How can I make bath time less stressful for my dog who hates baths?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Tibetan Spaniel | Female | spayed | 1 year and 7 months old
My dogs both hate bath time. Is there a way to reduce their anxiety/stress while they're being washed?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 6th, 2017
You can try an over the counter calming supplement such as zylkene or composure in combination with offering rewards during the bath such as treats. It will work best if you have two people, one to bathe the dog and one to feed treats while the bath is going on. You can even take a long wooden spoon and put peanut butter on the end so they can hold it in front of her face and she can lick the spoon while being bathed.
17Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on February 19th, 2019
Most dogs don't like baths, so it's understandable Bee would get sad. It is best to try and get him used to it gradually. You can start by just bringing him to the bath and giving him a lot of treats so he begins to associate the area with good things. From there you can gently pour a cup of water over him, or run the tap next to him while giving treats. If he's comfortable with that, gently washing and rinsing him, followed by even more treats will help make it more comfortable for him. Over time, as he gets used to it, you can reduce the number of treats given. If he gets too stressed out or anxious, take a break and try again later at the step he was most comfortable with. It may take some time, but it will help keep him from becoming too fearful or upset.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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