Bath Time
Katie is a “brush ’n’ go” type of girl. She has short, thick, white fur with faint black spots that nicely camouflages the dirt and dust that always seem to be present on our property. What her fur doesn’t hide, however, are the smells of an active dog. Eau de Gross is a favorite fragrance that she regularly rolls in, and it is unfortunately an aroma that does NOT get better with age. She also has an incontinence problem that is mostly under control with medication, but occasional set backs leave a lingering odor.
While regular bathing may seem the obvious solution, Katie and I had a bit of a dilemma: she was afraid of the bathtub, and I did not want to make her more fearful by forcefully dumping her in and hoping for the best.
I finally decided several months ago that nothing was stopping me from breaking down all the tiny steps involved in a bath to make it an enjoyable and regular part of our lives together. Katie and I could work on one step at a time until we made it all the way to a clean, sweet smelling dog who loved bath time.
So I started by feeding Katie in the bathroom. Every day, she would eat her meals in closer and closer proximity to the tub. Then I started lining her food up on the edge of the tub, and she happily Hoovered and begged for more.
The challenging part was getting her to jump into the tub to eat her meals there, but with patience and a towel placed in the bottom of the tub, she started hopping in and out like a pro.
So far, so promising, right?
The next step was to brush her in the tub, to approximate the hand shower I would use for the actual bath, and Katie loved it. And then I stopped. For no reason that had anything to do with Kate, but had everything to do with me being “too busy” and “forgetful”, we never advanced beyond being brushed in the bone dry bath tub.
A 28 Day Challenge
I kept promising myself that I would start our bath time training up later today, then tomorrow, or maybe next week, but it didn’t happen. What my procrastination did provide, however, was the genesis of an idea.
What if other people had “stuff” they wanted to work on with their dogs, but they either started and stopped, or never started at all? What if all of us who had the best of intentions banded together and supported each other for twenty eight days to achieve a training or relationship goal of our choice? What if each person stated their goal for their dog, listed the steps they would take to try to achieve the goal, then posted their progress in a weekly check in? What if the twenty eight days weren’t really about the outcome, but more about the process and strengthening the connection we already have with our dogs?
So how about it?
Do you have something that you would like to work on with your dog to make your lives better, less scary and more enjoyable? Join Katie and me for twenty eight days on our Facebook Group to share your story and move closer to your relationship or training goal.
A Few Reminders
Here are a few tips to help guide you with your training plan:
Be honest about your dog’s strengths and her weaknesses. If your dog is terrified of children, setting a goal of having preschool children pet her may be a long (long) range, long reach goal, but you need to start by setting a more modest goal for your dog. Can she learn to stay calm if she sees children from across a large park (or whatever distance she needs to stay under threshold)? Now break it down even further to find safe places with enough distance for your dog to succeed.
Your goal may not directly involve your dog at all. If you get nervous and tense when your dog is near a trigger, you may set a goal of working on keeping your breathing regular and deep, and learn some yoga breathing techniques to use in stressful situations.
Shy and fearful dogs need lots of time and patience. If your initial plan isn’t working, we can brainstorm alternative solutions with you. Twenty eight days will go by in the blink of an eye, but the work you put into a positive, trusting relationship with your dog will last a lifetime. Compassion and empathy are key components for reaching or amending your goals.
Make it rewarding for both of you. Your dog may be motivated by tripe or chicken liver, but what’s your immediate reward? Figure out something small and easy and keep it on hand for your motivation during your training sessions (chocolate chips, anyone?).
It’s perfectly normal to regress a bit as you progress. Learning anything new is full of ups and downs, and that’s o.k. Both you and your dog are making new connections and pushing boundaries.
Schedule time to make progress. You are very busy. This challenge is not meant to make you more stressed and anxious, but to give you support and encouragement, and a new way to bond with your dog. Carve out just five minutes a day to devote to working with your dog. Really. Just five minutes.
So, here’s your ExtraOrdinary Dog Challenge.
What will you and your dog accomplish in twenty eight days?
Head over to The ExtraOrdinary Dog Community Facebook Group and post your goals and commitments.
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