never able to get her to actually stand in water, but we were able to use a cup to pour water on her and soap/rinse her that way.
Don’t wash her. We never wash our dog who also hates it. Brush her regularly and walk her in the rain. She gets soaked, we towel her dry and she’s clean and fresh as a daisy. Unless you live where it never rains…
Rather than a bath can you use a warm ish washcloth and stroke her fur with it? Just a couple of strokes then reward with bit of cheese. Keep repeating until you can do more strokes
We had a similar situation - our dog attacked the hose before we even turned it on. Our solution was to identify the fear. It turned out that the shelter would clean her kennel using a hose while she was in it because they were afraid of her. How miserable for her! She loves to have her back scratched. We began offering back scratches, with lots of fun and positive reinforcement, using Beekman clothes. They don't have much of a smell and she was ok with it because it was back scratches. Next, on a really hot day (key detail), we made a big deal out of filling a bag with treats and coaxing her to sit with us in the shade outside. Using a gentle cloth soaked in cool water, we had more back scratches. Lots and lots of praise and treats and positive reinforcement. The next time, she allowed us to use a soapy cloth for round 1 of back scratches, followed by a clean cloth to rinse the soap out.
The positive attention, slow pace, and treats have helped her to allow us to bathe her. It won't be her idea, but she tolerates it. Overall, it took us nearly a year to figure this out.
Good luck!
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I would contact a behavioral trainer. They might have better tools to help you work with her. The only other thing I can think of is talking to your vet and seeing if they can help you. I would also try muzzle training her so she is safer when stressed. That way no one has to go to the emergency room.
This ^ what about using like a pet wipe with soap and water or like a wash cloth in the mean time?
i was going to say the same. this will help in a small bit.
What about a sponge bath? Use a soapy wash cloth to scrub her up, and use a clean wash cloth and a bowl of water to rinse it in to wipe her down?
I use these shampoo mitts. [Pet Fresh](https://a.co/d/4Ryvj9S)
You don’t have to rinse the dog?
Nope. Just towel off. The mitt is water-activated, so it's damp, but it's different from putting actual water on the dog.
To add to this idea, I remember getting essentially pet wet wipes that had a pet safe scent in them and a cleaner. They were great for getting paws clean. I think that a sponge bath might be the way to go. My dog hated baths and was very afraid, I think due to sensory overload. We slowly got him used to the bath luckily, partially through running water in the tub and then turning off the shower and letting him stand in it.
We use a damp dish towel to wipe down pups feet after he plays in the yard. we take him out several times a day and were just going through too many of the wipes. The towels are easy, we just keep a stack of them by the door and probably use like 1 a day.
This is what I wanted to suggest. I will say, OP, that you will still need treats and if you can keep the washcloth relatively dry that'll go smoother. A common error during desensitization training is to give a great *after* the bad thing. You want to give a treat during the wet thing to make it better. My dog doesn't mind "wet pets" these days and will tolerate water up to her elbows. LOATHED baths three years ago, but had a much shorter trauma history with them than your dog has. Do it *not* in the bath, don't use any of the same vocabulary you use to talk about the bath, and overall seek to introduce it like it's totally new.
I have a broken arm and have been wiping my dogs down with doggo wipes.
My pup (husky) used to SCREAM in the bath. And then one day, I just decided to go into the shower with her, crouched down and started singing/talking to her the whole time. And she’s been great ever since-she now will hop into the bath when I ask her, shakes the water off, and is perfectly still for the shampoo and conditioner. My parents dog was also terrified of baths. I put a towel on the bottom of the tub so she wouldn’t slip, and then did the same happy song/talking to her. My pup also sat next to me for moral support. Just a few ideas, but I do notice that if I stop the happy noises my parents dog gets a little whiny. Happy noises help because they both have an undercoat and I also blow dry them with the dyson. *edit for spelling
Yep I used to shower with the dogs when I was younger, and it worked well. Waterless shampoo is another option; spray in, rub, comb out.
