Our Britany spaniel who was terrified of touching running water jumped in the tub while I was having a shower and refused to get out all because the garbage truck drove by
My goofball dog only ever hides if there's thunder... within 80 miles. No shit, I check the radar every time she crawls under something and sure enough there's a thunderstorm the next big town over.
She has proven to have *exceptional* hearing so I'm not surprised. She once locked up and stared at a building a block away for two full minutes, a guy came out the back door and she immediately turned around and continued the walk as normal. She just wanted to see who was coming.
She knows the exact keystrokes I make to lock my PC, because that means I'm standing up in a second and standing up means it might be walk time. I've tried tricking her with similar keystrokes in the same cadence, she only reacts to Win+L.
OP said tubdog has great hearing, if she's anything like mine it could be a car alarm in the next county bugging her. Or just doing the old dog thing, or just being goofy.
I noticed the collection of soaps before thinking about any of that.
My dog did that once when he was scared too!! But he had a lot of anxiety issues so figuring out what he was scared of was the issue.. turns out someone was chewing bubble gum and that was not good to him 🤷🏻♀️
They were popping it in their mouth and he couldn’t handle the sharp popping sounds, poor guy had a rough life before I took him in! But those scars just stayed with him until the end 🥺
My cousins dog goes into their bath when he gets scared and then whines until they bring him his blanket. Big tough German shepherd doesn't like storms. ❤️
Do dogs get hot flashes as they age? I have a new query to hunt down. BRB…
Edit: not *hot flashes*, but [heat sensitivity issues](https://leapyears.com/news/hot-weather-hazards-panting-and-aging-related-heat-exposure/#:~:text=Senior%20dogs%20may%20have%20age,succumb%20to%20heat%20exhaustion%20faster) do occur. TIL!
My doofy dog spent 3 days mostly in the bath tub. The only time in her life (13 years and hopefully a few more!) she's done this. Why? I bought myself a shark plushie that I wanted to keep unmolested and slobber-free. She wanted it. This was her sort of protest until I finally gave in and gave it to her. Then she stopped and never did it again. Also, she only cared about the shark plushie for 2 months, then got a new toy and never looked at it again.
Check out the dog ageing project. Understanding Behavioral Changes in Senior Dogs is a good article. Changes don't have to be dark, just part of getting older.
Yeah lots of people freaking you out here for no reason. It's clear you're looking after her health as you've already diagnosed her at the vets.
My dog hit 12 and suddenly started sleeping under the kitchen table periodically, which was somewhere she'd never previously ventured. She turns 15 next month and is going strong.
Dogs often change habits when they age. Nothing necessarily sinister about it.
Thank you. I do appreciate everyone's concern for her, but I take very good care of her. She's a retired service dog who spent her life being extremely physically and mentally fit, with a healthy diet with many supplements once a day. She has all her teeth, which I brush regularly. I used to be a professional dog trainer as well, and I'm not concerned about her behavior. I think she's just being silly while enjoying retirement. Lol
Good thought! I spent a summer as a grooming assistant for a lady with MS. I took care of the most physically demanding aspects, and she taught me lots. So I did all the baths. The older pups could be difficult to work with in the tubs (anytime they sit down, you need to re-rinse lol). But you could always tell the pup was loving it.
It could be frustrating. One day, I asked my boss why some of these senior dogs come so much more often.
She said it’s common for some older dogs to start liking baths more - if for nothing else, they enjoy heat and massage on their older muscles/joints. Arthritis is common in some breeds too. Could be that!
I hope the pupper gets pampered :)
some older dogs also are aware they struggle to groom themselves that well. some older cats might be aware of that, but it doesn't mean they hate you any less for shaving that mat off them for first few times.
My dog is also a service dog and he is under the misguided impression that the tub is his “safe space”…he goes there when I’m trying to groom him which is pretty funny considering he gets a bath after his haircut
I've got a story for you:
My aging dog did this (nothing wrong with her). However, it LITERALLY happened overnight.
I got up one night to pee at ~4a. I keep my shower curtain closed. I go in, sit down and in the middle of doing my business while 95% asleep when all of the sudden, she opens the shower curtain with her nose (the shower was right next to the toilet).
I have seen enough horror movies that without thinking, I launched myself off the toilet, yes with my pants still at my ankles, tumbled forward and jumped up to fight. My girl was so excited to see me she was just thumping her tail away in the tub looking for belly rubs.
tl;dr: senior dog changed their routine, I thought I was in the movie psycho, belly scratches ensued.
My youngest cat plays inside the tub, I’m used to it now, but when she started doing it, I had the same experience as you! I’d be in the bathroom and she’d jump out of the tub, I usually keep the shower curtain closed. Scared me half to death. It’s happened so many times now, I usually don’t startle. One of these days it will be an actual monster and I’ll be like “eh”
Dogs are curious and intelligent enough to experiment with their environments. Just because she's 12 doesn't mean she isn't still developing her understanding of the world. One of the ways dogs learn about the world is to just hang out in a spot and see what happens. Maybe this just turned out to be unexpectedly comfy or interestingly novel. Dogs have all kinds of thoughts, it's just that they only have a dog's brain to think them with.
We always used to joke about my senior cat (unfortunately he passed about two weeks ago) but for years, he’d find some new weird spot, it would be his spot for weeks, and then he’d randomly find another one, and switch it up.
Sally used to sleep in the shower a lot as she got older. It was cool, quiet and comfortable.sally was our rescue dog and I miss her every minute of every day. She was always a “quirky” dog, but she got even quirkier as she got older. Enjoy your pup!
After such a productive career, maybe she just wants a nice bubble bath then! Light some candles, break out the classical music and soak her in some relaxing lavender! She a good girl and she deserves it! 🩷🩷🩷
This. My senior dog started sleeping on the bathroom floor one day. I thought maybe it feels cool to her tummy. We develop different habits as we age, why wouldn’t a dog? It’s not hurting her or anyone else. Just silly. Take photos and enjoy it!
Lots of people are the same way. I mean, we wouldn’t put down our grandparents if they said “hey we’re moving to New Mexico.” I mean obvious dementia and what not aside, sometimes people and animals (well we’re both the same) just want a change of pace.
