#2534 bath night: a tale of two doggos

The dogs were feeling extra restless today, so MT and I decided that we would take them out to the dog park and let them run around for awhile. The dogs get so excited to go for a ride. Whether we are going to the dog park, which is about 20 minutes from our house, or for a walk in the park, about seven minutes from the house, the joy and delight they show is real. They whine. They stick their noses out the window. They pace, as much as they can in my car. They yip. They try to get in the front seat with us and frequently get yelled at or thumped on the nose when they get insistent. 

Once we get to the dog park, the sight of the other dogs running around makes our doggos absolutely crazy. They strain mightily on the leash. They whimper. They yip. Once we are in the confines and the leashes come off, they sprint away to greet the nearest dogs and run around. They always come find us as we walk around the perimeter, and then they’ll go run around some more. Mac and Harley will often wrestle with each other like they do here at home. Mac ends up on her back in the dirt a lot. 

We are usually out there for about 45 minutes. By the end, the dogs’ tongues are hanging far out of their mouths. They are panting and their eyes are shining. I swear they are smiling. The ride home is mellow. Usually they lay down in the back seat and we don’t hear a peep from them at all. 

Today Mac spent so much time on her back at the dog park that her black fur was more of a grey color. She was filthy. Harley was really dirty too. We decided it was bath time.

MT put on a pair of swim trunks because I told him he’d have to get in the tub with Mac at least. We hadn’t given Harley a bath since we got her in January. (I know. I’m a terrible dog mom.) Harley went first. She easily got in the tub and just stood there quietly while MT sprayed her, shampooed her, and rinsed her off. She stood in the tub while I toweled her off a little and was very willing to get rubbed down with a towel when she got out of the tub. In other words, Harley was awesome. She’s a pleaser.

Then there’s Mac. Getting her into the tub took all three of us. T held Harley, who was sure we were torturing her little sister. I lured Mac into the bathroom with a treat. MT then grabbed her and hoisted her into the tub. We closed the door. I was out in the hall with T and Harley, still drying her off. From inside the bathroom, we could hear MT grunting and telling Mac to settle down. We heard claws scrabbling against the side of the tub. I decided I’d better go in and help MT.

Mac was so scared. MT was trying to hold her in place and Mac was doing everything she could to get the heck up out of there. When I came in, I stood near Mac’s face, talking to her and petting her and getting her to relax. MT was in the tub, just holding the shower head and letting the warm water fall on Mac’s body. Between the two of us, MT and I were able to get her shampooed and rinsed. The very second the water was turned off, she jumped out of the tub and shook herself off. My small bathroom was covered with water and black dog hair. 

I finally managed to get them both dried off. I was able to use the hair dryer on Harley. She loved it. Mac was scared of it and barked the whole time. I had to dry her off with towels and brush her out. There was a lot of hair everywhere. 

Right now, they are very clean and soft. They smell good. And most importantly, they are plumb tuckered out! Both of them are fast asleep up here on my bed. They are adorable.