Bath Time

If you read my blog, you know that Kino does not like getting baths.  He is better than he was when I first got him . . . that first year, he growled at me so ferociously during a bath that I was on edge the entire time, assuming that I could be bitten at any moment.  In the last few years, he has improved and now he only growls at the very end (when I am washing his head) and then gives me the silent treatment afterwards.  Bottom line, he just doesn't like getting baths.

A few weeks ago, I discovered something new about Kino's feeling about baths.  For his birthday this year, he got a pink stuffed dog.  I named her Rose and Kino loves Rose more than any of his other toys.  She is constantly in his mouth, he brings her to bed with him, naps with his head on her back and he flings her around wildly when I pull the vacuum cleaner out. No doubt, Rose has had a lot of "attention" since July.

One night, we were getting ready for bed and Kino brought Rose over to me, hoping we might play a game of tug of war with her.  As I was telling him I didn't think it was a good idea, I put my hand on her and was a bit grossed out.  Her fur, which used to be plush and silky soft was now starchy and stiff.  I took a closer look and noticed that she her fur was more of a brown color on most of her body instead of the bright pink she used to be so I said to Kino "I think we're going to need to give Rose a bath" and he promptly growled at me.  It took me by surprise. I said "What are you growling about??  She is really dirty.  We definitely need to give her a bath" and he growled at me again.  I assured him that a bath would not hurt her and then got on the computer to research "how to wash a stuffed toy" because I didn't want to be a liar.  :-)

The next day, I got out the Woolite and filled the sink in the guest bath with cold water.  Then I told Kino it was time for Rose to have a bath.  He started to growl as he ran to get her before I did. Fortunately, I got to her first.  I reminded him that the bath wasn't going to hurt her and that I was sure she'd enjoy being clean.

Following me into the bathroom, he stood right next to the sink and watched her get a bath.  He had his nose right up there on the edge of the sink the entire time. I kept saying things like "See, she's doing fine" and "Look how clean she is getting!  You can see her pink fur again."

As luck would have it, we were having wonderful weather so rather than risk putting her in the dryer, I was able to put her outside in the sun to dry.  I said "Rose is going to sunbathe now" and we went into the backyard.  I put her on a chair in the sun. He licked her once and then I got him to chase the tennis ball for a while.  When it was time to go back in the house, Kino went over to check on her and I reminded him that she would be fine, that she just needed to dry off.  That seemed to satisfy him and he went back inside but a couple hours later, he stood at the backdoor waiting for me to let him out in the yard.  When I opened the door, he ran straight over to Rose to make sure she was ok.  I said "See Kino, Rose is ok and it looks like she didn't mind getting a bath."  That time he didn't growl at me. He just looked up - as if he was trying to decide if he believed me or not.

For the next few days, I said "Look how good Rose looks!  She's so nice and clean after her bath" and there was no more growling. So it looks like, at least for now, Kino has accepted the fact that Rose might be getting baths from time to time. It will be interesting to see if Kino is any more cooperative the next time he gets a bath.