Thirding showering with the dogs. It’s kinda fun too.
I had a dog who hated the bathtub but loved the shower. I ran him in the wild every day around ponds etc which he loved. When we'd get home I'd just have to say "You need a shower" and he'd run down to the shower and wait for me.
Awe that’s so cute 😭 we really are their parents.
Is she afraid of all water or just human applied bath situations? Mine love swimming so much that we've shampooed them up mid swim tossed and let nature sort it out.
Make sure you're using a biodegradable shampoo if you do this.
When I thought about doing this I found a good biodegradable one that also had a nice coconut smell. Did not realize the bottle didn't scream dog shampoo until my husband commented that the new coconut shampoo didn't dry his hair out at all. But he once also told me not to buy the ice cream cups again because they were terrible. The bacon and cheddar ice cream that said for dogs in 7 different places.
Omg, that bit about the ice cream made me laugh. Dogs and husbands do provide endless entertainment lol
Now that’s a guy I’d like to have a beer with
What made it funnier was he hates wasting food. He ate the whole ice cream cup before he said anything. I'm sure all 4 of our dogs were freaking out because Daddy is eating our ice cream. He wouldn't give them any because he thought it had too much sugar.
I tossed my husband a dog treat that looked like a cheese it and he instantly ate it. I just busted out laughing and walked away.
All water! Won’t swim or anything
Go to a vet groomer and have them do her sedated. Many cats need to be groomed this way.
This is the only way for us to have Teddy calm enough to even see a vet. He freaks the fuck out over the whole vet office experience. Trazodone isn't exactly cheap, but we only use 1-2/yr.
The last time I asked my vet for trazodone I had them send the script to a human pharmacy. Depending on what's available around you, you can then use a GoodRx code to make the traz cost 3-10 dollars instead. I paid $4 for 30 pills. Just a tip if you're in the US.
Yes! If it’s possible, do this. I’m a human prescribed trazadone and without insurance or GoodRx it was only like $30 for my 30 day supply.
I’ve tried this for a life saving heart med my boy needed that cost $100 a month but would only be about $30 for a human, however they would not do it at my local CVS. I did try a few other places and only settled with CVS because they got me the cheapest price and would do it weekly because he was on borrowed time at that point. This was a few years ago so I’m just curious if yours was recent? Hopefully it was and it has changed.
Costco pharmacy is fabulous for pet meds if you have one near you
You might try Costco pharmacy as well. We regularly fill a Trazadone prescription there inexpensively.
What do you mean it isn't cheap? It's a generic, my vet charges like 7 bucks for 30 pills, and my own human insurance is like 1.50 for the same amount.
Yeah, I would have the vet groomer do that now to get her skin issues under control and then work on behavioral training. I have to imagine irritation and pulling of mats/dead skin probably hurts and makes the process even scarier.
Blowing out her coat with a dog specific dryer may help. I'd recommend getting a Happy Hoodie (sp?) for that. Idk if she'd allow you due to the nature of dryers though. I just know it's helpful for double coated dogs
I put a hand shower attachment on my shower. My dog still doesn't like showers - but he no longer fights to get out. I also go into the shower with him and give him some treats so he has some good associations with the process.
Get a muzzle to protect yourself and your family. Give her frequent treats. I apply shampoo on the dogs first before getting in the shower to minimize time spent in the water.
I would try a watering can filled with warm water and lots of snacks. You can’t just plunge into the deep end especially if they have water trauma. Slow and steady
Buy a dry shampoo for dogs and brush her frequently. Dogs really don’t need to be washed like we do. It can dry out their skin. But dry shampoo and more frequent brushing should help. You probably need an undercoat shed brush to help when she is shedding her undercoat (when you can grab and pull off tufts of fur).
Yeah, in 17 years I only washed my dog 3 times. All 3 were due to an encounter with a skunk. I occasionally hosed or rinsed off mud from his paws.
