Rub a dub dub, my doodle's afraid of the tub

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Any suggestions on how to get a doodle who hates the tub to love the tub? I use treats and gentle coaxing but I always have to lift 72lb Winnie into the tub and he stands there a little shakey and tail tucked the whole time. When it's time to get out he gets scared and I have to help him. It's as if he's afraid he'll slip and fall.

Does anyone have any tips?

[BG and Gavin]

Put a towel in the bottom of the tub to provide footing for him.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

that's an idea. I tried buying one of those tub matts but it slipped out from under him and made things worse. Worst of all, I ended up slipping on it too and bashing my knee really hard. How are those things supposed to be helpful(??)

[Bonnie and Kona]

Maybe the kind with the suction cups on the bottom would be stable enough for him? I was going t suggest a tub mat but if that was even worse I wonder what would stay put. 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

to be honest it was a really cheap one, and yes it had suction cups. There are foams ones, I'm thinking that might be better.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Do you have water in the tub when you ask your dog to go in? No water is best. I always wash with a hand held nozzle.

I suggest getting a really good non slip mat and teach your dog to stand on it somewhere else like another room rather than in the bath. After your dog knows to wait in location on the mat, then move it to the bathroom floor. Finally repeat the exercise in the tub, but no bath, just in and out a few times for a few days.

Any chance it is slippery on the outside of the tub when you are asking the dog to get out?

The bottom of my tub is about 26 inches above the floor so I have to lift all but one of my dogs in and out. I have a large box for them to jump on too. Babies!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I never have water in the tub to begin with, and I do use a hand held nozzle. I don't think it's slippery on the outside, there is a bathmat there.

repeating the exercise withe matt is a good idea.

[Angela C Martin]

My doodle loves the shower. He walks in and walks out. Sometimes he looks like he's going to fall asleep. He does not like a tub.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I wish I had a sperate shower from the tub. That is one thing that will be on my list of things to look for when I'm ready to buy a home.

[Karen Kramer]

Our doodles willingly jump into the tub...but they have slipped before and now they are not so willing.  We have to help them in.  But it sounds like your dog might be afraid of the actual bath too!  Have you ever gotten your dog in there with treats and then NOT given him a bath...that way he knows that the tub itself is harmless and you would then be praising him for just getting in the tub.  Baby steps.  Get him used to the tub, then eventually add the dreaded water.  Eventually, you could even feed him dinner in the tub so it becomes a positive place...who knows, he might even start going in there for naps  ;)  

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

thanks for the tips. I think you are right, he simply hates the bath. I can always manage to get him in the bathroom but then he crouches on the floor and refuses to move. I have to practically drag him into the tub, once he's there, he's fine, he doesn't move, just doesn't look happy. It's getting him in there that is the hard part.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Chester likes to drink out of the running tub faucet..so sometimes we get him in the tub under the premise of a drink.

My Husband sometimes gets in with him.

We also use some toys.

I don't know If I could do it on my own- it is usually a 2 person job.

Although last weekend it was really muddy Dog Park day. We discovered that the coin operated car wash also has a coin operated dog wash.kind of nice to wash him raised up.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I always get in with the doodles. I bath two doodles by myself once a week and we get by just fine. Getting in there is the best way to do it. I might try some toys, that's a good call.