How can I make bath time less stressful for my dog who hates baths?

Some dogs really hate having a bath, and Kiba sounds like he really hates it if he won't even take treats. I typically recommend treats and soothing voices to help calm a dog down. Be sure to stay calm, and as less stressed as possible. Try giving him treats he doesn't normally get like chicken or pig ears. If it really is too difficult for you to bath him, I would take Kiba to a groomers for it. That takes the stress off of you, and groomers are well trained at dealing with dogs who baths :-)

Baths can be fun or really scary. I would work in desensitizing your pup about baths. You c am do this by making the bath a positive experience. I would work with really yummy treats and putting them in the tub. No bath. Just getting used to getting in the tub and having a treat. You could even start putting his food in there (as long as she can reach). Keep working on this until she goes in and out easily on her own without much coaxing. Then next time I would have treats in one hand and turn the water on and off. Keep offering lots of treats and praise. Still no bath. Do this daily until she’s no longer worried about the water. Then you can start to work on getting her wet and progress until she’s comfortable with that too. Secret trick is smearing peanut butter (all natural of course!! Make sure it has no sweaters and NOT XYLITOL, it’s highly toxic). It usually keeps them busy working on that while you bath.

Try Zesty Paws Calming Bites, Composure chews (VetriScience) or Zylkene (Vetoquinol). Be aware that not all products will work for all dogs. The trick is to find the one that works the best. If Maggy's anxiety is severe, she may need prescription medication. Discuss options with your veterinarian.

I am going to assume Lucy is a dog, as I do not have that information here. My best advice is to bathe Lucy less frequently. Baths actually strip the natural oils in a dog's skin, which help maintain a healthy coat. If Lucy does get dirty on an outing and requires a bath, try to reward her when she is still and praise her verbally. Tell her "good girl" , "calm girl" and reward her calm moments. I would also try letting her air dry rather then blow drying her. The loud noise may be frightening her, due to her sensitive hearing. This is a great option for keeping Lucy still while you try to bathe her, it has built in restraints; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=20500

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Allergies are extremely difficult to manage especially with a dog that is not amenable to treatment. The strongest oral sedatives available can only be gotten from your veterinarian. They cannot be purchased over the counter without a prescription. The best over the counter medication I have seen work well is called Zylkene. It is not cheap but I think it is worth a try. He would need the large dog size and would get one per day. I would give one per day and use it everyday until the bottle runs out (30 days) and if it works, great, you can keep him on it. If it doesn't work, then you can stop. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=115875 ) I would also recommend a leave-on mousse instead of a shampoo. These are medicated and work very well either in between baths or for dogs that are not amenable to bathing. I would use the "CALM" when he has no lesions on his skin. If he does have lesions on the skin (hot spots, etc) then I would use the S3 PYO until the lesions are healed and then go back to the CALM. You don't have to do his whole body - just the major affected areas. You need to make sure it gets on his skin and not just on the hair. You can use it every day if necessary - you will just need to see how he is doing which will dictate how often to apply it. ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=153532 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=145608 ) Finally, I would recommend putting him on a fatty acid supplement if he is not already on one. This helps to maintain the integrity of the skin. I like this one: ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/223965_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=118404 ) Honestly, the best option is to take him to your vet and discuss with them a medication called Apoquel. It works great at keeping allergies under control, it is an oral tablet so typically easy to give and it will keep him from scratching and itching and having all the allergy symptoms. This way he is comfortable and you don't have to force topical treatments on him. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! This us unfortunate! I would first watch out for your safety, I do not want you to get bit. I would try wiping peanut butter on the tile or the bath tub and see if turning the water on and spraying around him (not one him at first) eliminates the growling. Gradually over time, if this works, try wetting him then bathing him. If this doesn't work I would ask your Vet for a short acting sedative like Trazadone to give 2 hours before the bath to help calm him some. Then last option is to muzzle him so you can bath him safely. I wish you the best! https://www.simplemost.com/peanut-butter-on-wall-makes-dog-sit-still-bath/

A pheromone collar, such as the Adaptil collar, may help decrease anxiety. Gradual desensitization is also strongly recommended. Calming chews, such as Composure chews (by VetriScience) may help but they are not "magic pills". You will need to modify her behavior. This may require the assistance of a certified trainer.