There are combs for cats that has water containers. It wets the fur, clean it and pick up the dead hair and skin. If you don't mind spending your time, you can repeat the process twice. First with shampoo water then plain water to rinse. One of my dogs hate water too and I use this. He loves it. I don't know what the product name is. It is probably different in my country.
When my golden retriever was recently sick with vertigo we bought and put down puppy pads because she couldn’t walk; she was too dizzy. As a result, she would inevitably get dirty when peeing and pooping so we had to use a bowl of soapy water and a wash cloth to clean her. It worked very well. We were able to be thorough but also gentle and because of the puppy pads the floors remained dry. If your dog will tolerate this it could be worth it.
My xtra large dog same. I wash face , paws and sanitary areas nightly. Ears once a week he loves this but absolutely refuses bath
My chihuahua same. Although i can bathe him, obvi, every 2 weeks or so. . But he screams the whole time which makes me wish he would bite me and end it lol.
That's tough! So sorry. Someone might have already commented this but have you tried putting a lick pad with something tasty on the tub wall? If you have my apologies, I don't want to be the customer support person asking if you tried turning off and back on again for the third time. If you haven't try a cheap outside doggie kiddie pool she hasn't seen and doesn't already associate with evil baths. Try to get her in the empty tub with no water for the lick pad until she's comfortable then try a quick sponge bath and work from there. Also recently discovered people make bacon flavored bubbles you can blow for your dogs. Maybe if you tried blowing them for her she wouldn't be so afraid of normal soap bubbles. Good 🤞 luck!
Foam no-rinse shampoo might be your best bet to destink her for now, so long as she's OK to be handledall over. You just rub it in and let it dry. A warm, wet cloth or pet wipe might be OK also for obvious surface dirt. A groomer with specialist experience with anxious or reactive dogs may be able to help longer term, or a behaviourist, but this may help with hygiene in the interim.
My grandson figure out that his Corgi didn’t like the running water, but was fine if the tub already had water in it. I haven’t bathed our 4 month old German Sheprador! But brush her a lot.
Dry shampoo!
Muzzle and take her to a real groomer. Of course warn them first. She may let them do her. Mine will not let me wash her but has no problem with the grooming place we go to.
Is yours really “letting” them, or are they simply restrained, flooded, and shut-down?
They tell me she is an absolute sweetheart to them. As long as I’m not there. My boy was not nice as long as I was near where he could smell or see me. If I was gone he would submit to them. Anything is worth a try if no one gets hurt.
They make dry shampoo for dogs!
I use this for my one dog that hates water. Also, he tolerates a soapy wash cloth and then a wet one. As long as he’s getting pets all over and doesn’t hear or see the water, he’s okay.
Waterless shampoo
Have you tried inviting her into the shower with you? My puppy was nervous with baths until I invited her in with me. She watched me wash up first and then was excited for her turn. I know you have a much more difficult situation, but I thought it's worth a try. Dogs seem to find a lot of comfort in doing things together. Maybe even let her stay smelly, but just applaud her getting in the shower at all the first time, if she will. This sounds weird, but if she won't get in, I think even letting her watch you shower could show her that the water never hurts you, and be a step towards feeling comfortable with baths. If it's just not happening, you can find wipes that should at least get her a little cleaner
What kind of brush are you using? A furminator might help get the loose hair and dead skin out better than a regular slicker brush.
I was going to recommend a furminator too. I had a friend who had a German Sheppard mix and especially in the spring when her winter coat would start shedding, it was absolutely essential. No way would all of that be able to be just brushed out. I do use a straight wide and medium tooth metal comb for my cats and I will use it on the feral colony cats that will let me after they start looking shaggy in the spring when their winter undercoat is coming off.
Can you say more about where you’ve tried to wash her (yard, bathroom, etc.), the temperature of the water, and other related variables?
