Signs That Your Dog Doesn’t Enjoy Bathing

Every dog owner knows that their beloved canine needs a bath from time to time, but for many, this is easier said than done.  It’s a common misconception that all dogs love getting into the tub.  In fact, there are plenty of dogs out there whose anxiety is triggered by it, and needless to say, this can be extremely stressful for the owner.

The key to getting your dog to cooperate is doing everything that you can to calm their nerves.  And, at the same time, you want to start to get your dog to develop positive associations with taking a bath.  One of the best tricks to calming your dog for a productive bathing session is giving them some CBD, which may have a role in regulating their nervous system so that the bath is far less triggering to their stress levels.

Signs That Your Dog Doesn’t Enjoy Bathing

On average, most dogs should be given a bath about once a month.  But, if your dog absolutely hates the bath tub, it’s easy to put off those monthly bathing sessions, to the detriment of your dog’s hygiene.  

There are some pretty obvious signs that your pup isn’t down with bathing, such as reluctance to go into the bathroom, excessive vocalizing and aggression.  But, there are more subtle signs that your dog can be showing too, where despite their willingness to get into the bath, they’re trying to communicate that they’re in distress.  These signs include:

• Tail-Tucking: Look at your dog’s tail when they’re in the tub.  If their tail is tucked between their legs, they are telling you that they feel vulnerable.  This is often accompanied by adjusting all of their weight to their back legs.
• Excessive Yawning: If a dog is yawning even though they’re not unusually tired, this can be a clear sign of anxiety.  When a dog is anxious, their yawns are longer and more exaggerated than a “tired” yawn.
• Pacing: Many times, a dog will pace when they’re nervous, and they may even attempt to pace in the bathtub.

Most Common Reasons for Fearing the Bath

A lot of times, we’re unknowingly contributing to our dog’s bathing anxiety by failing to make the bathroom more dog-friendly.  Besides the possibility that your dog has a negative association with water or, more specifically, bathing, here are some reasons why they may feel uneasy:

• Slippery Surfaces: Dogs really, really don’t like being on slippery surfaces, and that’s understandable.  Naturally, the bathroom can be a slippery room to be in, and that includes both the tub and the floor.  Invest in a non-slip mat that can go into the tub, and place lots of towels on the floor for when your dog gets out.
• A Less-Than-Ideal Temperature: Dogs can learn to dread bathing if their owner has a habit of bathing them at the wrong temperature.  Dogs, like humans, are sensitive to the temperature of water, and feel comfortable in water that’s about 98 degrees Fahrenheit.  
• The Sound of Running Water: It’s always important to fill the tub before your dog goes into the bathroom, because may dogs are made uneasy by the roaring sound of running water.
• New and Unusual Scents: The smells of your bathroom can be overwhelming to your dog.  The various soaps and other scented products that we use daily can linger in the room, and be too much for a dog’s sensitive nose.

Try Some CBD

It’s important to take into consideration all of the things that we listed above to figure out whether or not you may be unintentionally contributing to your dog’s distress while they’re getting bathed.  But, on top of all that, you want to generally do what you can to get your dog into a calm state prior to their bath so that they’re less reactive to the process overall.

When it comes to easing your dog’s nervous system, you might want to consider CBD.  CBD, aka cannabidiol, has become a very popular go-to among pet owners looking for a natural, gentle and holistic way to reduce their pet’s stress levels.  Because dogs, like humans, have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD behaves the same way in their bodies as it does in ours.  As a cannabinoid, CBD attaches itself to cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system that regulate important responses and processes that relate to our neurotransmitters, which control our stress levels.

In fact, studies show that cannabidiol can play an impressive role in minimizing a dog’s fear response.  One study in particular showed that dogs who were administered CBD treats were less reactive to sudden, loud noises.

At Chill Paws, we offer CBD-infused dog treats and oils that are formulated with your canine’s needs in mind.  These products contain gentle, dog-friendly ingredients, while containing the perfect amount of hemp-derived cannabidiol extract for your dog’s body weight.  Customers commonly praise our products for their ability to minimize distress that interferes with their dog’s emotional wellbeing. 

If you want to give your dog some CBD to get them ready for a successful bath, then we recommend giving them one of our CBD treats or oils about 30 minutes prior to bath time.  Follow the directions on the label to administer the ideal dosage amount according to their weight.  

Other Tips to Keep in Mind

In addition to giving your dog CBD, we also recommend employing additional stress reduction methods that all work together to keep your pup nice and calm throughout their experience.  

Bottom Line: A little CBD can go a long way in getting your beloved canine into a more mellow state so that you can bathe them properly and know that their stress levels are at a minimum throughout the process.