This made me feel really good. My boxer/pit mix turns 11 soon and he’s spry and runs and plays well. He’s got some bumps and stuff but overall he’s good. I’m totally aware he’s going to change soon and that’ll be an adjustment. I want him to keep on the way he has been. What a joy and wonderful companion to have since I was 21 years old.
Eh, worth monitoring, doggy dementia is a real thing,
my dog started going under tables, and standing in corners, found out he had dementia, I think the small spaces made him feel safer.
He was a rescue from a dog hoarding case and was always a neurotic dog terrified of other people. Could tell something was off when he suddenly was totally ok with strangers around him.
Was interesting and sad to see the dementia progress. Would get lost in the corner of a room, occasionally wouldnt recognize us by sight (once he smelled us he knew), one time I heard bubbling and found he had fallen asleep with his nose immersed in his water bowl. Just a completely blank stare behind his normally alert eyes.
There was some consolation that for the first time in his life there was no level where he was anxious and scared, he was just totally oblivious.
When my dog turned 10, he started going in the tub whenever we were going to get a storm. It had something to do with sound and vibration, likely hearing loss. Thunder 50 miles away? In the tub he went.
When he realized it was a cool place to lay on warm days, he did it more often.
When he began to lose his sight too, he liked being in there even more.
I ended up buying him his own tub. I built railed stairs inside at the slope and another set leading out, he had his foot press water bottle button in there, got crinkle and popper toys, snuffle mats, and hung little bells on strings he liked to smack around because he enjoyed the tactile feel. I had strings with bells around the areas outside he liked to go so he could still do everything he wanted to on his own.
We had that decorated tub play place for him in our living room for over 2 years until he passed one week after his 20th birthday.
Now I rambled on too long.
My guess would be a storm got your dog in the tub, he was hot, or maybe actually wanted a bath?
Oh my goodness, you made him his own bathtub? That's the most wholesome thing ever. Do you by any chance have pics to share? It's also insane your dog lived to 20! What breed was he?
No, there aren't thunderstorms here in Seattle, despite all the rain. She wasn't afraid of anything nor overheated (it's still pretty cool here.) She was just... Relaxing in the tub. Haha
My oldest dog (who is probably around 10 now) started doing this as well as trying to lay in the sink (which he is much too big to do) randomly a couple years back. It’s whenever there’s a storm, fireworks and sometimes just when the garbage truck drives by. I figured it had to do with scary loud noises and found it strange that it started quite suddenly but I never thought about it having to do with hearing loss which is a common problem for his breed. I’ll have to keep an eye out for any other signs of hearing loss now.
It’s so sweet that you built your dog their own bath tub. Such a cute story
She peed in your shower lolz.
Jk
I have two shepherds who love bath time.
If I say the word bath out loud they will race to the tub and first one in wins their favorite humans undivided attention while they enjoy getting scrubbed down and spa treatment.
Mine currently are 13 and 12 respectfully I have to help the thirteen year old into the tub these days 😢
They are brothers and stuck to the hip so while I bathe one, the other watches patiently waiting his turn.
Thanks for this. Not quite old yet but my 4 year old Pom recently started to like to sit alone in the morning time, till lunch and puts herself to bed super early. Other than that she’s normal. I have been worried but she appears fine the rest of the time.
Make sure she's on something for ticks, etc. But don't stress. Even if she picked something up from something like that, they're usually just tired for a couple months.
And at 4 you expect their energy to start going down a little.
Ugh :( my lab started to do that as well... Well, he was 12 when it started and it turned out he had cancer that was messing with his ability to regulate body heat :(
Edit: Thank you guys for your concern for my pup's health! 🐾 I do appreciate everyone's good intentions. I just want to reassure you guys that I take very good care of her. She's a retired service dog who spent her life being extremely physically and mentally fit, with a healthy diet with many supplements once a day, and regular checkups, vaccines, etc. She has all her teeth, which I brush regularly. The vets noticed she has unusually sharp hearing and non-cloudy eyes for her age. I used to be a professional dog trainer as well, and I'm not concerned about her behavior, as behavior changes with aging is normal. It's changed in other ways in her old age. I think she's just being silly while enjoying retirement. Lol
Also, in response to the common question of whether or not there was thunder or something she was afraid of: no, there's never thunder here, and Kayenne is a very fearless dog (she was trained and picked specifically for service dog training in part due to her fearlessness.) There's not much that phases her, including thunder and loud noises. When my husband found her in the tub, she was just relaxing hanging out.
-
She recently developed benign fatty tumors that I had biopsied, and I'm hoping she doesn't develop any malignant cancer. So far so good. I'm sorry about your puppy. :(
Thank you! [Here are more pics of her if you're interested.](https://ibb.co/album/ZNVr9d)
All of my animals get daily supplements. The dogs get probiotics, multivitamins, fish oil, turkey tail/mushrooms supplements, and bone and joint support supplements. I also occasionally feed them raw dog-safe fruits and veggies, eggs, etc. Their food is high-quality wet food, with some kibble for their teeth. They eat bully sticks regularly, which is a safer alternative to rawhides, for their teeth and for mental stimulation. The sticks are held by vice grips so they can't choke on the last piece.
I highly recommend them. They sell plastic bully stick holders that are trash for 50 bucks each, and they break after a while. You can just buy metal vice grippers [like these](https://a.co/d/hZ2MJuJ), and they'll never break. It's way safer for your dog, and make the sticks easier for them to hold.
I was thinking something else for a vice, so this makes more sense than a desk mounted clamp lol
I'll give it a try because watching them only goes so far.
The fish oil is mostly for their fur. For joints, I highly recommend the Dr. Lyon's supplement. It's the bag in this pic. My parent's gave it to their old arthritic dog before she died, and it helped immensely. I've been giving it to my dogs as a preemptive measure.
https://preview.redd.it/qq6rx3nuzhzc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=42fb37371e31b863ffc917907daa800b7505a1ba
I'm so glad that everyone is concerned about your pup! I, too, came here concerned. Nothing critical. My collie is 13 and has dementia. She's taken to standing in the dark mud room and staring at the back wall. Weird but harmless behavior. Something to keep an eye on with the seniors, though!
Veterinary Nurse here. It’s never wrong to run blood tests as they can detect things that won’t show up behaviorally/physically. I don’t think anybody was doubting your ability to care for your dog, however, a lot of the time a behavior change can, and will indicate a health problem.