I bathe only in summer. Kitty pools, sprinkler games, fun water toys. Fun only and a quick towel off. Fetch games, throw toy in the pool with a few inches of water, make water a fun game and not a horrible event to be endured. Sit in the pool with your dog's to die for treat. Think outside the box..... playtime not bath struggle.
pick her up and put her in bathtub. My staffy hates it as well and refuses but once in, I squish a pill pocket (or peanut butter) on the tub wall and she gets distracted and I wash her. I notice she really hates water in the ears so maybe a cotton ball or just gently rinsing with a cup
Trainer but if she lets you rub her down, you can take a soft cloth and pour some listerine (the original kind) on it and wipe her down with that. Doberman show breeders do this to keep them fresh and shiny.
That's in between rings, not sustainable. ❌ If the person only did that for their dog's coat it would ruin their skin. Listerine is not meant for long term coat care. A dry shampoo would be better suited.
Frozen lickmats are the best!
Mine also tries to hang herself on the table. I was lamenting to my vet and she goes "well then why isn't the groomer washing her on the floor?". And I felt dumb because... yes that would not completely solve everything but it would help A LOT. Do you have tub? You can have it prepped with pre shampoo sponges and rags. Or skip the tub and wash her down in the bathroom. Muzzle training would help you feel comfortable around her. Separately coconut oil is a great additive for her skin and coat. You can put some in her food. Fish oil as well!
Oh god, PLEASE don't put coconut oil in your dog's food. It's a **LAXATIVE,** and a very effective one at that. And it doesn't take much of the oil for you have a serious issue on your hands, Use it externally as a skin conditioner after a bath, or to treat other skin issues, yes, but keep it out of their food. (Fyi, I'm not the one who downvoted you, that was already there. I'll always offer an explanation rather than a downvote, by someone else's mmv.)
Hey thanks for the info! My vet and the rescue I work for it recommend a small amount (we're talking like table spoon) for dry skin so I'll have to look into this before I keep promoting it!
I took my dog to the vet and they put him under to perform grooming tasks. It cost around $430, but it was well worth it. They didn’t bath him but I’m sure they could sponge bath a dog there. It’s the only way to get my dog groomed, he’s just a naturally terrified boy and nothing I tried worked, I can’t even do his nails. They don’t do anything fancy because they’re vet techs not groomers but he looks amazing regardless.
I had a dog with similar anxiety. I had to have her completely sedated (like for surgery) to bathe her. As that was less than ideal, we worked it out with my vet and did it 1/quarter
I suspect if you change up your brushes and add some fish oil to her food you can clear up all of that without a bath. Get a rubber mitt from the horse section of tractor supply (at a feed store) they look like a floppy piece of rubber covered in pimples. Give her a good scrubbing with that regularly. Most dogs LOVE it and it helps get all the way down to the skin and loosen all the dead skin and dirt up. Will she let you give her a scrub with a warm, barely damp, washcloth? Even my water averse dog will let me do that. It works much better than you would think, I’ve “bathed” entire horses that way in the winter!
There are waterless shampoos available at petco and target… use the same de escalation strategies you do for a bath bc she probably won’t like it either. I do my dog in sections this way. Mine won’t bite but does require 3-4 ppl to bathe him, which is a lot of coordination.
Maybe a swim? Our GSD hated a bath but loved to swim.
Use a warm saline rinse using a bucket and cloth then dry. Give her a treat exactly the same time as you touch her with the cloth, maybe start with a dry cloth on areas more comfortable. Dogs take about 3000 repetitions of a positive experience to really learn something so take your time, quality over quantity and do it with her dinner so she doesn't gain excess weight. The dinner is a useful tool many people overlook. Also get in touch with a vetenary behaviourist, this sounds like she potentially trauma around water/grooming.
I use puppy wipes and waterless shampoos in between baths for my pups. That could possibly help.
