THE BOOSTER BATH

If you’re like me, bathing a dog especially the size of our German Shepherds is not high on my list of things I enjoy doing. After having a car accident, bathing a dog has slipped far down on my “things to do list.” Even under the best of circumstances, bathing a dog is no easy task. So what do you do when your dog is in need of a bath? You can bathe him in the bath tub or take him outside and use the hose. And then there is a third option and that is the ‘Booster Bath.”

Getting your dog used to the Booster Bath is similar to getting him used to the grooming table. It’s always a good idea to start them young so they become familiar with these grooming devices. Once your dog is taught to jump up on a grooming table, you’ll have no problem getting him into the Booster Bath.

The good thing about the Booster Bath is that you have full access to getting around your dog while bathing him, unlike if he were in the bath tub. It is elevated off the ground so you don’t have to bend over him. It has a three point restraint system with an adjustable collar for the comfort of your dog while preventing him from jumping out. Once the dog gets used to the Booster Bath, many times you won’t even need the collar. The bottom of the tub has a rubberized non-slip mat to prevent slipping and sliding and falls. It contains a five foot drain hose so you can wash in one area and drain in another. There’s a place for shampoo and it comes with a fan nozzle that you can attach to a hose. There is a rubber bottom on the legs of the tub to keep in stationary and help prevent it from slipping. Although it is built sturdy and strong, it is lightweight and portable. You can easily disassemble the tub for storage. The Booster Bath can be used indoors (cellar or garage) or outdoors.

The spray nozzle has an on/off switch so you can control the water flow, using the gentle flow for the face and head or the heavy flow for the rest of the body. Then when you're finished, you can hook the nozzle to the side of the tub.

The Booster Bath comes with a 5 year limited warranty. The company also makes a “Groomers Edition” of the Booster Bath. This has a built in ramp for your dog to climb into the tub rather than jumping up into it. It can adjust to accommodate the smaller dog as well. It has a dual fan nozzle hose system. This one also is lightweight and portable. This also comes with a five year warranty.

You can purchase the companies “Tropic Shower” system. It is made so you can have access to warm water with good pressure. It works with your washing machine valves and garden hose. This has a two year warranty.

The prices for the Booster Bath products are: Booster Bath - $179.95, Groomer’s Edition - $369.00, and the Tropic Shower - $49.95.

I feel that for most people’s purposes, the regular Booster Bath is all they need. The Groomer’s Edition is quite a bit more expensive and I don’t know that it is that much more different than their original bath. Unless the dog is old and has a hard time jumping, I really don’t see the need to spend a lot more money for a bath with a ramp.

To see pictures and videos of the Booster Bath, check them out by doing a search on Google with the words: Booster Bath. Also sometimes you can get a better price when someone is selling it on e-bay. I’ve seen them on Amazon as well starting at $149.00. So check around to get your best price. Watch out for the shipping.

My rating: quality: (4), durability: (4), ease of use: (4), value: (4)