How To Bathe The Notoriously Water-Hating Dachshund
Dachshunds are among the most popular dog breeds in the world. And for good reason! Their distinctive shape, loyalty, and goofy personalities make them a joy to have around. However, they are among the most water-phobic of all dog breeds and will fight against baths with all their strength.
Thankfully, it is possible to bathe a struggling dachshund with little difficulty. It requires a careful approach that understands the nature of the dachshund and adapts bathing to their needs.
Only Their “Preferred” Human Should Bathe Them
Dachshunds are typically friendly dogs, but they often bond with one human very closely, at the expense of others. As a result, they may rebel when anyone but their preferred human bathes them. Being bathed by their favorite person will calm their nerves and make the process a lot easier for everyone.
However, if their favorite person can’t bathe them (for example, if they are elderly and have a hard time standing at the sink for half an hour), and you want to do this yourself, try stationing the dog’s favorite human within seeing and hearing distance of the bathing area. Have them speak soothingly to the dog, pet it when they can, and keep it calm. This will avoid a lot of escape attempts and keep everyone relatively dry. If you prefer to use a professional groomer, use the same person every time whenever feasible.
Keep The Water Comfortably Warm
Extreme temperature changes bother dachshunds. You may have already noticed the way they turn their nose and scamper back inside when it is freezing or blazing outside. Their small stature makes these temperature changes too extreme, which is why we need to keep the water comfortably warm when bathing.
Remember, though, that dogs have a higher body temperature than humans: that’s why they are so warm when they snuggle up on your lap. So use water that is just slightly above comfortably warm for you, as this will make it more appropriate for your pup.
Let Them Hold A “Baby” Toy
Like many dogs, dachshunds prefer having another dog or two around as a companion. If they don’t have other canines to connect with, they may build a unique relationship with a favorite toy. These toys are the dachshund’s “baby” and they often obsess over it in a way they never do with other toys. They may clean it constantly and hold it between their paws, rather than chew on or destroy it.
If your dachshund has a “baby” toy, let them hold it while bathing them. You can either put it near them on the sink counter or let them hold it in their mouth. This should calm their nerves a little and distract them from the bathing.
Encourage Playful Run Drying
Dachshunds are very playful dogs, and after you’ve towel dried them, you might want to encourage them to run around until they dry. A professional would blow dry them, but the type of dryer you have at home is not up to the task. Just encourage your doggie to run around by playfully chasing them around the house – it’s an awful lot of fun. Playing with your silly dachshund is one of the best ways to connect with them and is one of the best parts about owning them.
Playing in this way also connects baths with fun and gives them something to look forward to when the bath is over. By tapping into their sense of play, you can even make your dachshund look forward to getting a bath and make them easier to handle the next time. Bathing really doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience – it’s all about how you handle it.
These steps should help make bathing your dachshund easier. However, if you simply can’t get a handle on it (as dachshunds are stubborn little pups), go ahead and contact us. We’ll happily do the hard work for you and can get your dachshund clean with no fuss.