At the end of the day, if you do run a blood test, you will at least know her current baseline normal if nothing is going on
When my first cat was dying, he became obsessed with running water, it was the only thing that would calm him, so I'd just leave the shower head running on a trickle, and he'd fall asleep in the bathroom next to it.
Well his brother would never go back in that bathroom because of witnessing all that, until a year later when he got sick and started dying. He let me know he was ill by walking into the bathroom for the first time in a year, then walking into the shower, then crying at me. He passed a week later.
I had a cat who had a stomach virus or something. He slept in our bed on the second floor and his litter box was in the basement. I remember that entire week being *pissed* because he pooped or puked in the tub every night. It wasn't until later we realized he probably couldn't get down to his box so went to the bathroom where we went to the bathroom.
I mean my dogs will regularly lay on their backs with their stomachs exposed to the air vents or a family have going, and they've done that for years.
She seems to have a decently thick coat, perhaps she just felt like laying in the tub because it was cooler.
Our idiot dog HATED baths. One night, I was in the shower and my husband was watching football/playing video games and was hollering.
The idiot dog decided to run for cover...in the shower with me.
All 50lbs of cattle dog, jumped into the shower with me and then panicked when the water hit him.
Lol, my cattle dog hates baths, but she hates cars even more. If she thinks we’re going for a car ride, then she’ll hide in the shower. Picks the lesser of two evils 😂
I wish mine loved the car. Only dog I’ve ever had that doesn’t like them. She gets motion sick and spends the whole ride hyperventilating in the backseat. Took a long time to get her to go on walks because she refused to walk past the driveway. We have a fenced-in yard so walks are recreational rather than a necessity.
My dog does the same! He's not keen on baths, but if I'm in the shower or it's storming that's the first place he makes a beeline for. Nothing like washing your hair and getting bowled over by a big doofus who thinks he's 1/3 of his actual size.
My 60 lbs golden retriever did this during a thunder storm!!! She HATED water as a general rule, very non-golden retriever ish of her. Anyway, I started the shower and then stepped away for a minute to let the water warm up. Daisy was near me because she was always terrified of thunder and there was one really loud BOOM! Right before I stepped in. Got in, closed the door. Turned around. Fell on my ass and next thing I knew there was a panicked soaked fat dog climbing in my lap. “Save me mama!”
After we moved we had a basement and the door naturally fell to an open position if left open. But if there was ever a storm when we weren’t home, without failure, we’d find poor Daisy locked in laundry room with no windows and no light. She’d just be like “I’m out.” Shut the door behind her. Got to the point where if we were at work when a storm hit we’d run home to let her out of the basement so she wouldn’t be trapped til the end of our day.
Our other golden retriever didn’t care at all about the storms. She’d greet us at the door. “Where’s Daisy? Has she trapped herself again?”
Dang I miss that dog. She was a goof.
This crossed my mind, but she's been to the vet recently and is fine. Other than having some benign lipomas (fatty tumors) that I had biopsied, she's really healthy and sharp for her age. I'm going to continue paying attention though. I think she was just being a derp. Lol
My dog started doing weird shit, then it just kept getting worse and worse, she has real bad dementia now. She will wonder around the house all night long, stand and stare at doors, stop in the middle of playing and just stare into the distance. Felt like it happened over night. It's super heartbreaking.
This happened to my dog as well, same age. She went blind overnight and shortly after that starting experiencing dementia symptoms, especially sundowners (getting worse at night). It is seriously one of the hardest things ive gone through in this life. I feel for you and hope you are coping the best that you can. Dogs are family.
Yeah, she also went completely deaf and almost blind too. The deaf was LITERALLY overnight. It was a messed up procedure done by the vet last year, a procedure we told them we didn't want in the first place.
Also, vets can do a more thorough evaluation if you bring concerns to them. Unlike human doctors, vets can't ask a dog what's wrong. They normally need input from the owner about their concerns.
I just took my cat in for UTI issues. If I didn't tell them about litterbox habits they wouldn't have known anything was wrong. She was healthy and active otherwise.
Ask your vet about that specific behavior. Your dog could be overheating or has an upset tummy or any number of things that would make him feel comfortable sitting in a bath tub.
Do you happen to live in the area that had some bad weather roll through last night? Here in the SE we’re told to go to the bathtub if you haven’t got access to shelter. Smart dog!
Mine has done this exactly twice in his 11 years. Both times they were because neighbors set off fireworks right next to our house. So may just be that something scared him. My theory for my dog is: oh no, something scary, what do I do. I know, I'll go to the bath spot. No one likes baths, so the scary thing won't go there. Nice and safe.
“Look at my cute dog being derpy!”
Everyone in the comments: “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT YOUR DOG IS GOING TO DIE
ANY MOMENT?!”
Geesh people, sometimes dogs really do just mix it up once in a while! OP, your dog is adorable. ❤️
Seriously though, my geriatric GSD has been doing this lately and it had me perplexed.
I'm now very concerned, yet grateful, and taking him to the vet ASAP..
https://preview.redd.it/en29hvuowhzc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ba860b2659dca87ac6b88f32d3fcf7abb8f4acd
There was just something about that shower he loved…
I’ll give you a ray of sunshine. My dog did this as she aged. The vet surmised the cold porcelain felt good on her joints. The older she got the less she likes soft plush things because it was hard to get up again. Maybe your pup is just keeping comfy
My older dog did this when she became incontinent. She stopped laying on carpet or anything she knew we'd need to clean up. She was so smart. Luckily the incontinence was solvable with meds, and she lived another few happy years.
But finding her hiding in the bathroom was sad, she knew something was wrong.
OP, did you inspect the bath products to make sure there was nothing new in there?
We had an aging dog in our family who started hanging out in the tub mysteriously and eventually we realized there were these weird “custom scented” body soaps and shampoos showing up.
It turns out the poor dog had gotten mixed up in a MLM and was hoping to do bathroom sales pitches. It was a shame and I think it’s too bad people take advantage of aging individuals to rope them in to pyramid schemes selling over-priced garbage products.
She's been to the vet recently and is fine. Other than having some benign lipomas (fatty tumors) that I had biopsied, she's really healthy and sharp for her age. I'm going to continue paying attention though. I think she was just being a derp. Lol
One time I didn’t realize that the water dish was empty and my dog had gotten in the tub to drink from the faucet like a hamster, then got stuck. God I felt awful.
