"May I bathe my dog myself? Surely it wouldn't be too difficult." As an employee of a Pooch Parlor in Northern Idaho, these are the kinds of things I hear on the daily.
Every time I have to walk a customer through this process, I find myself wondering why such a basic concept is so difficult to convey. It's easy to assume that washing your own dog is straightforward, but that's only the case if you can understand and speak your dog's language.
I am the proud owner of a dog grooming salon that offers both full service and self-service options. Dogs and their owners of varying sizes, breeds, and temperaments use the self-service dog wash.
Regardless of one's profession or level of confidence, nothing is more nerve-wracking than having to wash one's own dog in front of an audience.
Even the most self-assured individual could become nervous just thinking about it. This is the ultimate friendship and trust test between human and canine partner. Further, it serves as a direct reflection of the owner's personality and approach to life and conflict.
The effectiveness of the encounter for both parties depends heavily on the quality of the underlying psychological connection between them and, to a lesser degree, on their ability to read each other's nonverbal cues.
What I've discovered, and this may come as a surprise to you, is that dogs are much better at reading their human companions than people are. My dog and I have a special bond, one that isn't shy about being on display at bath time, and it's this bond that makes me excited to go to work every day.
Customers have been bathing their dogs in my stores for ten years or more, and every year it becomes funnier to see average folks doing something as mundane as washing their own pets.
Because success tends to breed intelligence, the majority of our customers are similarly accomplished, and thus, so is their dog.
They ask me, "Why, oh why, should something as simple as bathing my dog be so complicated?" Again and again, I'll ask, "Well, how well do you speak dog?" This is always met with silence or a blank expression. Now is the moment to evaluate your own proficiency in canine communication.
There is much that can be said about the similarities and differences between canine and human behaviour, but I'd want to return to some more practical considerations when washing your own dog. The important line to remember is that your dog's energy and personality qualities are a mirror to your own. Keep this in mind while you work on coaxing him into the tub in a positive frame of mind.
One, picking a convenient time to give your dog a wash. Situational factors and character traits: The right timing is crucial. To predict how your dog will respond, it's helpful to consider how your own requirements for time play out. Do you consider yourself the sort of person that is always game for an adventure? Do you thrive on winging it, or do you require a routine to get things done?
How do you handle novelty? Do you find them invigorating and enjoyable, or do you experience anxiety until you get the hang of anything new?
Just like you, your dog will process the bathing experience in its own unique manner. It's important to keep in mind that your dog will mirror aspects of your personality, both the public and hidden ones.
Fun-loving, gregarious, and outgoing people a. Regular exercise is good for both you and your dog. If you and your dog are like this, then some exercise before a wash is in order. Where I work, we have dogbeach, a section of lakefront just for dog owners and their canine companions.
You may go for a long run or stroll, and then cool down in the water or play on the sand at the beach. The time just before a bath is ideal in this case.
The dog has the option of playing in the dirt, taking a run, meeting new people, or just basking in the outdoors. Like letting human children play before nap time, the dog may burn off a lot of excess energy in a positive manner during its time outdoors.
If you and your dog like physical activity, do this before giving Fido a wash in the tub or at a groomer's. Not everyone appreciates a nice, outgoing person just because they are friendly and outgoing themselves. This is a typical pitfall of the sociable canine and his or her owner. Yes, I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth.
It's easy to forget that many dogs (and their owners) are not sociable and do not appreciate the social necessities (like butt-sniffing) of others if you have a highly social dog (if you are a social human). Remember to be mindful of their personal space in all settings.
Even if your dog just wants to be friendly, it is still important to keep it under control and under leash at all times.
b. Individuals who are not sociable, dynamic, or dormant. Even if you're not the outgoing kind, you should get some mild exercise before washing your dog by taking him on a walk or doing anything else that fits naturally into your routine.
Together, you and your dog may feel the strain and worry melt away as you stroll around the park. By releasing pent-up tension during exercise, this problem disappears when it's time to relax in the tub. Exercising is crucial for everyone, but those of us who are very anxious should take particular note.
Give your dog a dose of liquid Valerian root or Rescue Remedy (either orally or as a spray) 30 minutes before you plan to bathe him. Both of these items are ideal for soothing human nerves because of their natural origins.
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To avoid the crowds at a self-service dog wash, visit early in the morning or late at night if possible. A frequent problem shared by non-social dogs and their owners is a failure to effectively interact with members of their own species as well as those of other species.
Most persons who withdraw from society do so because they lack the social skills necessary to interact successfully with others.
The issue also affects their pets often. As a dog trainer, I've seen too often how the owners of violent dogs really reinforce the dog's negative behaviour.
