08-29-2008, 04:00 PM
AlphaDog - sounds like what we go through every time we try to give the dogs a bath.
The eldest, Puddles, always knows when it's bath time. We always take her by the collar and escort her into the "waiting room" (aka bedroom attached to the bathroom where the "bathtub of doom" resides). She weighs about 70 lbs, but she doesn't play the dead weight game; however, she always has the most sorrowful expression on her face. Once she's in the bath, she'll cooperate - but given the chance, she'll jump out (if not closely watched).
Shadow, the 100 lb German Shepherd, plays the dead weight game. What a chore it is to get HIM into the tub! Once he's in there, he tolerates it all ok.
The youngest, Misty, weighs 33 lbs and she fits under the bed! The only way to get her out from under the bed and into the tub is through extensive bribery. The first treat is given to her while she's comfortably UNDER the bed. The next is placed 6" from the bed (but within her line of sight). The final treat is held just out of her reach as she's partially out from under the bed. It's only relinquished to her when one of us has a firm grasp on her collar. Once she's in the bath, she acts like she's being tortured. The poor girl even tries to avoid the water by climbing into the tiny corner on the bathtub ledge opposite us. This is no easy feat for a 33 lb dog, but she manages! It doesn't help that once she's wet, she looks like a drowned rat!
The eldest, Puddles, always knows when it's bath time. We always take her by the collar and escort her into the "waiting room" (aka bedroom attached to the bathroom where the "bathtub of doom" resides). She weighs about 70 lbs, but she doesn't play the dead weight game; however, she always has the most sorrowful expression on her face. Once she's in the bath, she'll cooperate - but given the chance, she'll jump out (if not closely watched).
Shadow, the 100 lb German Shepherd, plays the dead weight game. What a chore it is to get HIM into the tub! Once he's in there, he tolerates it all ok.
The youngest, Misty, weighs 33 lbs and she fits under the bed! The only way to get her out from under the bed and into the tub is through extensive bribery. The first treat is given to her while she's comfortably UNDER the bed. The next is placed 6" from the bed (but within her line of sight). The final treat is held just out of her reach as she's partially out from under the bed. It's only relinquished to her when one of us has a firm grasp on her collar. Once she's in the bath, she acts like she's being tortured. The poor girl even tries to avoid the water by climbing into the tiny corner on the bathtub ledge opposite us. This is no easy feat for a 33 lb dog, but she manages! It doesn't help that once she's wet, she looks like a drowned rat!