My dog used to hate bath time so much he'd hide under the bed for hours now he jumps in the tub himself

I used to have to drag my golden retriever Charlie into the bathroom and practically wrestle him into the tub every single bath day. About 3 months ago I started putting a few treats on the edge of the tub and letting him jump in on his own without forcing him. Now he actually goes and sits in there waiting for me when he hears me run the water. Has anyone else seen a big change in how their pet reacts to something they used to hate?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowanharris29d ago

Not really, my dog just tolerates it.

theac6329d ago

Hesitantly agree with that. I've noticed a lot of us just coast through things that are supposed to be fun or meaningful. Like, how many people actually enjoy their morning coffee versus just drinking it out of habit? Same with hobbies, jobs, even relationships. We get so used to the routine we forget to check if we're actually getting anything out of it. Your dog probably picks up on your mood too, animals are pretty good at reading us. Maybe it's less about tolerance and more about learned behavior on both sides.

stellachen25d ago

Rowanharris, I have to disagree with you there. My dog definitely gets something real from our walks together - the tail wagging, the sniffing, the way he looks back at me. I think animals are more honest than we give them credit for. If they were just tolerating us, they would not stick around or show those little signs of enjoyment. Maybe your dog is just keeping it real with you on certain days.