Aggression towards the Doggy Doctor

I also have another question if anybody can help...

Sadie Mae (my doggy, whose name I never even mentioned!) also HATES baths. She's started to foam at the mouth at times, and she tries so very hard to get away from the water. She's a little better when the water is gone and we're putting the soap on her, and even more so when we're rubbing her down with a towel. It's difficult to figure out why she gets this way, and even more so to calm her. She HAS to get bathed, but she just becomes so miserable...

I'm not a trainer but I live with a fearful dog like yours.My boy is improving over the years.We try to repeat things that bother him in SHORT sessions always keeping a possitive calm attitude.It's sometimes easy to get ourselves worked up and our dogs pick up on it.Also we've found that teaching tricks and practicing obedience skills really builds his confidence.That confidence transfers to many different aspects of his life.When we get in a situation that makes him fearfull I ask him for a wave or target touch and instantly he focuses on that instead of what's stressing him.

                                                             Tena

Baths yep, are necessary, but not too often.  there are any number of things you can try, like slowly dipping water from a bucket to pour over her, like getting in the tub with her and making her feel more secure, a towel or bath mat so she doesn't feel like she's slipping.....clearly she's afraid, and just forging ahead isn't relieving her fears.

 I'd get some of that waterless spray shampoo stuff while working on this if you need to clean her up a bit. Frankly, I could describe to you in detail how to deal with this, but in reality it wouldn't be right of me to do it. I've done the procedure often enough across dogs and people. However, it sounds like you are dealing with the potential for aggression, and you should work with someone who uses positive reinforcement and who can actually see you and your dog.

griffinej5

 I'd get some of that waterless spray shampoo stuff while working on this if you need to clean her up a bit. Frankly, I could describe to you in detail how to deal with this, but in reality it wouldn't be right of me to do it. I've done the procedure often enough across dogs and people. However, it sounds like you are dealing with the potential for aggression, and you should work with someone who uses positive reinforcement and who can actually see you and your dog.

What she said. ^