Baths

[Frost0312]

my dog is afraid of gettin a bath....He always whimpers and growls.... Well at start when I'm wetting his fur hes fine and everything but then after I use the doggy shampoo and rinse his fur he starts growling and whimpering :S ?? is this serious? Will he be afraid of water for his whole life? Confusing

[koni]

If you are getting him wet and it isn't bothering him, then it sounds like the shampoo might. Has it got in his eyes when you are rinsing him off after applying the shampoo?

[Frost0312]

No I don't even shampoo his head the furthest I go is to the neck

[Moo]

Maybe he just doesn't like the handling when the soap is being worked in. It's not a big deal, lots of dogs don't like baths. Handle it right, and nothing negative should develop.

[Faith]

a friend of mine who's had huskies told me that all of them that she'd had hate water. for her dogs, it was a fear they were born with - her breeder told her that in the wild and when working getting wet means death for them (meaning, if you're in Alaska and it's -18 and he drops into water, he's done for).

so, she just had to muddle through with them miserable. the only thing that seemed to help was talking to them in her "good dog" voice and talking nonsense the whole time. "now we wash that paw, oh, look at that cute paw!" etc, etc.

[GermanShepherds]

Huskies love to swim but they HATE WATER.

You are NOT going to have an easy time bathing Frost.

I heard (from Nightrise) that its because they have a Phobia of water. Sled dogs...falling through the ice and dying.

[Suz]

i groom a dog whos like that doesnt mind the water to start with but soon as i shampoo he goes mad - i switched him to a real gentle shampoo wit very little smell and he was much better - dogs noses are so sensitive if they dont like the smell of something it can really upset them!!

[Frost0312]

Thanks everyone for your replys

[ESlover]

Originally Posted by GermanShepherds

I heard (from Nightrise) that its because they have a Phobia of water. Sled dogs...falling through the ice and dying.

Is this passed on from one generation to another like old stories?? lol sorry had to say it.

[GermanShepherds]

Originally Posted by ESlover

Is this passed on from one generation to another like old stories?? lol sorry had to say it.

Here's What Faith Posted, but I have also heard this and it makes complete sense if you think about it and the Siberian Husky Heritage.

a friend of mine who's had huskies told me that all of them that she'd had hate water. for her dogs, it was a fear they were born with - her breeder told her that in the wild and when working getting wet means death for them (meaning, if you're in Alaska and it's -18 and he drops into water, he's done for).

so, she just had to muddle through with them miserable. the only thing that seemed to help was talking to them in her "good dog" voice and talking nonsense the whole time. "now we wash that paw, oh, look at that cute paw!" etc, etc.