Why Does My Dog Cry When I Shower Him?

Do dogs ever act normal around baths? Baths are unnatural for dogs so most of them will be nervous when bath time comes around. Some dogs get nervous when their humans take a shower. Whatever the reason, it’s good to know what those fears are and how to alleviate them.

Why Does My Dog Cry When I Shower Him?

A shower is an unnatural activity to a dog full of strange things like soap and rubbing all around its body. If your dog has had a bad experience with a shower, or if you’re nervous, it’s enough to make it afraid. Dogs can fear showers either because they are an unpleasant experience, or because they associate the shower with your leaving. It’s best to help your dog become comfortable with those situations and seek veterinary help if necessary, that way you and your dog can be happier during those stressful baths.

Do All Dogs Hate Baths?

Not all dogs hate baths but many do. Even when they like water, some dogs will still fear baths. For most dogs, this is likely a behavior that has been reinforced sometime in their life.

Why Won’t My Dog Let Me Bathe Him?

Your dog is probably afraid of baths and associates them with a negative experience. If it’s afraid of water, it will likely be afraid of a bath too. If it enjoys playing in the water but is afraid of baths, there may be other reasons for the fear.

Fear could be caused by a new experience, being handled in strange ways, a stressed owner, or an unpleasant experience in a previous bath, such as getting soap or water in their face or having something painful happen afterward (like grooming accidents).

If your dog slips, that may also cause it to fear baths. Slipping can be avoided by using a rubber mat on the bottom of the tub.

Why Does My Puppy Cry/Scream/Shiver/Freak Out When I Shower It?

Your puppy is probably afraid of the shower. If it had a bad experience with a shower, it will naturally try to avoid the same experience and do what it can to get free. If the puppy is terrified enough, it will exhibit signs of fear such as shivering, crying, or screaming.

If you are nervous about the shower, your puppy will pick up on your nervousness and think that there’s something wrong. That will give it a reason to fear and try to escape.

Why Do Puppies Get Angry & Frustrated After Bath Time?

If a puppy is uncomfortable with the bath, he may get scared. When some dogs get scared, they react in frustration or aggression.

A bath can be a stressful situation for many dogs. No studies have been performed on aggression after baths, but many dogs have been known to behave differently when bath time is over. Frustration may be the way your puppy unwinds after the stress of a bath.

Your puppy could also be expecting something else that’s bad to happen. Maybe your puppy had a previous bad experience that happened after a bath, such as a grooming accident, and he gets defensive expecting that same experience to happen again.

Do Dogs Like Being Clean After A Bath?

Dogs do not like being clean. Shampoos may smell nice to us, but not to a dog. Dogs prefer more natural smells like dirt, grass, and poop. A bath gets rid of those scents and the smell of the shampoo may overwhelm their sharp senses.

Why Does My Dog Lay In The Bathroom When I Shower?

Your dog probably does not want to be separated from you. By nature, dogs are pack animals and like to stay close to their family, especially that extra special person. This may be an innocent behavior, but it could also be part of a disorder known as separation anxiety.

Your dog is likely doing this because it is anxious. If it associates a shower with you leaving, it will try to stay close and grab your attention when it knows you’re preparing to leave for the day.

Separation anxiety should be dealt with so that your dog does not suffer from stress or get worse. When the condition gets worse, the dog could resort to never leaving you alone, getting aggressive or whiny when you leave or destroying things in the house while you’re gone.

To help reinforce good behavior, ignore your dog when it follows you into the bathroom. This will teach them that following you around will not get them your attention.

Why Does My Dog Jump In The Shower With Me?

A dog who jumps in the shower with you may have separation anxiety and perhaps at a more severe level than a dog who simply follows you into the bathroom.

It could also be that your dog just wants to be with you and likes playing in the water. What is his expression when he gets into the shower with you? Is it playful or nervous? If it’s nervous or fearful, the dog is probably suffering from separation anxiety.

Why Does My Dog Hate Water?

Some breeds naturally do not like water but some dogs will fear it because of bad experiences. Maybe they had water sprayed in their face or over their head, or maybe the only time they’re around water is when they are given a bath which is not a fun activity.

