Whether they need it or not, Sunday morning is the doggies bath club. Having 10 doggies, this can be a significant problem of logistics, materials, planning, and aftercare. Luckily for us, we have a very large shower that can, in a pinch, accommodate all 10 dogs (including the big black rare Egyptian Chicken Hound) and the human designated to be the washer person.
So here's how it is planned to go. Step one is to ensure that nobody else is running water in the house. We are on well and septic, and our bathroom is at the far end of the chain. Step two, run the water til it gets warm. Step 3, herd the dogs into the bathroom. Step 4, shove the dogs into the shower. Step 5, wash dogs. Step 6, dry dogs. At least this is how it's SUPPOSED to be.
Today, the Psycho Sensei was more Psycho than Sensei, and forgot some important safeguards. One was to close the doors between Step 2 and Step 3. Subsequently, when rounding up dogs, they went immediately into the running shower (quite unlike them) then decided to exit, the temperature not being to their liking, tracking most of the topsoil from the back yard with them. This necessitated a change in plan, complete with "HERE PUPPIES" in many different tones and volumes, which, of course, they ignored. It is amazing how one can begin to read the various dogs' footprints in the mud all over the bathroom. Having finally procured the puppies and penning them in the shower, the washing could begin.
Also luckily for me, our shower has one of those shower heads on a hose that can be easily brought down to doggie level. This is a necessary thing when one is zeroing in on one target dog amidst the chaos of 40 legs attempting to get as far away from the water as possible. Target dog is chosen, water is applied, dog is covered in shampoo (different types for hairless and puffs...must be sure to get these straight or strange looking creatures appear) dog is rinsed, and the process is repeated. Sounds easy, right?
Well, it WOULD be easy if these dogs weren't amateur botanists, collecting samples from everything possible in their fur. Leaves of all sorts, berries, brambles, thorns, brush, etc. all must be expertly removed. Then one must attempt to identify the dogs properly under all that mud and cruft to ensure that one does not wash a dog 3x and allow its little friends to remain crufty. Sounds easy, except that the puffs all look alike when they are wet. Also fun.
Today also had its escape. One of the little darlings figured out how to open the shower door, and before I could grab them, 4 sopping wet creatures pushed out the door and into the greater bathroom area, where they proceeded to spray water everywhere, dig up the towels and bathroom rugs, frolic and otherwise cause consternation.
Once everyone was washed, then came the lovely drying attempts. One hand held hair dryer, many towels, and dogs running and shoving each other to get under the dryer, under the towels, under my feet, under my bathrobe, into my slippers, or anywhere else they could wipe themselves. Cresteds seem to love the idea of smearing their wet bodies across anything they can find, moving or otherwise.
Then the second mistake. While herding them out onto the deck where they could become more dry, SOMEONE left the door open to the living room, where several wet doggies ran, leaping onto the poor sick Wessiepooh who was resting on the couch, and covering him with wet doggie and many doggie kisses. I am lucky the neighbors didn't call the police from the sound emitted from the Poofles.
After finally capturing the last of the escapees, closing all the doors properly, and flopping down to rest, the Bath Club concludes. Until next Sunday.
Anyone want to adopt a Crested Puff or 4? :-)