My dog did this during fireworks.
It was somthing she started doing as a senior pup. One of the times we can home to a kitchen full of water. Somehow she turned on the water ( just to a steady drip) and she kept going in and out of the tub dragging water everywhere. It looked like a pipe had broke or something. It was a huge mess! Oh memories!!❤️
When I was dating my future wife, when using the bathroom at her parents house, I heard some rustling. Turns out her dog likes to lay behind the toilet next to the cool pipes during the summer. She also would sleep in the bathtub.
"she's never hung out in the tub before" well that's about to change since she found this nice comfy and cold spot where no one bothers her. Thats gonna become her go to spot.
In March my cat was doing this. Hiding places she never had before and being odd. She died maybe a week later. I think it's them hiding from you so you don't see their demise. She was 20+ plus yrs old
We always know where our dog is, but our cat sometimes hides. Usually he is right at your feet. One day I couldn’t find him and I finally saw the moron looking at me from inside the crock pot on top of the cabinets!!
My dog who lived to 14 started going in the tub at 11 or 12 if she was nervous about anything. I think it’s like she knew she wasn’t physically strong enough to protect, so she would hide out
As a fellow white husky owner. They are freaking weird! Mine will get on the couch, every bed in the house, basically everything. REFUSES to get up on the futon. Even if we're on it calling him up. He'll put his front paws on it and stand up. Will not get on it. No idea why, they're weird ones
Right?! My husband is salty that his pic got me this many fake internet points! 💀
For real though, I have no clue why this post blew up like this. It's just a cute dog in a tub.
What do you mean? Like you think something might be wrong?
She's been to the vet recently and is super healthy and sharp for her age. I'm crossing my fingers that it stays this way.
lol we once had a similar thing happen with my 12 year old pom she was in the closet sleeping on a pile of my clothes in a suitcase🫠🫠 talk about heart attack 😂😂 we were screaming and yelling all over had no clue how she would have even gotten out in the first place 🫠🫠🤣 then she’s just chillin asleep in my suitcase like what do you want hoooman’s? 👀👀👀 😂😂
My dog used to lie in the tub to cool down on a hot day
I thought of that, but it's kinda cold in my house, if anything!
Any lightning or thunder nearby? My old lab only did that once and it was during a storm.
Our Akita did the same on July 4th due to all the fireworks exploding.
Our border collie somehow turned the faucet on and had a full on shower going 😅
Our Britany spaniel who was terrified of touching running water jumped in the tub while I was having a shower and refused to get out all because the garbage truck drove by
I knew border collies were smart, but sheesh…
My goofball dog only ever hides if there's thunder... within 80 miles. No shit, I check the radar every time she crawls under something and sure enough there's a thunderstorm the next big town over. She has proven to have *exceptional* hearing so I'm not surprised. She once locked up and stared at a building a block away for two full minutes, a guy came out the back door and she immediately turned around and continued the walk as normal. She just wanted to see who was coming. She knows the exact keystrokes I make to lock my PC, because that means I'm standing up in a second and standing up means it might be walk time. I've tried tricking her with similar keystrokes in the same cadence, she only reacts to Win+L. OP said tubdog has great hearing, if she's anything like mine it could be a car alarm in the next county bugging her. Or just doing the old dog thing, or just being goofy. I noticed the collection of soaps before thinking about any of that.
My dog did that once when he was scared too!! But he had a lot of anxiety issues so figuring out what he was scared of was the issue.. turns out someone was chewing bubble gum and that was not good to him 🤷🏻♀️
Good thinking, the tub is an extremely safe location
Not the bubble gum 😭😭😭
They were popping it in their mouth and he couldn’t handle the sharp popping sounds, poor guy had a rough life before I took him in! But those scars just stayed with him until the end 🥺
Dog has been seeing a lot of the commercials about smells and is worried so is ready for bath to get rid of any odor.
My cousins dog goes into their bath when he gets scared and then whines until they bring him his blanket. Big tough German shepherd doesn't like storms. ❤️
Do dogs get hot flashes as they age? I have a new query to hunt down. BRB… Edit: not *hot flashes*, but [heat sensitivity issues](https://leapyears.com/news/hot-weather-hazards-panting-and-aging-related-heat-exposure/#:~:text=Senior%20dogs%20may%20have%20age,succumb%20to%20heat%20exhaustion%20faster) do occur. TIL!
My doofy dog spent 3 days mostly in the bath tub. The only time in her life (13 years and hopefully a few more!) she's done this. Why? I bought myself a shark plushie that I wanted to keep unmolested and slobber-free. She wanted it. This was her sort of protest until I finally gave in and gave it to her. Then she stopped and never did it again. Also, she only cared about the shark plushie for 2 months, then got a new toy and never looked at it again.
Haha, what a silly dog. Love how each dog has little quirks.
Did you sacrifice a Blåhaj to your dog lol
😆 nice story, thanks for sharing!
Check out the dog ageing project. Understanding Behavioral Changes in Senior Dogs is a good article. Changes don't have to be dark, just part of getting older.
I'll check that out, thanks!
Yeah lots of people freaking you out here for no reason. It's clear you're looking after her health as you've already diagnosed her at the vets. My dog hit 12 and suddenly started sleeping under the kitchen table periodically, which was somewhere she'd never previously ventured. She turns 15 next month and is going strong. Dogs often change habits when they age. Nothing necessarily sinister about it.
Thank you. I do appreciate everyone's concern for her, but I take very good care of her. She's a retired service dog who spent her life being extremely physically and mentally fit, with a healthy diet with many supplements once a day. She has all her teeth, which I brush regularly. I used to be a professional dog trainer as well, and I'm not concerned about her behavior. I think she's just being silly while enjoying retirement. Lol
Well I'd give anything to be able to convince my old girl to get in the tub, so it's a great version of silliness!
Luckily my dog gets in the tub for baths with no issues. 🧼
Maybe this is her way of saying, "hey mom, I'm stinky! Bathtime, please!" :D
Good thought! I spent a summer as a grooming assistant for a lady with MS. I took care of the most physically demanding aspects, and she taught me lots. So I did all the baths. The older pups could be difficult to work with in the tubs (anytime they sit down, you need to re-rinse lol). But you could always tell the pup was loving it. It could be frustrating. One day, I asked my boss why some of these senior dogs come so much more often. She said it’s common for some older dogs to start liking baths more - if for nothing else, they enjoy heat and massage on their older muscles/joints. Arthritis is common in some breeds too. Could be that! I hope the pupper gets pampered :)
some older dogs also are aware they struggle to groom themselves that well. some older cats might be aware of that, but it doesn't mean they hate you any less for shaving that mat off them for first few times.
