Luna is a water dog... confirmed!

So I decided to have a nice relaxing bath this morning in our deep soaker tub. Sounds good, right?

Here's the wonderful tub before we painted it when we moved in. The walls are now a warm sandy brown.

I started pouring myself the bath and a little puppy face pops up beside me with her paws on the edge of the tub looking VERY excited. Luna has her own tub just for "her" in another bathroom, where we bathe her and she occasionally plays with the water there.. so maybe I thought if I pour her a little water in her tub she would play there. Nope - no go.

As the big tub filled up for me, Luna got increasingly excited... she started hopping around, whining and barking. I thought to myself.... I guess I won't have a peaceful bath after all now that she's seen it - I guess she can have it and I'll have a shower after I dry her off.

I put her in the tub... BIG MISTAKE.

She was WAY more excited than I've ever seen her in the water. She started rearing on her hind legs and bringing her front legs down at once to make big splashes... she started "snorkeling" and blowing bubbles in the tub with her whole head underwater... she "dug" in the water spraying water all over the walls. Needless to say, she was a very happy little doodle.

Here is Luna after triumphantly conquering the tub and I've drained all the water out and dried her a bit. Note the lovely scented candle that has been knocked over.

I guess a kiddie pool is in our future for the summer...I promise to take videos of her having fun in that ;)

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Permalink Reply by Minga & Malu & Costa on March 31, 2011 at 9:27am

Polamalu does the same stuff in the water, the jumping with front feet, blowing water bubbles, etc. He loves to drop his Kong in the large water bowl and let it sink to the bottom, then snorkel to get it. Also can't keep him out of any large body of water, dog park, mom's pool, etc etc. Cannot WAIT to take him on the lake this summer!!

Permalink Reply by Bug on March 31, 2011 at 10:18am

that's adorable!!! i hope my puppy will love water.

Permalink Reply by Aimee Santa Monica on March 31, 2011 at 11:41am

Oh that's so cute! I hope my pups learn to love water play! They seem terrified everytime i put them in the tub for baths! Can't wait till it gets warmer here so we can fill the baby pool for them to try out!

Permalink Reply by Connie & Bocelli on March 31, 2011 at 12:13pm

I am so hoping that my puppy will love the water. Of course that opens up a WHOLE other can of worms when I want to take a bath but any other dog I've ever had HATED the water. Having one that likes it will be so fun.

Permalink Reply by J and Riley (and Luna) on March 31, 2011 at 2:11pm

We actually intentionally made Luna like water and baths by training as a young pup. My old dog is terrified of her baths - so we wanted to make sure Luna wasn't the same way.

It only took a few stages. We let her be comfortable with one stage then moved on to the next. We ONLY gave her treats if she wasn't whining of trying to get out of the tub. Here are the steps we took:

1. Hand feeding yummy treats while she was just getting her feet wet

2. Hand feeding yummy treats while getting a full bath. LOTS of treats for getting her face/head and groin areas wet since they're more sensitive.

3. Hiding treats around the tub for her to "hunt" while getting a bath. Around the tub rim, near the fawcet, in the water... all over.

4. Getting treats for jumping in the tub herself and not trying to escape

5. Took away the treats, she loves the water now!

Permalink Reply by Lori on April 3, 2011 at 4:15pm