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My dog is terrified of baths. How can I make bath time easier?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | unspayed | 5 months and 5 days old | 20 lbs

My pup has a really bad fear of bath time. She often gets scared to wits end when bath day comes. I truly hate seeing my baby like that, do you have any tips or tricks that could calm her down?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Katie S

Certified Dog Trainer

Published on January 28th, 2019

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.

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