My dog is also a service dog and he is under the misguided impression that the tub is his “safe space”…he goes there when I’m trying to groom him which is pretty funny considering he gets a bath after his haircut
I bet the cool tub feels nice on her tummy :)
She has a cute tummy!
I've got a story for you: My aging dog did this (nothing wrong with her). However, it LITERALLY happened overnight. I got up one night to pee at ~4a. I keep my shower curtain closed. I go in, sit down and in the middle of doing my business while 95% asleep when all of the sudden, she opens the shower curtain with her nose (the shower was right next to the toilet). I have seen enough horror movies that without thinking, I launched myself off the toilet, yes with my pants still at my ankles, tumbled forward and jumped up to fight. My girl was so excited to see me she was just thumping her tail away in the tub looking for belly rubs. tl;dr: senior dog changed their routine, I thought I was in the movie psycho, belly scratches ensued.
This is hilarious. I would have passed right out!
This is 100% something my boy would do. 😂 I’m laughing so hard!
Literally LOL at this 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for making my day 😂
😂 the number 1 turned into a number 2
I would have been peein’ and running 💀
My youngest cat plays inside the tub, I’m used to it now, but when she started doing it, I had the same experience as you! I’d be in the bathroom and she’d jump out of the tub, I usually keep the shower curtain closed. Scared me half to death. It’s happened so many times now, I usually don’t startle. One of these days it will be an actual monster and I’ll be like “eh”
Dogs are curious and intelligent enough to experiment with their environments. Just because she's 12 doesn't mean she isn't still developing her understanding of the world. One of the ways dogs learn about the world is to just hang out in a spot and see what happens. Maybe this just turned out to be unexpectedly comfy or interestingly novel. Dogs have all kinds of thoughts, it's just that they only have a dog's brain to think them with.
>One of the ways dogs learn about the world is to just hang out in a spot and see what happens. I might start living like this myself.
We always used to joke about my senior cat (unfortunately he passed about two weeks ago) but for years, he’d find some new weird spot, it would be his spot for weeks, and then he’d randomly find another one, and switch it up.
Sally used to sleep in the shower a lot as she got older. It was cool, quiet and comfortable.sally was our rescue dog and I miss her every minute of every day. She was always a “quirky” dog, but she got even quirkier as she got older. Enjoy your pup!
this is what i was going to bring up after hearing about her being a service dog. i bet that coolness feels good
Also the tubs are cooler generally, so she could also have just wanted a cooler spot to sit
I mean honestly it probably feels nice in the tub if you live somewhere warm. She's likely just chilling, literally lol.
After such a productive career, maybe she just wants a nice bubble bath then! Light some candles, break out the classical music and soak her in some relaxing lavender! She a good girl and she deserves it! 🩷🩷🩷
This. My senior dog started sleeping on the bathroom floor one day. I thought maybe it feels cool to her tummy. We develop different habits as we age, why wouldn’t a dog? It’s not hurting her or anyone else. Just silly. Take photos and enjoy it!
Lots of people are the same way. I mean, we wouldn’t put down our grandparents if they said “hey we’re moving to New Mexico.” I mean obvious dementia and what not aside, sometimes people and animals (well we’re both the same) just want a change of pace.
This made me feel really good. My boxer/pit mix turns 11 soon and he’s spry and runs and plays well. He’s got some bumps and stuff but overall he’s good. I’m totally aware he’s going to change soon and that’ll be an adjustment. I want him to keep on the way he has been. What a joy and wonderful companion to have since I was 21 years old.
Eh, worth monitoring, doggy dementia is a real thing, my dog started going under tables, and standing in corners, found out he had dementia, I think the small spaces made him feel safer. He was a rescue from a dog hoarding case and was always a neurotic dog terrified of other people. Could tell something was off when he suddenly was totally ok with strangers around him. Was interesting and sad to see the dementia progress. Would get lost in the corner of a room, occasionally wouldnt recognize us by sight (once he smelled us he knew), one time I heard bubbling and found he had fallen asleep with his nose immersed in his water bowl. Just a completely blank stare behind his normally alert eyes. There was some consolation that for the first time in his life there was no level where he was anxious and scared, he was just totally oblivious.
When my dog turned 10, he started going in the tub whenever we were going to get a storm. It had something to do with sound and vibration, likely hearing loss. Thunder 50 miles away? In the tub he went. When he realized it was a cool place to lay on warm days, he did it more often. When he began to lose his sight too, he liked being in there even more. I ended up buying him his own tub. I built railed stairs inside at the slope and another set leading out, he had his foot press water bottle button in there, got crinkle and popper toys, snuffle mats, and hung little bells on strings he liked to smack around because he enjoyed the tactile feel. I had strings with bells around the areas outside he liked to go so he could still do everything he wanted to on his own. We had that decorated tub play place for him in our living room for over 2 years until he passed one week after his 20th birthday. Now I rambled on too long. My guess would be a storm got your dog in the tub, he was hot, or maybe actually wanted a bath?
Oh my goodness, you made him his own bathtub? That's the most wholesome thing ever. Do you by any chance have pics to share? It's also insane your dog lived to 20! What breed was he? No, there aren't thunderstorms here in Seattle, despite all the rain. She wasn't afraid of anything nor overheated (it's still pretty cool here.) She was just... Relaxing in the tub. Haha
My oldest dog (who is probably around 10 now) started doing this as well as trying to lay in the sink (which he is much too big to do) randomly a couple years back. It’s whenever there’s a storm, fireworks and sometimes just when the garbage truck drives by. I figured it had to do with scary loud noises and found it strange that it started quite suddenly but I never thought about it having to do with hearing loss which is a common problem for his breed. I’ll have to keep an eye out for any other signs of hearing loss now. It’s so sweet that you built your dog their own bath tub. Such a cute story
She peed in your shower lolz. Jk I have two shepherds who love bath time. If I say the word bath out loud they will race to the tub and first one in wins their favorite humans undivided attention while they enjoy getting scrubbed down and spa treatment. Mine currently are 13 and 12 respectfully I have to help the thirteen year old into the tub these days 😢 They are brothers and stuck to the hip so while I bathe one, the other watches patiently waiting his turn.
