How to Wash a Large Dog that Hates Water

Giving Digger regular baths is a very important part of his overall health care. There is far more to giving him a bath than just washing out the dirt. You also wash out dead hair, dead skin, burrs, bugs, parasites, and more from his coat. Unbathed skin can become itchy due to rashes and in time can lead to infected areas of skin that must be treated by a vet. But what do you do when Digger absolutely hates the water? You need to make sure you have two things before you get started. The first is plenty of patience. The second is a plan of action! 

Many dogs are afraid of the water, so Digger's behavior is nothing unusual, but it will make giving him a bath challenging. On top of this, he really doesn't care if he ever gets a bath. In his mind, the simple bathing he does with his tongue should be all he ever needs. Unfortunately, he needs more than this to keep his skin and coat clean and healthy.

• Never let the water get any hotter than you would use if you were bathing a baby. Hot water can burn Digger's skin and result in injury. 
  
• Take your time. If you push too hard, it will only make things worse. If Digger is not quite ready for a certain step of the process, you will need to take some time to focus on what he is ready for instead. 
  
• Never use any products like shampoos, soaps, conditioners, or detanglers intended for human use. They contain ingredients that can be harmful to dogs and may make the bathing process even more frightening for Digger. 
  
• Use cotton balls to plug his ears and keep water out but be cautious about sticking them too far, as they can get lodged into the ears. 
  
• Do not get shampoo in his eyes, ears, nostrils, or mouth. This can cause irritation that can be difficult to soothe later on. 
  
• Be sure to use a helper until Digger gets used to being bathed and no longer fusses. Ensure that your helper is prepared to handle Digger's fear and won't be tempted to rush the process. 
  

The basics of bathing a dog like Digger are the same as any other dog. The big difference is that you need to work on getting him to the point where he no longer hates water before it becomes easier to give him a bath. Take your time, work at Digger's pace, and it won't be long before he learns to relax and enjoy bath time.