Introducing a shiba to water?
I like to go on weekend hikes, swims in the lake, most of the hikes involves water and swimming at the end. Mylie hates water, she runs away from the lake when we take walks down to it and dreads baths. I try to make her baths as comfortable and calming as possible and she's getting better but still whimpers at times. I'd love to take her with me on my weekend adventures... Any suggestions on how to ease her into the water? I'd really love to get her over this silly fear!
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How often do you wash Mylie? Unless Shibas get in something really stinky they only need a bath maybe 3 or 4 times a year (or less).
We only bathe when absolutely necessary, but when we first got her, she was filthy and smelled awful and needed a few of them.
In fact, our other two don't protest in water, but dislike getting bathed. They may hesitate going in at first, but will walk across a stream or creek without issue.
In fact, when we adopted Kitsune, they said "he hates water". We took him hiking and made no deal out of crossing a shallow(er) creek, just kept walking like it was no big deal, and he hesitated but went through like a champ. Maybe just bringing her out there and not making a deal of water sources might make her curious enough to try it, then repetition will make it a normal occurrence and not something to negatively react to. She's so young, she can do it!
All I did was bring him into the pool once we opened it, took him in couple times a week, and now hes not as jumpy about it. He doesn't hesitate to get in. Though, his long nails are sharp and he holds on for dear life most of the times, I guess because the water is still rather deep. He doesn't mind walking through water, though. We also have a kiddie pool on our deck for Toby.