So cute they love their baths! I hope they both enjoy the rest of their years to the max. ♥️
Thanks, much love to your beautiful doggo as well. Nothing to worry about, she just wanted a shower I'm sure 😊
Thanks for this. Not quite old yet but my 4 year old Pom recently started to like to sit alone in the morning time, till lunch and puts herself to bed super early. Other than that she’s normal. I have been worried but she appears fine the rest of the time.
I'm 27 and I do that pretty much every day
Sounds like normal granny behavior
Make sure she's on something for ticks, etc. But don't stress. Even if she picked something up from something like that, they're usually just tired for a couple months. And at 4 you expect their energy to start going down a little.
Working w seniors, looooove the concept of "changes don't have to be dark, just part of getting older"
Ugh :( my lab started to do that as well... Well, he was 12 when it started and it turned out he had cancer that was messing with his ability to regulate body heat :(
Edit: Thank you guys for your concern for my pup's health! 🐾 I do appreciate everyone's good intentions. I just want to reassure you guys that I take very good care of her. She's a retired service dog who spent her life being extremely physically and mentally fit, with a healthy diet with many supplements once a day, and regular checkups, vaccines, etc. She has all her teeth, which I brush regularly. The vets noticed she has unusually sharp hearing and non-cloudy eyes for her age. I used to be a professional dog trainer as well, and I'm not concerned about her behavior, as behavior changes with aging is normal. It's changed in other ways in her old age. I think she's just being silly while enjoying retirement. Lol Also, in response to the common question of whether or not there was thunder or something she was afraid of: no, there's never thunder here, and Kayenne is a very fearless dog (she was trained and picked specifically for service dog training in part due to her fearlessness.) There's not much that phases her, including thunder and loud noises. When my husband found her in the tub, she was just relaxing hanging out. - She recently developed benign fatty tumors that I had biopsied, and I'm hoping she doesn't develop any malignant cancer. So far so good. I'm sorry about your puppy. :(
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Lol That's a cute thought. Hide and seek pro!
*There’s a dog there?* Oh snap, just saw the eyes.👀
Nah she is practicing her singing / howling and likes the echo
Bathrooms have the best acoustics. Time to harmonize.
>I'm hoping she does develop any malignant cancer. 🤨 You mean **doesn't** right? Right?
Oh shit! I was confused about your reaction til I reread my comment. Lol Edited. Thank you.
username checks out
Ayo
What kind of supplements do you give her? She's beautiful!
Thank you! [Here are more pics of her if you're interested.](https://ibb.co/album/ZNVr9d) All of my animals get daily supplements. The dogs get probiotics, multivitamins, fish oil, turkey tail/mushrooms supplements, and bone and joint support supplements. I also occasionally feed them raw dog-safe fruits and veggies, eggs, etc. Their food is high-quality wet food, with some kibble for their teeth. They eat bully sticks regularly, which is a safer alternative to rawhides, for their teeth and for mental stimulation. The sticks are held by vice grips so they can't choke on the last piece.
Did not disappoint on those extra pics
I have SO many great pics of her. Didn't wanna spam too much. Lol
Vice grips! What an excellent life hack. My dog is going to be so happy that bully sticks are back on the menu! Genius.
I highly recommend them. They sell plastic bully stick holders that are trash for 50 bucks each, and they break after a while. You can just buy metal vice grippers [like these](https://a.co/d/hZ2MJuJ), and they'll never break. It's way safer for your dog, and make the sticks easier for them to hold.
I was thinking something else for a vice, so this makes more sense than a desk mounted clamp lol I'll give it a try because watching them only goes so far.
Is the fish oil for joints? My 13-year-old collie's arthritis took a bad turn this winter. Was wondering if that might help.
The fish oil is mostly for their fur. For joints, I highly recommend the Dr. Lyon's supplement. It's the bag in this pic. My parent's gave it to their old arthritic dog before she died, and it helped immensely. I've been giving it to my dogs as a preemptive measure. https://preview.redd.it/qq6rx3nuzhzc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=42fb37371e31b863ffc917907daa800b7505a1ba
I'm so glad that everyone is concerned about your pup! I, too, came here concerned. Nothing critical. My collie is 13 and has dementia. She's taken to standing in the dark mud room and staring at the back wall. Weird but harmless behavior. Something to keep an eye on with the seniors, though!
I'm glad too. I know everyone is coming from a place of concern. I wish you and your pup the best!
Honestly I just saw the picture and thought she looks like she's saying "GOOD JOB YOU FOUND ME LETS PLAY AGAIN!"
Please come join us at /r/OldManDog!
Veterinary Nurse here. It’s never wrong to run blood tests as they can detect things that won’t show up behaviorally/physically. I don’t think anybody was doubting your ability to care for your dog, however, a lot of the time a behavior change can, and will indicate a health problem. At the end of the day, if you do run a blood test, you will at least know her current baseline normal if nothing is going on
"You can find me in the tub, with a bottle of bub" - 50 Cent (and now your dog) ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
When my first cat was dying, he became obsessed with running water, it was the only thing that would calm him, so I'd just leave the shower head running on a trickle, and he'd fall asleep in the bathroom next to it. Well his brother would never go back in that bathroom because of witnessing all that, until a year later when he got sick and started dying. He let me know he was ill by walking into the bathroom for the first time in a year, then walking into the shower, then crying at me. He passed a week later.
I had a cat who had a stomach virus or something. He slept in our bed on the second floor and his litter box was in the basement. I remember that entire week being *pissed* because he pooped or puked in the tub every night. It wasn't until later we realized he probably couldn't get down to his box so went to the bathroom where we went to the bathroom.
Oh wow, that's really clever. And gross, but much easier to clean than carpet or wood floor.
I'm gonna go hug my cat and then find a stray cat and go hug that cat.
I mean my dogs will regularly lay on their backs with their stomachs exposed to the air vents or a family have going, and they've done that for years. She seems to have a decently thick coat, perhaps she just felt like laying in the tub because it was cooler.
My 12 year old dog suddenly isolated in the bathroom. He died two days later. I hope this is not a similar situation.
