Lilly the Dog Trainer: Teach your dog to bathe
In this article, Lilly Norfeldt shares her tips for teaching dogs to bathe. Lilly is an H-certified dog instructor and dog behaviorist.
Do you have a dog that hates water? You can often teach them to bathe anyway! Here are some things I find help:
Take a swimming buddy to the beach! It can inspire a little bit.
Don't force the dog, but encourage small steps in the right direction.
Don't cheat, either, it usually has the opposite effect.
De-dramatize the water! Do fun tricks, hang out at the water's edge and let it be undemanding.
Keep reasonable expectations. Your dog might not go cannonballing and swimming around this summer, but if he dips his paws and dares to wade, much is gained!
Don't make it too big a deal, treat it like any other surface. A grate or a puddle - you may already know what your dog needs to take on new challenges. Then use the same approach there!
You can also use classic shaping, so clicker training in it! Here's a video where I get my dog to go into a crate and the exact same way can be translated to water. Reward small, small steps, like the dog just looking and then you gradually make it harder (and with many breaks in between) as you go.
If you have a dog that loves swimming (maybe even loves it a little too much), a life jacket is a great idea! Partly so they use their muscles properly but also because it's handy to be able to reel them in, either with a line or a boat hook if you're that way inclined.
Then there are a few other problems that can occur when swimming:
Water tail: a temporary paralysis of the tail. You can tell by the way the tail hangs! Be sure to keep the tail root dry after swimming to avoid this!
Hot spots: looks like eczema and itches. Can also occur if the dog is damp and needs frequent treatment.
Now I got the urge to swim, I will now pack my swimsuit and a life jacket for the dog and go to the sea. Have a wonderful summer and do not forget that if something happens, FirstVet is here when you are a customer at Lassie. Incredibly nice to be able to ask questions if the accident happens!
Read more about Lilly Norfeldt at lillyshundkurser.se
