Why Do Dogs Hate Baths? (& Tips for Bathing a Scared Dog)

Your pooch loves to splash in puddles and won't stay out of the pool, but when it's time for a bath, they tuck their tail and hide. Why do dogs hate baths so much? If it's not the water, what is it about getting clean that makes so many dogs shiver and whine? Discover what might be behind your dog's fear of bath time, and keep reading to learn how to bathe a dog who hates baths. 

Why Do Dogs Hate Baths?

While it's true that not all dogs like to play in water, this doesn't necessarily explain why your dog doesn't like to take baths. Even water-loving breeds like Labrador retrievers often balk at being bathed. So if it's not about the water, why do dogs hate baths? A number of factors could explain why your pup hates going near the tub or sink.

Recalling Bad Associations

Just one bad experience associated with bathing can traumatize your dog and teach them to fear baths. Getting scalded by hot water, slipping and falling in the tub, getting water up the nose or getting stinging shampoo in the eyes can all make your pup feel like baths aren't safe. Even upsetting experiences with other grooming activities, like pain caused by getting their nails clipped too short, can create bad associations with bath time if they're done in close conjunction with baths.

Loss of Control

When your dog goes swimming or splashes in a stream, it's a fun activity they choose to participate in. Baths, on the other hand, are typically forced on dogs, and involve being handled and having their bodies moved around in ways they don't like. This loss of choice and control over what happens to them can be very upsetting to a dog.

Unfamiliarity

Dogs who are new to baths, or who aren't bathed as often, may simply be freaked out by the unfamiliar experience of being plunged into a tub of water and soaped up with shampoo. This, in turn, can create negative associations that make them fearful of future baths.

Bath Time Feels Stressful

Sometimes, dogs aren't the only ones who hate their bath times. Dogs take their emotional cues from their pet parents. If you treat the bath like a stressful experience, your dog will follow suit, points out Dogster. Shouting at your dog, handling them roughly and hurrying through the bath all teach your dog that baths are something to fear. Even if you're gentle with your pup, if you bathe them while you're frustrated with them, they'll be able to sense your frustration, which can be enough to make them dread baths in the future.

Do Dogs Need to Take Baths?

Does your dog actually need regular bathing? It depends. Much of the reason for bathing dogs is simply to make them easier to live with. You don't want your dog tracking mud everywhere, nor do you enjoy cuddling a stinky pup. Short-haired breeds with healthy skin don't actually require bathing for their own benefit, and they don't really need to take regular baths, unless they tend to get dirty a lot. In many cases, wiping them down with pet wipes might be all that's needed. However, if you have a wrinkly breed like a pug or shar-pei, you should also be sure to wipe the folds between their skin regularly.

Long-coated and curly-haired breeds, on the other hand, benefit from regular shampoo and conditioning to help keep their fur from matting and becoming unmanageable, although daily brushing can also help. Hairless breeds like the Mexican hairless need regular baths to prevent their skin from drying out. Conversely, dogs with oily skin, like cocker spaniels, also need frequent baths to prevent oil buildup.

How to Bathe a Dog Who Hates Baths

If your dog has the type of skin or coat that makes bathing necessary, the best thing you can do is recondition them to enjoy baths, or at least to not be afraid of them. This involves replacing negative associations with positive ones along with time and patience. How much so depends on whether your dog is terrified of baths, just mopey about having to take them or somewhere in the middle.

1. Stay Calm

First, make sure you're projecting a positive attitude about giving your dog a bath. If you're feeling rushed, stressed or frustrated with your dog, you should wait to bathe them until a time when you're more relaxed, which will in turn help your dog feel calmer.

2. Create Positive Associations

Start turning your dog's fear of the tub into anticipation by moving your dog's food bowl into the bathroom next to the tub, and leave a trail of treats leading up to it, recommends Wag Walking. Don't attempt to give them a bath right away, but give them time to form positive associations with the bathroom and the tub. When you think your dog is ready, move their bowl into the tub. Allow them to climb in on their own if they're large enough, reinforcing a sense of choice and being in control.

Once your dog is able to be in the bathtub without fear, remove their food and try turning on the water. Give them toys to play with in the tub as well as treats. You might try smearing some peanut butter on the wall and letting them lick it off while the water runs. When your dog is able to tolerate hearing the running water and getting their paws wet, try splashing a little water on them, keeping things fun and light and making a game out of it. Gradually work up to wetting them down and lathering them up with shampoo, while at the same time showering them with praise and soothing words. At any stage of this process, if your dog becomes agitated, stop and try again tomorrow.

3. Prevent Negative Associations

Take precautions to make your dog feel safe during bath time. Place a non-skid mat or non-slip stickers in the bottom of the tub to prevent them from slipping, and consider using a bath harness like the ones used by professional groomers to help your dog feel more secure. Take extra care to be gentle with your dog. Be sure to test the temperature of the water and make sure it's not too hot or too cold. Avoid spraying or pouring water directly in their face; instead, use a washcloth on the face and other sensitive areas. And save other dog grooming activities, like trimming nails and brushing teeth, for another day.

While a number of possibilities can answer the question of why so many dogs hate baths, the solutions are the same regardless of what triggers your pet's dislike. With plenty of patience, gentleness and care, you can turn your dog's attitude toward baths around and make bath time more enjoyable and less stressful for you both.