Keep bathing the dog.

Last night, my husband and I gave our two dogs their Christmas bath. Our children were gone on dates and social events, so we spent a nice evening at home. Now, Lizzie, our girl dog has always loved her bath. She sits so quietly and calmly in the tub, letting the warm water run down her back. Now, Bruno....he's another story. He has always been terrified at the sight and sound of bath water. For some reason he feels very threatened. I have literally been soaking wet after bathing this animal as he fought to get out of the tub, with every inch and pound of his 30 lb body. Never the less, I have continued to keep bathing Bruno, no matter how difficult or frustrating it has been these 12 years. As my husband was running the water and gathering up the dogs, he chose Bruno first. You know, get the toughest one out of the way. As he brought Bruno into the bathroom I noticed something different....no look of extreme terror on Bruno's face. In fact, he looked calm. Bo placed Bruno into the water, no scraping for the side of the tub. HE SAT DOWN. Amazing. I grabbed the cup and started pouring the water over him before the impending disaster of the bath began and before I knew it he was clean and there wasn't a drop of water on the floor. Bruno had finally learned that bath time was going to be OK. He wasn't going to drown. We weren't going to hurt him. It might even feel good to have the warm water running down his back. 12 years of water puddling on my tile floor. 12 years of being completely exhausted from holding this animal in the tub. 12 years of looking at sheer fear on Bruno's face when he heard the water running. I don't know why Bruno has been so terrified of his bath experience, but I know it was a real fear for him. People are much the same. My husband has struggled with trusting people his whole life. Possibly because individuals who should have loved and protected him did not. Possibly because his father was killed as a small lad. Who knows? What I do know is if Bruno can finally realize the warm water isn't going to kill him then there is hope for all people struggling to trust again. I could have given up on Bruno, but deep in my heart I felt if I kept on putting him in the bathtub, talking to him, wrapping him up to dry.....then eventually he would get it. He did. This Christmas...there is going to someone in your life that is scared, unlovable, difficult, they simply exhaust you. When this happens...picture a shaking, wet, solid black terrier scraping his paws against the side of the tub.
Then picture his complete release. Sitting in the warm water. Looking up with his big brown eyes. Trusting me to take good care of him. Trusting me to keep the water out of his nose. Knowing that after 12 years, he finally can. Don't give up on that someone. Keep on washing that dog. One day.....that bath is going wash away the fear.