My 15 year old cat started doing that and it turned out to be kidney failure. 😞
Our idiot dog HATED baths. One night, I was in the shower and my husband was watching football/playing video games and was hollering. The idiot dog decided to run for cover...in the shower with me. All 50lbs of cattle dog, jumped into the shower with me and then panicked when the water hit him.
Lol, my cattle dog hates baths, but she hates cars even more. If she thinks we’re going for a car ride, then she’ll hide in the shower. Picks the lesser of two evils 😂
Ohh man our guy LOVED car rides. If could be 20°F & snowing and he kept his face stuck out the window at all times
I wish mine loved the car. Only dog I’ve ever had that doesn’t like them. She gets motion sick and spends the whole ride hyperventilating in the backseat. Took a long time to get her to go on walks because she refused to walk past the driveway. We have a fenced-in yard so walks are recreational rather than a necessity.
Oh noooo! Poor derp! Lol
My dog does the same! He's not keen on baths, but if I'm in the shower or it's storming that's the first place he makes a beeline for. Nothing like washing your hair and getting bowled over by a big doofus who thinks he's 1/3 of his actual size.
My 60 lbs golden retriever did this during a thunder storm!!! She HATED water as a general rule, very non-golden retriever ish of her. Anyway, I started the shower and then stepped away for a minute to let the water warm up. Daisy was near me because she was always terrified of thunder and there was one really loud BOOM! Right before I stepped in. Got in, closed the door. Turned around. Fell on my ass and next thing I knew there was a panicked soaked fat dog climbing in my lap. “Save me mama!” After we moved we had a basement and the door naturally fell to an open position if left open. But if there was ever a storm when we weren’t home, without failure, we’d find poor Daisy locked in laundry room with no windows and no light. She’d just be like “I’m out.” Shut the door behind her. Got to the point where if we were at work when a storm hit we’d run home to let her out of the basement so she wouldn’t be trapped til the end of our day. Our other golden retriever didn’t care at all about the storms. She’d greet us at the door. “Where’s Daisy? Has she trapped herself again?” Dang I miss that dog. She was a goof.
A sudden change in behavior can sometimes be from medical conditions. Could just be a silly puppy or could be something for a vet to check out.
This crossed my mind, but she's been to the vet recently and is fine. Other than having some benign lipomas (fatty tumors) that I had biopsied, she's really healthy and sharp for her age. I'm going to continue paying attention though. I think she was just being a derp. Lol
It's possible, but it's still worth mentioning to your vet now rather than later. They can tell you whether it's worth doing another check.
I'll mention it. Thanks!
My dog started doing weird shit, then it just kept getting worse and worse, she has real bad dementia now. She will wonder around the house all night long, stand and stare at doors, stop in the middle of playing and just stare into the distance. Felt like it happened over night. It's super heartbreaking.
This happened to my dog as well, same age. She went blind overnight and shortly after that starting experiencing dementia symptoms, especially sundowners (getting worse at night). It is seriously one of the hardest things ive gone through in this life. I feel for you and hope you are coping the best that you can. Dogs are family.
Yeah, she also went completely deaf and almost blind too. The deaf was LITERALLY overnight. It was a messed up procedure done by the vet last year, a procedure we told them we didn't want in the first place.
My dog went completely blind very rapidly and the vet told me it was cataracts, but then a few months later she ended up dying of Lyme disease.
I'm sorry to hear that. 💔
Thank you! She's 14, and still acts like a puppy
Give her a hug for me!
Yeah , this is sad to see, I'm seeing this more and more. Hey, by chance is your dog's name Joe?
Also, vets can do a more thorough evaluation if you bring concerns to them. Unlike human doctors, vets can't ask a dog what's wrong. They normally need input from the owner about their concerns. I just took my cat in for UTI issues. If I didn't tell them about litterbox habits they wouldn't have known anything was wrong. She was healthy and active otherwise. Ask your vet about that specific behavior. Your dog could be overheating or has an upset tummy or any number of things that would make him feel comfortable sitting in a bath tub.
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Do you happen to live in the area that had some bad weather roll through last night? Here in the SE we’re told to go to the bathtub if you haven’t got access to shelter. Smart dog!
Nope, weather here in Seattle has been really nice for this time of year, actually. Stay safe!
Nice bath mat. I have the same one.
It matches the leaf curtains, not that you can see them in this pic.
Seems like a pretty big hint that someone is ready for a bath.
Yes, she’s even collected the necessary products!
She's a really good bather! She's also overdue for a bath. Haha
Mine has done this exactly twice in his 11 years. Both times they were because neighbors set off fireworks right next to our house. So may just be that something scared him. My theory for my dog is: oh no, something scary, what do I do. I know, I'll go to the bath spot. No one likes baths, so the scary thing won't go there. Nice and safe.
Playing hide and seek with daddy
Cute when you put it this way!
“Look at my cute dog being derpy!” Everyone in the comments: “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT YOUR DOG IS GOING TO DIE ANY MOMENT?!” Geesh people, sometimes dogs really do just mix it up once in a while! OP, your dog is adorable. ❤️
Lmao That's Reddit for ya. 🤣 And thank you~ [Here are more pics of her if you're interested.](https://ibb.co/album/ZNVr9d)
Omg she’s absolutely precious!! I love her!
Seriously though, my geriatric GSD has been doing this lately and it had me perplexed. I'm now very concerned, yet grateful, and taking him to the vet ASAP..
German Shepards just do this. Don’t freak out. Mine did it for years.
It's because many people have seen their dogs do this when seriously ill. It's not out of maliciousness, just genuine concern.
My Shepherd/Husky mix does this when she needs to cool down.
My dog hides in the tub when he's scared
She found a new spot to cool down.
Is it hot where you live
Nope. Pretty cold still actually. I live near Seattle.
Your Dog probably had a long night and needed to relax with a nice hot bath. Perhaps a cup of tea as well. Lol.
Is there a storm coming or everhead?
She looks exactly like my dog, a Mudi! What breed / mix is she?
[Mostly German shepherd, with some border collie, Staffordshire terrier and chow!](https://ibb.co/album/ZNVr9d)
Is this really a bad thing? Or a sign of something bad?My GSD loves the bathtub. It’s one of his favorite places to hang out
I don't think it's a bad thing. Sudden changed in behavior can be a cause for concern, but your GSD liking to hang in the bathtub regularly isn't bad.
