How you can clean up when Fido gets dirty
Those of us with outdoor-loving pets know the downside to all that freewheeling frolic: muddy paws, tangled fur, and often much worse.
Animal behaviour experts have many theories on why some dogs roll in noxious odours. Some researchers posit that getting one’s neck into a smell is an instinctive way to bring info about potential food back to the pack. Others think that rolling in rankness may simply be a dog’s version of teenagers dousing themselves with body spray.
“Perfume or aftershave is used not just to make us more attractive to others, but because we like the smell too,” says Patricia McConnell, animal behaviourist and author of The Other End of the Leash (Ballantine, 2002).
Alexandra Horowitz, in her book Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell (Scribner, 2016), points to a scent-oriented olfactory lobe in dogs’ brains that lights up when potent smells are nearby. Dogs, she suggests, don’t really differentiate between “good” or “bad” odours. To them, every smell — even rotten squirrel — is just more information.
Luckily, whether you’re dealing with sand, mud or something more, there’s a lot of good gear on the market to help you get Fido clean and fresh-smelling.
If wrangling your pet into the bathtub is nigh on impossible, consider Bissell’s Bark Bath portable system. Sort of a wet vac for dogs, the kit comes with a low-suds shampoo. Fill the reservoir with whatever temperature water your pet prefers, and then use the handheld wand to alternately squirt on the water/shampoo mixture and to vacuum up water and residue. One touted feature: Whereas in a traditional tub you’d use about 19 gallons of water to bathe a Labrador-size dog, with the Bark Bath you’ll only use 40 ounces.
It can also be used just as a vacuum to remove moisture if you’re dealing with a soggy but not sludgy pet.
McConnell advises easing balky bathers in slowly. Start by lining the tub with treats and adding some to the inside of the tub. Turn the water on gently and reward your pet with a treat. Work your way up to the washing hose using the treats, and be patient. You may need several sessions before a fearful dog is comfortable with the bathing experience.