Today Is A. P. Day. Bathing Maddie.

Administrative Professionals' Day (Also known as Secretary's Day) is an unofficial secular holiday observed in the United States on the Wednesday of the last full week of April to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals. In 2010 it will fall on April 21, 2010.
From : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_Professionals'_Day

Today, there are more than 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants working in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles. More than 475,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada. Millions more administrative professionals work in offices all over the world.
APW is always the last full week in April. In 2010, Administrative Professionals Week is April 18-24 with Administrative Professionals Day on Wednesday, April 21."   From: http://www.iaap-hq.org/newsroom/apw/

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Jay brought Maddie, their little 9 month old, 3 pound Yorkie, with him today.  He wanted to see how I bathe pets.  She found the basket of dog toys and wrestled, shook, and tried to kill them, while we had coffee.

After I had the dryer going in my drying cage, I bathed, or rather showered, Maddie very gently, talking to her all the time.  I showed Jay how I always put a non-skid mat in the bottom of the tub, so animals feel safer.  If you put them on a slick tub surface they will always be wary of their bath time.  This is supposed to be a fun time, not something to be dreaded.

I also showed Jay how NOT to get water over her nose by tilting her head up when washing her head.  Then carefully rinsed each side of her face, being careful not to let any water run over her nostrils.  That scares so many dogs, and then they hate being bathed.  Poor little old MaeMae was terrified when Jay bathed her.  But she never gave me any trouble.

After I slicked most of the water off her, (most of the dogs respond to "shake" when I put a finger in their ear), as the first 'shake' is in the tub.  Then I put her down on the rug in the Middle Room, to shake, while I rinse and spray disinfectant the tub and mat for the next pet.  I hang the rubber mat over a towel rail in the tub, especially mounted for that purpose, so it won't go moldy.

Then I wrapped her up in a towel and carried her into the next room, up on the grooming table.  I towel dried her and then put her in the already warmed up drying cage for ten minutes.

After Maddie was blown dry, I put a pet ear drying liquid in her ears so that there would be no water residue to start something.   I trimmed her up a little bit with scissors and clippers, and she pranced around like the little terrier she is.

She didn't like to hold still for these pictures, and it shows.

So this Maddie today.