For those of you who merely
suspected I was strange, here's the proof!
I first get the bathtub spigot water temp at the Sheltie-perfect temperature and run it to warm the tub bottom. Then I disrobe (I know, not the mental image y'all wanted
) and pick up the victim. I step into the tub, sit/squat down (now you know why the tub bottom has to be warm) and with a small metal bowl, start pouring water over the coat. They're used to it, so I can also stand them under the spigot to wet and to rinse.
Once finished, I squeeze the water out of the coat, pick the now clean doggie, squeeze the water out of the feet and feathers, and deposit her on the towel waiting on the rug beside the bathtub. Once she's toweled off, we sit on the rug for the blow-dry.
Once she's pretty dry, I set her free to wipe herself on the curtains while I shower off. No strained back, furkid feels secure in the tub, and we both wind up clean!
My back d
He barks at the hair drier, so I'm slowly starting to use it so he gets used to it, because if I leave his fur damp it gets wavy. Half the time I don't really mind, he's my little stud muffin man either way...but a nice straight fur baby coat would look nice every now and then! 
