No bathing :0(

[Mary]

Yes Michelle, you are not alone.  Lottie reacted much like this to begin with, she cried and struggled throughout her bath (which was done in the sink when she was tiny).

Persevere.  Lottie now goes in the bath and I use the shower on her and she is OK.  I can't say she enjoys it but she makes no fuss and is just happier once it's over

I use tepid water, talk to her constantly (or sing ) and reassure her that she's being a good girl and give her a few kisses  I think using the shower is quicker and more effective than rinsing and therefore is over with much quicker                    

[PennyB]

Mary, Am glad someone else is just as mad. I tend to tell Ruby how beautiful she is throughout the whole process and just jabber on to her. Its amazing how well it works—cockers always seem to love compliments

Shower attachment works very well here as well—gets rid of soap quicker.

Only real problem I have is that Ruby gets too hyper running around afterwards (have to put puppy in pen so she doesn't bowl him over too many times and let her confidence spill over and go too far).                    

[Mike]

Both mine do the hyper thing too immediately after having a bath                        

[Jen]

ever since monty started cocking his leg he has needed more regular baths.......obviously the male ability NOT to aim straight extends to dogs too - after a bath - he has a loopy session - which has, during the summer, included rolling around in the boarders in the garden.....making him almost need another bath                    

[Mike]

obviously the male ability NOT to aim straight extends to dogs too

oi, watch it...                      

[Mary]

- after a bath - he has a loopy session - which has, during the summer, included rolling around in the boarders in the garden.....making him almost need another bath

Yep....same here  I carry her downstairs wrapped in a towel, close all doors (now restrict her to 2 rooms only ) and when the coast is clear I release her...she's like a greyhound out of a trap                    

[Gilly]

I carry her downstairs wrapped in a towel,

Thats exactly what i do...but as usual she ALWAYS needs to go and do a wee and runs to the back door   last night i let her out after her bath and the next door neighbour was bringing in his washing...Buttons flew outside like a nutter wee'd barking her head off...then pooed barking her head off and then ran around the garden at a million miles an hour...my neighbour just looked and went  
"It's perfectly normal behaviour"  i said  
Somehow don't think he believed me  

Gilly                    

[Loraine]

I used to hate bathing my two but now it's not so bad.  The first time I bathed Candy was a joke!  The key for me is to be prepared and have everything I need BEFORE they get wet.  So the extension lead and hair drier is all set up with all the brushes, comb and extra towels on the table.  After I've taken them out of the bath, I have even more towels folded in the sink which I rest them on to dry them off some more without having to bend over in the bath (saves my back!) and then they're semi dry before going downstairs. (Does that make sense?)

Also I've found that the water needs to be quite warm.  I had it tepid originally but when I turned it up they seemed to relax more and stop squirming.  Singing worked with Candy but Georgia seemed slightly unnerved poor little thing!  

I wouldn't say they enjoy it as such but it's certainly not as traumatic as it was at the beginning.

L x                      

[Colin]

Gosh Loraine, I wish I was that organised...........bath time is a bit chaotic here.

I bathed both Jimmy and Misty the other day and the sight of them tearing about together afterwards was hysterical, god knows what the neighbours thought was going on. My main problem with Jimmy is the tug of war with the towel after I've dried him.........a nice warm shower and then he seems to have a bit of love action in mind !

The first time I bathed Misty was a real struggle, she seemed to think I'd had enough of her and was trying to drown her........she screeched like a seagull ! This time I sang to her and it seemed to do the trick. My tuneless rendition of You Lost That Loving Feeling left her in a stunned silence ! Looking something like this..... !                    

[Mary]

 My main problem with Jimmy is the tug of war with the towel after I've dried him.........a nice warm shower and then he seems to have a bit of love action in mind !

I have the same problem with Lottie....can never quite work that one out                    

[Anonymous]

;DAwwww Indie is okish in the bath, but she takes ages to blowdry, sits there like lady muck she does

Emma                    

[Donzer]

I was dreading bathing Molly - when she was a pup I used to put her in the sink in the utility room and there would be mud and water absoutely everywhere and I needed a bath after I had finished.  So putting her in even MORE water seemed a bit daunting.

However, I was really surprised as she acted really calm and she was fine.     I put her in my shower and just used the shower head which she really liked!    

She even let me use the hairdryer on her which was a big achievement considering she runs away from it every morning.

I do like to see her all fluffy after her baths - her hair just bounces about like those Busbies on the guards at Buckingham palace                      

[Sophie]

Hi

Have just read through these posts and would agree with all that bathing a Cocker on a regular basis is a must!  

Sophie will roll in Fox, Horse, Badger, Rabbit, or any other animals poo!!!!

We live in the country surrounded by farm land so she has lots of opportunity to get herself in a mess and will never miss one

She loves the hairdryer, but has a mad few minutes afterwards, tearing around the house rubbing herself on the carpets.  Guess she feels the need to get her old smell back.


Steve