How To Make Your Dog's Bath Time Less Stressful

by Nicole Ellis, Certified Animal Trainer & Pet Lifestyle Expert

Does your dog run and hide at the sound of the bath water? Or maybe you have a new dog in your family you want to create a positive association to the bath with.

Yes, you can help you dog become less stressed in the bath with some training, bonding, treats and of course time. Here are my tips for getting your dog more comfortable in the bath!

Put down a shower mat in the bath.
This makes it less slippery, less noisy and prevents a negative association if your pet slips in the bath. I know I’ve slipped and it’s not fun, so let’s prevent that from happening to our pets. I often see a huge confidence boost of a dog in the bath just by adding a non slip shower mat vs just bathing them on bathtub surface.
Treats in the tub!
Do short sessions with your dog in the tub and just reward him for being in there with treats and praise. Keep these sessions short and fun, don’t turn on the water just yet, we will get there soon. Consider even sitting together in the dry tub and feeding some of your dogs favorite meals there. We want to build a positive association by being in the tub. Once your pet is comfortable being in the tub, it’s time to move on to the next step. For some dogs it may be just one session while some may need multiple over a few weeks before moving on.
Get your peanut butter ready!
I smear peanut butter on a licky mat and suction it to the side of the tub. Start with just letting your dog enjoy the peanut butter. Encourage your pet to lick it. If your pet is too nervous, go back to the previous step of building up confidence.

Once you see your dog is comfortable and happily licking the peanut butter, slowly turn the water on at a very low level for a few seconds and then turn it off. You’ll practice this for a few days working up to a longer duration and having the water on full. Remember to go slowly over a few sessions, we want to create a positive experience. Don’t have a licky mat? You can always smear peanut butter on the side of the tub, but this sometimes tends to get a little messy, but at least you are already in the bath!
Skout's Honor!
Once your pet is feeling more comfortable in the bath, it’s time to get your Skout’s Honor Shampoo out. Stick up your pre-smeared licky mat and while your pet enjoys the peanut butter, slowly rinse them with water. If your dog takes a break from licking, give them a break from soaking too. Once your pet is ready, let their spa treatment elevate by massaging the shampoo into their coat. This will also help your pet relax while getting the benefits of the probiotics from the shampoo.

Remember to go slowly, building up your pet's confidence and positive associations in the bath. In between bathing you can always use Skout’s Honor’s Probiotic Deodorizer to help make those in-between grooming times last even longer.