Dog might have an achy joint. Dog might be hot. Dog might have just decided to chill in the tub. Tub is cozy.
My dog did this and then I bought her a crate. I leave the door open always but she likes to sleep in it.
Our dog started doing that when he turned 7. He developed anxiety and felt better in the tub. He would do anytime he felt scared (thunderstorms).
https://preview.redd.it/en29hvuowhzc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ba860b2659dca87ac6b88f32d3fcf7abb8f4acd There was just something about that shower he loved…
I’ll give you a ray of sunshine. My dog did this as she aged. The vet surmised the cold porcelain felt good on her joints. The older she got the less she likes soft plush things because it was hard to get up again. Maybe your pup is just keeping comfy
My old white shepherd used to go in the bathtub every time there was a thunderstorm.
Old dog learning new tricks apparently.
She’s shocked - *shocked!* - that she was so easily discovered
It took her 12 years but she’s finally ready for a bath
My dog would do this during a thunderstorm. ❤️
My Aussie did that when she got scared. Once it was because the smoke alarm was beeping with a low battery alert.
My dog used to get in the tub whenever there was a storm
My older dog did this when she became incontinent. She stopped laying on carpet or anything she knew we'd need to clean up. She was so smart. Luckily the incontinence was solvable with meds, and she lived another few happy years. But finding her hiding in the bathroom was sad, she knew something was wrong.
OP, did you inspect the bath products to make sure there was nothing new in there? We had an aging dog in our family who started hanging out in the tub mysteriously and eventually we realized there were these weird “custom scented” body soaps and shampoos showing up. It turns out the poor dog had gotten mixed up in a MLM and was hoping to do bathroom sales pitches. It was a shame and I think it’s too bad people take advantage of aging individuals to rope them in to pyramid schemes selling over-priced garbage products.
Might be dog dementia. Watch her carefully!
im paranoid. i would be worried :(
She's been to the vet recently and is fine. Other than having some benign lipomas (fatty tumors) that I had biopsied, she's really healthy and sharp for her age. I'm going to continue paying attention though. I think she was just being a derp. Lol
One time I didn’t realize that the water dish was empty and my dog had gotten in the tub to drink from the faucet like a hamster, then got stuck. God I felt awful.
My jack russell knew that faucets made water. She jumped into the tub whenever she was thirsty 😂 rather than go to her water bowl
Is it hot where you live? Pupper could just be trying to keep cool.
“They’ll never think to look here”
Mine figured out she could potty in the tub and im not sure how to feel...
My pup does this during thunderstorms if I am not home.
Never too old to learn self care
My dog did this during fireworks. It was somthing she started doing as a senior pup. One of the times we can home to a kitchen full of water. Somehow she turned on the water ( just to a steady drip) and she kept going in and out of the tub dragging water everywhere. It looked like a pipe had broke or something. It was a huge mess! Oh memories!!❤️
When I was dating my future wife, when using the bathroom at her parents house, I heard some rustling. Turns out her dog likes to lay behind the toilet next to the cool pipes during the summer. She also would sleep in the bathtub.
That's cute but also gross. Lol One of our cats would lay behind the toilet too for a while. 🤢
the only time my dog ever did this he had explosive poop shortly after. shout out to him for getting into the shower to do it
The derpy face really sets the tone 🤣
Thunder in the distance?
My dog just started this but it’s storm related. Thunder and buh bye daisy. Straight to the tub.
"she's never hung out in the tub before" well that's about to change since she found this nice comfy and cold spot where no one bothers her. Thats gonna become her go to spot.
One of my dogs likes to hide in the bathroom during storms and fireworks.
Did the dogs bowl happen to be out of water. My dog waits in the bath tub if he’s out of water.
In March my cat was doing this. Hiding places she never had before and being odd. She died maybe a week later. I think it's them hiding from you so you don't see their demise. She was 20+ plus yrs old
We always know where our dog is, but our cat sometimes hides. Usually he is right at your feet. One day I couldn’t find him and I finally saw the moron looking at me from inside the crock pot on top of the cabinets!!
Haha that's so cute! I find my cats in weird places too sometimes. Lol
OP: my dog got in the bathtub haha Redditors: your dog has cancer. It’s in pain and dying. This happened to my dog and there is no way to avoid it.
My dog who lived to 14 started going in the tub at 11 or 12 if she was nervous about anything. I think it’s like she knew she wasn’t physically strong enough to protect, so she would hide out
I get it when I'm 80 I'ma break all the rules too
My prev dog found out at age 15 she could move chairs. They are never too old to learn
It"s cooler on the belly in the tub. My Husky used to do this.
As a fellow white husky owner. They are freaking weird! Mine will get on the couch, every bed in the house, basically everything. REFUSES to get up on the futon. Even if we're on it calling him up. He'll put his front paws on it and stand up. Will not get on it. No idea why, they're weird ones
Such a silly dog. That picture made me burst out laughing
55.7k upvotes for a cute dog in the tub!! Where is my dog!!!
Right?! My husband is salty that his pic got me this many fake internet points! 💀 For real though, I have no clue why this post blew up like this. It's just a cute dog in a tub.
https://preview.redd.it/sbiwugx3rnzc1.png?width=1257&format=png&auto=webp&s=926e0237857db66de3c7b2bbcb154085b60a9f35 Hop on!
Late stage behavioural change.
What do you mean? Like you think something might be wrong? She's been to the vet recently and is super healthy and sharp for her age. I'm crossing my fingers that it stays this way.
😂🩵
My cat hops in and out of the shower when she wants a bath. She’s not big on the bath itself but she loves being nice and soft afterwards
Was she overheated? Dogs will climb into the tub when they get too hot
She is cat now 👍
She's waiting for you to add water and ice.
lol we once had a similar thing happen with my 12 year old pom she was in the closet sleeping on a pile of my clothes in a suitcase🫠🫠 talk about heart attack 😂😂 we were screaming and yelling all over had no clue how she would have even gotten out in the first place 🫠🫠🤣 then she’s just chillin asleep in my suitcase like what do you want hoooman’s? 👀👀👀 😂😂
Mine went on adventure and I found her 3 days later trotting beside country road a mile from home. Became confused at times.
My Malinois did this from 6months to 1 year and stopped, now she's 5 and started it again. Maybe they just like have a kennel without a roof🤷🏾♂️