posted 12-08-2003 06:43 AM         

On a similar note, I had to work Saturday morning and then I had a bunch of errands to run. I got home mid-afternoon and my husband was out with Nala, so I was trying desperately to get a few things done so I could take a little nap. Just as I was ready to lie down, I heard him come home. I could tell something was wrong, though.

He stomps into the house (without Nala) and annouces, "Nala needs a bath."

Apparently, she rolled in something incredibly foul at the park. He said he tried to brush it off her with his gloves, and he displayed his gloves with nasty brown stuff on them. It was too cold to hose her down outside, so he said he would do it in the tub. I could tell he was already angry, though, and we have never given her a bath so I didn't know how she would react. So I took his keys, went out to the car, and drove her to my food shop/bath shop for a bath.

OMG, the SMELL was AWFUL. And it's a good 20-30 minute drive.

We finally got there, and she refused to walk into the back where the tubs are. She has never had a bath there, so I guess she just sensed something was up.

She was TERRIFIED, the poor thing. And I couldn't take time and get her used to the idea, because she was FOUL and covered in brown gook. One of the employees had to help me, and we were as soaked as Nala by the time we finished. She wouldn't let us blow her dry, and I could barely get her towel dried. I brought her kennel in and cleaned it out as well. The car still stank, so I drove halfway home with the windows down to air it out, but I was afraid she would catch a chill and rolled them back up.

Her fur was all sticking up all over the place even after it dried, and she thinks the brush is evil. Fortunately, it looked okay the next morning. And then my husband took her for another walk and she came home mud from the belly down, LOL!

I am going to have to take her to the store a few times and try to undo the damage we did with the bath. Maybe get her used to walking in back without anything happening to her, and then turn the water on (it's really loud, which is what freaked her out the worst) until she is used to that, and then put her in the tub but don't turn it on, etc. Hopefully they will be amenable to that, so the next bath will go better!