I recommend introducing bathing by having puppies and dogs follow their guardian into the bathroom.
Begin dropping a trail of tiny treats from just outside the bathroom door. Drop one every 3-4 inches and keep moving slowly until you’re next to the place you’ll be bathing them. Avoid distracting your pup. Let the treats do the talking for you!
Once your pup is next to the tub/shower/sink, silently reward with a small handful of treats (known as a “jackpot”) on the floor, near their front paws.
Why silently? Because human voices excite and distract all domestic canines. At the start of any learning process, excitement is a barrier to learning.
Food rewards are by far the most effective method for imprinting a lesson on the puppy brain, according to multiple studies published in the last 20 years. Variety matters.
It’s not easy for humans to quietly manage our excitement and happiness, but the results are worth it. Puppies learn new behaviors in a few practices, rather than a week or more, and the lessons “stick!”
Dee Green has been a professional dog trainer and canine behavior consultant for more than 20 years. She specializes in building trust-based, cooperative relationships between guardians and puppies up to 18 months, and fearful, anxious, and reactive dogs of all ages.
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