That's because they're good at imagining the worst-case scenarios in social situations and then projecting them onto other people. They have a dog that acts out based on what the dog thinks its human owner means.
Dogs frequently misinterpret their owners' "what if" worries as commands, leading to the dreaded "what if" behaviour. Typically, this kind of dog will display progressively violent behaviour if the owner doesn't step in and establish some boundaries (which requires sophisticated communication skills).
The vast majority of dog owners are alarmed by their dog's violent tendencies, but they lack the knowledge and experience to effectively explain to their pet what kinds of actions are acceptable and which are not.
If your dog is becoming more aggressive, you should seek the advice of a dog behaviourist or trainer. A dog that is misinterpreting your expectations may be made to comprehend with only a few basic techniques.
Disparities between canine and human communication. It's hardly surprising that misunderstandings occur often when humans and dogs try to communicate. Remember that you are learning a new language and culture if you are a person who is having trouble understanding your dog's behaviour.
You and your dog need time to get to know one other. Don't use your dog's antics during arguments as evidence that he or she thinks as you do. Learning a new human language is a process that requires time and effort. The process of acquiring dog language is similar. In social situations, everyone understands the meaning of a smile.
Dogs aren't normally thrilled when they draw their lips back over their teeth. Would a person dream of meeting a new friend by smelling their butt? Right! But that's like saying "howdy" to a dog in human language.
A dog that shakes his head to remove drool is no different from a human who straightens his pants or fluffs his shirt to make a better impression. If you and your dog have reached a communication impasse, remember that the differences are vast.
2. Deciding where to wash your dog: There are not a lot of alternatives when it comes to bathing your dog.
A. You may use your own bathtub, which eliminates the need to interact with others; but, this option is physically demanding, needs a lot of cleanup time, and may cause stress or even trauma for both you and your dog.
It's cheaper than simply buying shampoo to take your dog to a self-service dog wash, but you'll need to have some social skills with your pet and the other customers, and it may be loud and hairy.
C. Tie the dog to a fence and wash him with a hose in the yard (preferably on a hot, sunny day) - not easy on the back, hard on the dog with cold water, possibly upsetting for fearful dogs, but does not involve human or dog socialiaing.
D. Wash the dog in the local lake, which is quite common in my region but is taxing on the back, needs superior human and canine social skills, may be damaging to the ecosystem, and leaves one to wonder just how clean a dog can be in lakewater.
Regardless of where you wash your dog, take into mind your own physical constraints, and your dog's physical restrictions.
Trying to save money by washing your dog at home at the expense of your bathroom and your back? It's a resounding "no" from the people I work with. Dogs have a variety of emotional needs.
Labrador retrievers, for example, don't mind getting their hair wet in a lake (even if they don't get clean), but they may object to being confined in a tub while water is sprayed at them.
Tethering a country dog that has never left the farm to the fence is preferable than transporting it to the city and expecting it to behave well in a grooming shop or a lake full of people. Next to the fence, at least, they know exactly where they are and what is expected of them, even if the water is ice cold.
Finding a doggy wash that allows for self-service is a must, in my opinion. Everybody's a happy camper since the water's warm (most of the time), the equipment is top-notch, and the dogs usually receive goodies on the way out the door. So, here it is, for those who are interested, how to take your dog to a laundradog:
The second challenge is to get your dog into the tub and keep him there. The majority of the dogs that bring themselves in to this salon weigh approximately 100 pounds. The dogs are cleaned while standing on a grate at waist height in the tub. They might be difficult to bathe.
It's like expecting a person to put on ice skates, go onto the ice, and not think about how to move their feet. If you don't give the dog any time to think about it, it'll be easier on both of you. For owners who are timid or too protective, this might be a difficult chore. An enormous chain or fabric noose is handed to the owner to put around the dog's neck.
When ascending stairs, we have the dog's owner lead it up while another person gives it a brief lift on the butt end. Before he has time to worry, the dog is already on the grate and in the bathtub. Once the dog is in the tub, the owner uses a series of metal hooks to secure the animal, something you can't accomplish in your average bathtub.
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Dogs who aren't used to being washed often whirl around in the tub and tug on the chain of their choker, causing them to almost drown. Since the dog rapidly learns that he can prevent the choking feeling by moving his head, the choker chain is far more preferable than a traditional noose.
A dog will cease tugging as soon as he understands that he has the ability to prevent his own choking and that his owner is willing to let him learn this (something that is extremely challenging for the overprotective and/or maternal kinds of owners—most of us!).
The dogs will pull and pull with a traditional fabric noose or one that does not self-regulate, and they will likely never learn to relax in the water.
