Introduction to Bathing for Calmer Pups
I recommend beginning bath conditioning by having puppies follow their guardian into the bathroom. Not carrying them in (takes puppy’s agency and consent out of the equation). Not calling them to “come” in (same reason). Just begin dropping a trail of treats from a few feet outside of the bathroom every foot or so, and keep moving. Let the treats do the talking!
Once puppies arrive in the bathroom, I silently reward with a handful of treats (jackpot) on the floor, near the shower or tub (walk-in showers are ideal). Why silently? Because human voices excite and distract puppies. Especially early in the learning process excitement is a barrier to puppy 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