I'm thrilled that one of my ideas actually worked and worked well. I thought I'd share it with anyone out there who has trouble with dog baths. I could not get my medium-sized dog in the tub. She'd panic and run. I couldn't even hold her when she was on a leash, especially in a wet bathroom. Although she's made tremendous strides, she's a bit leery of my husband so he can't help at all. She does just fine at the groomers. Our large dog didn't look enthusiastic either. I am paying $140 per month for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons alone, so I feel guilty and save money where I can. (Hey kids, put down that math book and get a black belt in BJJ so you can command big bucks.) $35 per dog every 6 weeks wasn't very appealing. I thought of running some sort of  long hose meant for plant watering or whatever from the laundry tub to the basement or garage, or from the kitchen sink out the window, but the pressure would probably be terrible, the hose would probably disconnect from the faucet, someone would have to scream, "Turn it on!", etc. A brainstorming trip to the hardware store yielded great results.

I bought a home/garden sprayer. I didn't even feel the need to inform the clerk that I was not going to fill it with harmful chemicals and contaminate the neighborhood. I was a bit worried. It is pressurized, albeit with a hand pump. How else did I think it would manage to squirt? I actually thought about a siphon; too cumbersome. I had a fleeting glimpse of me at the emergency vet when they would ask, "Who had the bright idea to pressure wash the dog?"   Imagine the look on poor Liberty's face when we tied her to the tree and started squirting her with the hose! At least the water was warm. When we sudsed her up, she got the idea. The pressure was not too strong at all; much better pouring a bucket of water over her. Even Juice (also a shelter name) got used to it.  Strangely, the 2 gal tank took care of both dogs and we didn't even have to refill it. They both look clean and happy. And dogs being dogs, they don't hold it against me.

I probably should design one with pretty colors and dog pictures and market it. Necessity really is the mother of invention.