Bath Tubs
I am new to this forum and generally to the world of the Old English Sheepdog. I have wanted to have an OES since I was a child. My husband, my daughter and I will be picking up our puppy in less than two weeks and I am very excited. My question is regarding bath tubs. What are you using? I have seen differnet types of dog tubs online. Is it possible to get a larger than normal laundry tub. What are the features I should like for? What size would be ideal - 48", 60"? Generally, I'm am looking for advice.  I am willing to replace my current square laundry tub and do have room to install something larger. If I am going to redo the space, I would like to get it right the first time. Please help.  |
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| Congratulations on your new puppy! For a while, if you are getting a puppy, he/she will probably do okay in the sink! But that won't last as they grow so fast. we have the booster bath tub. Got it from boosterbath.com and it came with ramps that store right inside. You can hook it up to the hot water in your washer and ahve anice hot water...Relatively inexpensive and works nicely... Hope you will remain on the forum and tell us all about your new puppy! |
| Thanks Ashley, I will check that out. I plan to visit the forum regularly and will be looking for advice. I will post pics when we get her home. |
| I don't have space and plumbing options. There is one tub in the house, and we all use it!!  And this includes when Chewie was in full coat and showing. |
| I went all out and got a groomers steel dog washing station. With my two OES, it makes things so much simpler! I'm really happy that I broke down and paid the money for it. here it is, not quite done being installed:  I was really lucky; we have a professional groomers trade show here in Atlanta every year. On the last day, many of the dealers will cut prices on display items and sell them at a discount, rather than take them back home with them. The last day is also open to the public. So I got this tub, and a dog dryer and a grooming table all at a decent discount. |
Nanc wrote: Hello All I am new to this forum and generally to the world of the Old English Sheepdog. I have wanted to have an OES since I was a child. My husband, my daughter and I will be picking up our puppy in less than two weeks and I am very excited. My question is regarding bath tubs. What are you using? I have seen differnet types of dog tubs online. Is it possible to get a larger than normal laundry tub. What are the features I should like for? What size would be ideal - 48", 60"? Generally, I'm am looking for advice. I am willing to replace my current square laundry tub and do have room to install something larger. If I am going to redo the space, I would like to get it right the first time. Please help. Nanc, First off welcome to the forum and congratualtions on your imminent entry into the wonderful world of Bobtails. We are all here to help each other so don't hesitate to ask, even if you think it should be an obvious answer or might be a dumb question - we have all had the same questions at one point or another. There are no judgements here. Many people just bathe their Bobtails in a regular floor positioned "people tub". (Don't try to use a claw footed tub or deep soaking tub, they are too deep for you to comfortably reach in and bathe your dog. Ask Forum members Baba and Mady about that.) All you need is a good handheld showerhead on an extra long hose (84" instead of the standard 54-60" ) to make sure you can reach to the very extreme opposite end of the tub. Also don't forget a good knee pad as it takes quite a bit of time to properly bath a fully coated adult. Indeed I did this myself for many years and untold numbers of baths. However, if you have the space and inclination to build it, a raised tub is well worth it's weight in gold. A year and a half ago I finally commissioned my raised tub for dog bathing. (It is now partnered with a dedicated purpose built and well equiped grooming room adjacent to the basement bathroom.) For details see: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25003&start=0 I used a standard 60" long tub on a custom built platform and appropriate plumbing. Yes it was a bit more expensive than most of the other options people here have mentioned - although not hugely - and the tile work is far more fancy than is absoultely necessary but given that I have two fully coated Bobtails and two Afghan Hounds the time savings and comfort fully justify the efforts and costs involved. I save a bit more than half and hour when bathing each of our Bobtails (Martin was down to 2 hours from over 2.5 plus for the few baths he had in it before he died, Virgil now takes 1.5 hrs instead of 2 and a bit while Dawn takes about the same as Virgil. My Afghans are done it about 75 minutes instead of 100-110.) And I maintian that the baths are much more thorough than they used to be and far less stressful on the dogs and myself as there is much less "wrestling" involved in getting them into the proper positions for thorough washing of every area on both sides. As ever don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions or want more details. I do have more photos available and could provide you with afew construction sketches if needed. Thanks and Cheers Carl |
When we built the mud room I didn't have enough money to buy a raised tub the size we needed. So, I went to the farm store and purchased a stock tank, drilled a hole and installed a drain. This year we will install a single hand spray faucet. Works like a charm for $89. |
| Thank you all for your welcome and prompt answer to my question. Now, lots of options to ponder. Thanks for the pictures as well, they are very helpful. I see a winter project in the making. Nancy |
| I got to thinking, Nancy; just about any type of tub can be used, but the most important thing you can do is the TRAINING. Someone posted about wrestling your dogs into a tub; if from day one they get baths regularly, and its not a stressful experience, it will help you SO much over the years. My girls were filthy mud wrestlers, so we bathed them at least once a week as puppies. I think this frequency un-intentionally trained them to be very comfortable with the bath. They get in the tub when I tell them to, and one time I even had Luna come in from wrestling in filth and walk straight to the bathroom and get in the tub and wait for me to notice her there!!!! I've used a kiddy pool and hose in the summer when the weather is nice; I've used people tubs both soaking depth and shallow hotel types, and I've used rental "wash your own dog" spaces. And now I have a professional tub with a fold out ramp. All of them have worked just fine; but the one thing that I think helped was the training of my girls to be mellow dogs in the tub, and to get in the tub on their own!!! Some photos of the joy you can look forward to.... Tonks and Luna digging mud ONTO each other:  and the results:  I'm not kidding; my dogs LOVE filth. |
| I love your pics of your filthy babies. I once had a Bordie Collie mix who was a digger and loved water and dirt, preferrrably when mixed together. I guess because all dogs I have had in the past were somewhat smaller, the idea of a dog hopping into the tub is foreign to me. I will definitely start the training immediately. Thanks for the advice. Nancy |
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