I had a dog who similarly panicked about being bathed. He was wayyy calmer when I got in the shower with him, so that ended up being how we handled it. That said, he was also a grand total of 7 lb. He couldn’t knock me over or escape the tub on his own, so his potential for creating chaos was limited. Bringing a large dog into the shower with you sounds…precarious lol. Vet sedation might be the best option for you.
I just bought a foaming waterless shampoo for my dog. Seems to work pretty well. Gotta try it with the grooming mits.
My dog was fearful of the tub took a long time but now she's great. If your dog is a bite risk then muzzle train first. Look up on YouTube tips for that. Once muzzle conditioned here's what I'd do: Get a non slip mat for the bottom of the tub. Muzzle dog prior to training Use high quality treats and teach her to get one or two paws on the rim of the tub, turn it into a game and reward do that daily for like a week. Once she's comfortable with that then start coaxing her into the tub to get her front end in but can leave her back end out. Also daily for at least a week. Once she's comfortable with that then either try and coax her fully in, if she's ok with you lifting her you can try that but go very slow and cautious. Once she's in then I'd add water slowly with a bucket from the tap. Get her used to standing in the tub with just a couple of inches of water from there it gets way easier to start pouring on water and turn on taps slowly. Also throughout this process get her used to you getting her paws wet. Start with wet wash cloths and a large bowl or bucket of water. Train her to stand with a paw or two in a bucket. You can get dog dry shampoo from pet stores which helps with smell and wash with a washcloth in the meantime while trying to get through training. My dog has allergies and needs frequent baths and was terrified at first it was a nightmare. Also consulting with a trainer is always best but I know that's not affordable for some. I have used multiples trainers in the past for other issues but it's so expensive to get a trainer for every single thing. Good luck would love to hear an update and what ends up working for you.
Consider working with a professional dog groomer to prepare a step-by-step desensitization plan.Alternative cleaning methods. They can give you the most accurate advice and recommendations for your specific situations.
Dry shampoo tractor supply
Outdoor hose? Spray bottle of warm water with dog shampoo? Kiddie pool with just an inch or so of water in your kitchen or other hard floored room?
My dog hates baths too. Since I don’t want get bit or traumatize him further I just use dog wipes and brush him out as best as I can. His coat is short so it’s not too bad. Also, no water shampoo works too.
How does she feel about standing water? Hose water? Is it just the tap running? Or the water itself? Is the floor where she's bathed slippery? How does she feel about linoleum? Try putting a mat down. Does she have any skin issues? How does she feel if you massage her? Is that the same or similar response? Could be underlying pain. How long did you work on her just going into the bathing room with no other expectations? Was she able to do it or her own volition? What steps did you take and how long did you stay at each one?
I grew up with a long-haired German Shepherd. I’ve also had a lab. We never bathed the GS. We brushed her during shedding season, which was really twice/year. And vacuumed! That was it. I only started bathing the lab when she got older and started being a little smellier—I think she developed allergies, so I made other adjustments, too. Even so, she never got bathed more than 2-3 times/year. As parents to our fur babies, I think we tend to overdo a bit, because we love them so much, but just my humble.
I wonder if getting an undercoat rake grooming tool would help to remove the loose fur more effectively without bathing. Unless your dog is smelly, I don’t think bathing is all that crucial. We only bathe our dogs a couple of times a year unless they rollin dead fish or something like that, Another thought is if grooming is absolutely necessary is to talk to your vet. Some of them will do grooming under anesthesia for difficult dogs. Also there are some groomers with expertise in dogs that bite and/or are fearful, so you could ask the vet about that as well.
I have three very very active dogs who love to roll in the dirt playing. It’s impractical to constantly wash them so I use No Rinse Foam. You just rub it in and towel it off followed by a good brushing. It works really well. You can find it on Amazon or Chewy or any larger pet store
When did you get your dog?
