Why Do Dogs Go Crazy After a Bath?
Ever give your dog a bath and expect them to come out of it feeling relaxed, pampered, and taken care of only for them to emerge even more hyperactive than they were before? As many dog owners can attest, your dog isn’t the only one that comes out of the bath acting extra energized and wild. Read on to learn more about why your dog goes crazy after bathing.
Bath Anxiety
As much as we can try to convince them otherwise, most dogs just don’t enjoy the bath. No matter how muddy, dusty, or smelly your dog is, it can be pretty difficult to convince our furry friends to hop into the tub. Many dogs suffer from bath anxiety, which means that bath time is their least favorite time of the day. It also means that as soon as bath time ends, your dog is PUMPED to get out of there as fast as they can. Hence, the crazy burst of energy that follows most baths. It’s your dog’s way of releasing all the nervous energy that’s been building up leading up to and during their bath.
Drying Off
Dogs also don’t appreciate being wet, which is probably why they vigorously shake themselves dry after their baths. If your dog likes to swim, it’s the same thing! When wet, dogs will shake their bodies to expedite the drying process. While this may seem like a puzzling burst of energy from your furry friend, it’s actually just them shaking dry. The next time you see your dog shaking their body out post-bath, it’s probably just them doing their best to get dry.
New Smells and Sensations
We all know the smell of wet dog, but their own new smell may be confusing to your dog when they’re wet. The scents of dog shampoos, soaps, and other scented bath items may also cause some confusion in your dog. They’re used to sniffing dirt, grass, and poop, so smells like “clean linen” or lavender probably confuse them and may rile them up a bit. Additionally, toweling down your dog may be a new sensation that your dog is unfamiliar with, so they may go a little crazy from the towel as well.
They Might Love It
It’s pretty unlikely in dogs, but your dog’s post-bath craze might just be sheer happiness to be pampered and clean. Who knows, they may love jumping into the tub and getting rubbed down for a few minutes. We wouldn’t blame them! Unfortunately, this is quite uncommon in dogs, so consider yourself lucky if your dog loves bath time.
That post-bath craze may not be as mystical as you originally thought. By using this guide, the next time your dog goes crazy after a bath, you’ll better understand what’s going on.