Why Do Dogs Hate Baths? (& Tips for Bathing a Scared Dog)

Your dog loves to splash in puddles, but when it's time for a bath, they tuck their tail and hide. Why do dogs hate baths so much? If it's not the water, what is it about getting clean that makes so many dogs shiver and whine? Discover what might be behind your dog's fear of bath time, and keep reading to learn how to wash a dog that hates baths.

Why Do Dogs Hate Baths?

While it's true that not all dogs like to play in water, this doesn't necessarily explain why your dog doesn't like to take baths. Even water-loving breeds like Labrador retrievers often baulk at being bathed. So if it's not about the water, why do dogs hate baths? A number of factors could explain why your dog hates going near the tub or sink.

Recalling Bad Associations

Just like us, dogs can learn to associate a certain situation with feeling scared or anxious, explains the PDSA. A bad experience associated with bathing, like getting scalded by hot water, slipping and falling in the tub, getting water up the nose, or getting stinging shampoo in the eyes, can traumatise your dog and teach them to fear baths. Even upsetting experiences with other grooming activities, like pain caused by getting their nails clipped too short, or having their ears cleaned, can create bad associations with bath time if it happened around the same time.

Loss of Control

When your dog goes swimming or splashes in a puddle, it's a fun activity they choose to participate in. Baths, on the other hand, are typically forced on dogs, and involve being handled and having their bodies moved around in ways they don't like. This loss of choice and control over what happens to them can be very upsetting to a dog.

Unfamiliarity

Dogs who are new to baths, or who aren't bathed as often, may simply be freaked out by the unfamiliar experience of being plunged into a tub of water and soaped up with shampoo. This, in turn, can create negative associations that make them fearful of future baths.

Bath Time Feels Stressful

Sometimes, dogs aren't the only ones who hate their bath times. Dogs often take their emotional cues from their pet parents. The more worried you seem, the more worried your dog is likely to be, says the PDSA. Shouting at your dog, handling them roughly, and hurrying through bath time all teach your dog that baths are something to fear. Even if you're gentle with your dog, they'll be able to sense your frustration, which can be enough to make them dread baths in the future.

Do Dogs Need to Take Baths?

Does your dog actually need regular bathing? It depends. Much of the reason for bathing dogs is simply to make them easier to live with. You don't want your dog tracking mud everywhere, nor do you enjoy cuddling a stinky dog. Short-haired breeds with healthy skin don't actually require bathing for their own benefit, and they don't really need to take regular baths unless they tend to get dirty a lot. In many cases, wiping them down with pet wipes might be all that's needed. However, if you have a wrinkly breed like a pug or shar-pei, you should also be sure to wipe the folds between their skin regularly.

Long-coated and curly-haired breeds, on the other hand, benefit from regular shampoo and conditioning to help keep their fur from matting and becoming unmanageable, although daily brushing can also help. Hairless breeds like the Mexican hairless need regular baths to prevent their skin from drying out. Conversely, dogs with oily skin, like cocker spaniels, also need frequent baths to prevent oil buildup.