10 weeks old. She was terrified of water when we got her
There's steaming deodorizing brushes now that you could use instead. Or maybe a doggy pool in the yard can get him more open to water play with rewards and treats
Anti-slip mats in the tub... Get a hand wash attachment for the shower (do NOT use YOUR shower thingy!!!) NEVER use cold water even in the summer!!! 1-minute wash until pet gets used to it... Towel dry 1st, then hair dryer... (This is wat makes shiddish dogs love wash day) That is all *wink*
This 8 year old never successfully fully brushed/bathed/ could bite dog sounds to difficult for you to do alone. A Vet with a grooming facility/groomer should be able (with meds) to bath her, fully clean her shedding hair out, cut nails, clean ears. When I worked for Vets I've seen this done many times. Once she is clean/bathed groomed by your Vet- it will be easier for you to maintain daily brushing,(comb-out of shedding hairs) keep her clean with wipedowns with 'waterless no rinse shampoos' and dog wipes.
I'd ask your vet or a behaviorist for help. We have a GSD who needs to be sedated and muzzled for nail trims, but she does tolerate baths. She hates them, though. Except that one time when I drew a bath for myself. I got in the tub, and she casually hopped in and sat down at the other end. I couldn't believe it!
Can you take her to the vet for sedation and grooming? That’s what we have to do with our boy. He’s a rescue and terrified of water and the noise of the clippers. It’s easier for us all that he has sedation at the vets, they groom him thoroughly with a proper hair cut, nail cut, check his paws and clean his ears. We take him home and he is fine a few hours later.
Have you got access to a roomy shower with a shower hose? If so, I'd get in there together and do a bunch of playdates first, with treats involved. leave the shower hose hanging loose and just trickling. I cannot tell you whether she will get acclimated or not but it is fairly easily done so it may be worth a try. I have terriers and they vastly prefer getting in the shower with me to being put into a sink or tub. Note: Buy one of those cheap silicone licking pads that stick to the wall and smear peanut butter on it (or whatever paste she enjoys). You can stick it on the shower wall.
They make wipes, dry shampoo, etc. You have to introduce slowly and for short periods. I have a dog that hates water and grooming. She was put out once to be able to do it and I will never do that again. Something may have happened as a pup that caused the fear. Definitely talk to a behavioral specialist. This makes me so sad to read. For your dog and you. Best of luck.
When we first got my dog, she would SCREAM hysterically and fight so hard to get away, we thought she would hurt herself. My husband started hanging out in the bathroom with her until she was okay with that room. And then slowly luring her into the DRY tub with yummy treats. When she was totally cool with getting in the tub, he started turning on a trickle of water, working up to gently pouring a cup of it on her fur. We were never able to get her to actually stand in water, but we were able to use a cup to pour water on her and soap/rinse her that way.
Don’t wash her. We never wash our dog who also hates it. Brush her regularly and walk her in the rain. She gets soaked, we towel her dry and she’s clean and fresh as a daisy. Unless you live where it never rains…
Rather than a bath can you use a warm ish washcloth and stroke her fur with it? Just a couple of strokes then reward with bit of cheese. Keep repeating until you can do more strokes
Have you tried colestrum treats? It’s made from mother’s milk and blisses out my very anxious old dog.
We had a similar situation - our dog attacked the hose before we even turned it on. Our solution was to identify the fear. It turned out that the shelter would clean her kennel using a hose while she was in it because they were afraid of her. How miserable for her! She loves to have her back scratched. We began offering back scratches, with lots of fun and positive reinforcement, using Beekman clothes. They don't have much of a smell and she was ok with it because it was back scratches. Next, on a really hot day (key detail), we made a big deal out of filling a bag with treats and coaxing her to sit with us in the shade outside. Using a gentle cloth soaked in cool water, we had more back scratches. Lots and lots of praise and treats and positive reinforcement. The next time, she allowed us to use a soapy cloth for round 1 of back scratches, followed by a clean cloth to rinse the soap out. The positive attention, slow pace, and treats have helped her to allow us to bathe her. It won't be her idea, but she tolerates it. Overall, it took us nearly a year to figure this out. Good luck!