How To Bathe An Aggressive Dog?

Make the situation as comfortable as possible and reward your dog for relaxed behavior. Use mild products that will not irritate the dog and use a leash and muzzle if necessary. It may be a good idea to have someone help you. Use a rubber mat to avoid slipping.

Slowly train your dog that the tub and baths are okay and can even be a rewarding experience.

How To Bathe A Dog Who Is Terrified Of Water & Bathing?

Stay calm and distract the dog. Give them food, toys, or treats to get their mind off of being scared. Do what you can to make the bath comfortable for your dog and have someone else help you bathe the dog so they can hold it and keep it distracted.

Train your dog to be comfortable with baths by introducing them to a bath slowly and rewarding them for good behavior.

How Can I Keep My Dog Calm In The Shower?

You can train your dog that a bath is not a bad thing with the following steps:

• Take it into the bathroom with you and reward it for relaxing.
• Put it in the tub with no water and reward for good behavior.
• Continue by adding water to the tub, but not getting the dog too wet.
• Play with your dog in the tub and the bathroom and pet it.

Make it a fun experience and be sure to stay relaxed. Doing these things can teach your dog that a bath is safe. Some other things you can do to make the bath a more positive experience include:

• Make sure the water is at a comfortable temperature. Not too hot or cold.
• Give the dog treats or toys in the tub. You can even smear food on the side of the tub to keep it preoccupied.
• Instead of using the faucet or showerhead to rinse, have a few buckets of water already filled and use them to rinse. Eliminating the sound of rushing water can help the dog relax.

Why Does My Dog Sniff At Me And Whine After I Shower?

If your normal habit is to leave the house after a shower, your dog will pick up on it and know you are getting ready to leave. This is part of separation anxiety. Your dog is expecting you to leave and becomes anxious, trying to convince you to stay home.

Separation anxiety is a disorder that develops in dogs, particularly dogs with a single owner in the house. Dogs may become very attached to their owners and get anxious when they leave the house. If you suspect your dog has separation anxiety, you should get some help from a vet.

Why Do Dogs Run Around Like Crazy After A Bath?

After a bath, many dogs may get what is called zoomies. Dogs with zoomies run around because of relief or excitement and the feeling of freedom after a stressful bath experience. They have a lot of energy stored up from the anxiety and this is one way to burn all that energy off.

References

AKC Staff. (2017, March 3). Dog scared of bath: How to bathe a scared dog. American Kennel Club. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/dog-scared-of-bath/.

Bauhaus, J. M. (2021, May 24). Why do dogs hate baths? (& how to bathe a scared dog): Hill’s pet. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/routine-care/why-do-dogs-hate-baths.

Becker, M., Radosta, L., Sung, W., & Becker, M. (2018). From fearful to Fear Free. Health Communications, Inc.

Do dogs feel clean after taking a bath? Can My Dog. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://canmydog.com/do-dogs-feel-clean-after-taking-a-bath/.

Geier, E. (n.d.). Why do dogs follow you into the bathroom? The Dog People by Rover.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.rover.com/blog/why-do-dogs-follow-you-into-the-bathroom/.

Gilman, H. (n.d.). Why do dogs go crazy after a bath? The Dog People by Rover.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.rover.com/blog/why-dogs-crazy-energy-after-bath-in/.

Mayfield-Davis, M. J. (2019, July 16). How to bathe a dog that’s scared of water: Vetericyn. Vetericyn Animal Wellness. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://vetericyn.com/blog/how-to-bathe-a-dog-thats-scared-of-water/.

Ollila, E. (2021, March 19). Managing your dog’s fear of Water & Bathing: Hill’s pet. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/play-exercise/dog-afraid-of-water-and-bathing.

Parks, S. (n.d.). Help! my dog hates the bath: A trainer’s guide. The Dog People by Rover.com. Retrieved December 3, 2021, from https://www.rover.com/blog/dog-hates-the-bath-advice-trainer-tips/.

Wag! (n.d.). How to bathe an aggressive dog. WagWalking. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://wagwalking.com/grooming/bathe-an-aggressive-dog.