My 18 month old lab has a phobia about bathing. I can't get him into a bath or shower as he reacts so badly. I am now trying dry shampoo but as soon as I open the bottle he makes a run for it. When I am able to apply the shampoo he stands shaking and is really distressed. I have no idea why as I can't think of anything that has happened in his past that has made him like this. We have had him since a pup. We don't live beside a river or the sea so he is not used to water but he has been in a stream a few times and is olay. I got him a paddling pool for the garden but he is not interested. He is also afraid to go near my husband if he watering the garden with the hose or watering can. He is not afraid of anything else so can't work it out.
Hello and welcome. Why do you need to bath him? Dogs smell doggier if they're regularly bathed. My 13-month old has never had a bath in her life.
Our last lab would occasionally roll in old fish on the beach, we had to do something so I hand washed him with a J cloth by the kitchen sink. Inky for all his poo eating habits doesn't roll in things -yet so has never had a bath (14 months )
Welcome! My deceased 11 year old Lab and present nearly 6 year old Lab have never had a bath in their lives. A good rain storm gets them gleaming with lovely soft coats. Otherwise they go for a swim in the pool, but I find rain the best
I can't tell where you live. Are there no ponds or lakes fairly close? If your pup likes to retrieve tennis balls, you may be able to get him to go into shallow water and then progressively deeper water on his own. All of ours have been water dogs, but we started them in small streams or pools when they were only a few months old. Ours seldom get a bath. Maybe every year or so, or if they get into something really sticky and stinky. We just use a walk-in shower, but that won't work for you if you dog is afraid of water. I think the best baths they ever get is a trip to the ocean and a swim in salt water. Since we almost always have a fresh water stream going across the beach, we usually rinse in fresh water, but I don't think it is necessary.
Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately there is no ponds, streams near me we walk in the woods and fields around the area. Problem is he loves getting messy rolling in mud jumping in puddles - forgot to say also hates the rain but I do make him go out in it. My last lab loved his bath so just thouught it a bit odd he is so adverse to it.
Thanks I have to force him to go out in the rain but I don't give him a choice i never thought that would be enough maybe just worrying too much.
I’ve never bathed a dog. If Molly is really muddy I use a bucket of water outside ( no shampoo or soap) and slosh off the worst of it. The synthetic chamois cloths are great for using as both wash cloths and for drying. (Aquasorb is one brand but there are all sorts.) Even when I had to use a product from the vet for my last dog due to skin problems I still used the bucket and cloth method.
When my dogs are muddy I just wash them off with warm water but I use a watering can it's gentle and you can slowly get them use to it. I only ever bath mine if they've rolled in any type of poo, but I do that outside. I just wash any soap off with the watering can. I also have a washing glove which has soft corals on one side and a rubber grooming plate on the other oh they love that. it turns into a Labrador spa day
Hi , my Sam was exactly the same , he would happily throw himself into cold rivers but didn't like being bathed, so I didn't do it ! I only tried the once, it was a nightmare ! As suggested by others , just use a sponge to wipe him down when necessary x Ironically , my little rescue girl who is a Chihuahua X adores being showered which is a good job as she has very long flowing hair !
I think it is just an individual dog thing! Pongo has never been bathed, when he is very, very muddy we use a hosepipe outside to rinse the worst off and then dry him off with an Aquasorb towel. If he is just a bit mucky the damp towel on its own is enough. For a treat on cold days we soak the towel in hot water first so it is nice and warm...
Have you asked your husband if he’s squirted him with the hose pipe? You say he won’t go near him with the hose pipe... Mine doesn’t like being bathed either. But a watering can and very high value treats win the day.
Hattie is clipped and washed every 3 months due to her long coat and LOVES it! Charlie our rescue Lab x Pointer is 7 years old and has NEVER had a bath. If he gets muddy or rolls in something he gets a watering can of warm water to clean him whilst been fed great treats. Both of my dogs will happily run into water and swim a lot when we go on our holidays to Scotland. I'm guessing your husband might have squirted him with the hosepipe in fun which could have scared him. Don't worry about bathing him, he doesn't need it and you run the risk of ruining his coat and possibly causing itchy skin. x
Thanks to all who have taken the time to reply. I think I have been worrying for no reason. His coat is always shinning and he does not smell bad just thought he should be bathed occassionally now feel okay about not bathing him. Jack (the dog) is more than pleased.
Harley hates hoses and buckets of water / sponge, but will happily walk into our shower with me to rinse her off, especially when she is muddy. She seems to like it because we are both getting wet and it's warm. After a muddy walk she comes in, goes upstairs and waits by the shower for me! I don't think they need to be bathed or showered with anything south from water. I'm sure Jack is very happy now.
I never bath my dogs, it strips the natural oils. I wipe the mud off with aquasorb towels. Fox poo is dealt with using Cowboy Magic greenspot remover, which is excellent. Keir, Golden Retriever/Flatcoat cross has long hair and these two things work just as well for him. It takes three of the towels to get all the mud off but they are great because they don’t need drying - just rinsing and wringing https://www.amazon.co.uk/Groomers-A...1512900006&sr=8-2&keywords=aquasorb+dog+towel I use the medium size as the large is not much bigger. .
We occasionally bath Holly, maybe once or twice a year. It's usually when she's rolled in something utterly disgusting that we can't sponge out. It's a two-man job as one of us has to hold and reassure her while the other washes out the offending gloop. We try to limit the use of soap to the offensive bit and rinse the rest. It helps to remove as little of her coat oils as possible.
