Giving dogs a bath with warm water... please do.

[MeriYa]

I know a couple of people who feel like washing their dogs off with cold water via a water hose is just fine. I think it's cruel. I think that if a person is not fortunate enough to have a nice space inside of their home where they have access to warm, running water in order to wash their dog, that they should at least put some nice, warm water in a bucket and wash the dog that way. Then get more warm water to rinse the dog. I hate seeing people wash their dogs off with cold water from a hose, and the dog is standing there shivering. Terrible. I think it's emotionally traumatic for a dog. Every time they see that water hose make an appearance they think they are in for an unpleasant experience.

 

[HereSadie]

I don't see how cold water gets all the soap out, but I wonder if those owners think it's a good way to cool their dog off while also getting it clean. My dog has her own little swimming pool for splashing around, but she never heads for it until the water is warm. No animal likes to be cold.

 

[MeriYa]

I don't see how cold water gets all the soap out, but I wonder if those owners think it's a good way to cool their dog off while also getting it clean. My dog has her own little swimming pool for splashing around, but she never heads for it until the water is warm. No animal likes to be cold.

I never even thought about the cold-water-not-getting-all-the-soap-out part. Now that you mention it, cold water probably doesn't get all of the soap out.
I really don't know if the people I'm talking about feel like they are cooling their dogs off. The impression I get is that they feel like a dog is a dog- is a dog- is a dog, and dogs aren't really sensitive to that type of thing. I agree with you, no animal likes to be cold. These same people also keep their dogs in the house in a cage for hours and hours, and don't let them go outside hardly ever. I think that classes should be mandatory for people who want to be dog owners, and you have to have some type of owner's certification that has to be renewed every few years, just like a driver's license.