When dog owners hear their pet coughing and, sometimes, choking, they worry that they are directly to blame and must rush to the animal's aid. It's normal to worry about your pet when he or she seems to be choking, but it could help to compare the dog's thrashing and hacking to tucking a tired kid into bed for the day.
The cries of children who hate naps are often loud enough to make their parents choke and vomit. Forcing a kid to cough by removing them from their cribs when this occurs is a kind of reinforcement.
When parents observe their toddlers' sobbing and coughing from a distance where their child cannot see them, the child eventually learns to calmly submit to sleep time without expecting to be rescued at every peep. Both napping and bathing are necessary yet unpleasant daily routines. Similar rescue-related learning activities may be seen in dogs.
By showing too much worry about the tugging (as the dog expects) or by sobbing and yelling during tantrums, owners actually encourage greater pulling and tantrums from their dog. This is such an important consideration that it warrants restatement.
The more the owner frets and fusses about the dog's conduct, the more the dog acts out in the same way. Dogs may quickly learn that their destructive behaviour, such as yanking on the chain, only ends up harming themselves and is a waste of energy if their owners remain composed and fearless in front of them.
When the dog sees that the owner is confident that everything is alright despite the tugging and tantrums, the dog stops acting out and accepts that today is bath day!
This is a tough step for many caring owners to take, but keep in mind: if you want your dog to master anxiety management on his own, he can — but only if you give him the space to do so.
Learning to manage one's own anxiety requires first experiencing anxiety and then learning to cope with it. Your dog will learn to get into an anxious state more often because he knows what response he can anticipate from you if you are the sort of owner who cannot allow your dog to feel this emotion without taking over and ending the experience.
As you can see, this causes stress for both the dog and the owner. If you put your dog through the motions of a bath, nerves and all, he or she will eventually calm down and let you finish washing him. Also, most dog owners agree that keeping their pet clean is a top priority.
When your dog finally relaxes during the bathing process—when it stops resisting the noose and lets you clean it—this is the moment to lavish him with praise and rewards. The dog will soon request a bath out of a genuine desire to please you if you take the time now to praise him or her.
Like every guideline, this one has a few caveats: dogs who are particularly elderly, very young, asthmatic, or have issues with their necks or throats should be constantly monitored if they demonstrate excessive tugging on the choker chain.
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A young puppy (like a yorkie) or an elderly and vulnerable dog are the only exceptions to the rule that I urge owners just ignore their dog's protesting behaviour to encourage it to stop (and it does).
Injuries to the trachea or other medical issues (such as asthma) may develop in dogs of any age that are not used to bathing if their anxious behaviours are allowed to progress.
Owners should use a harness to secure their dogs in the tub, or in the event of a young, rambunctious puppy, a sink or pail filled with warm, soapy water. Puppies have the innate ability to swim and will do so if they ever drown.
Water is more manageable than, say, a jumping bean that's driving you crazy. Don't forget to lavish praise on your dog if you decide to disregard his or her protests and give in for a wash.
How to Dry Your Dog: The method you use to dry your dog may vary depending on his or her hair type, temperament, and level of grooming knowledge. Towel drying is usually sufficient if your dog has a short coat. High-powered dryers are used to quickly remove excess water from double- or thick-coated dogs such as shepards, collies, huskies, and, in this example, standard poodles at the grooming salon.
The dryer is rather noisy, so be sure to protect the dog's hearing by inserting cotton into his ears before you start. The less slack there is in the noose or chain that fastens the dog to the tub, the less space he will utilise to throw a fit.
Dry the dog by starting at its rear end and moving the drier side to side as you work your way up toward its head. As a result of the temper tantrum element, most private owners take their dogs home while still wet. In this context, the aforementioned details are useful.
Most dogs are understandably anxious at first, but they soon realise that the air is only noisy and not unpleasant. Owners who maintain their composure throughout the drying process often discover that their dogs do, too.
Grooming parlours also do procedures such as brushing, nail clipping, anal expression, ear plucking, cleaning, and scaling, and teeth brushing and scaling. Additional "how to" details on these procedures may be found at www.thepoochparlor.net.
Regardless of who you are or what you do for a job, the likelihood of your dog having a nice experience during the bath is heavily reliant upon the capacity of the dog's owner to comprehend his or her own demands towards life and society.
You'll have a better chance of succeeding if you think about everything and use up your dog's energy reserves first. You may want to think about how much you know about canine communication.
Keep in mind that you are the leader, and that if your dog is experiencing short-term anxiety due to a novel circumstance, you must remain calm for as long as necessary to help your dog adjust.
It's an unusual idea to think that in order to give a dog a good bath, the owner will need to examine the most fundamental aspects of their own psyche, but if you do, you and your canine companion can enjoy many years of stress-free and enjoyable washing.
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