Yes, the dog sets the pace. Give with food, so you can wrap it in a meatball of soft dog food. If your dog moves away just a bit or shakes off, then your dog is telling you that at this moment, in this environment, that touching was not very rewarding. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Remember to be very generous with your chicken bits, feeding a morsel or two every time you stroke the ear, and several morsels as the touches get longer. In addition, my scottie nipped many hands as strangers would reach out to touch her. Make sure that others are aware of the importance of respecting your CC&D program too. Dog … Maybe you have been yelling at that someone or hitting them. Fortunately, there are steps for changing how your dog feels about being touched. For example, if you say, “Sit!” the dog thinks, “Ah, I know what that means – if I put my bottom on the ground I might get a cookie!” and so he chooses to sit in order to make a good thing happen. Let us be happy for Coco! He follows me everywhere, he’s very loyal, he’s extremely intelligent and so easy to train, he just lacks affection. He shows moments of perkiness, but then will go back to his corner for the rest of the day. You should find that as you work toward various new spots around your dog’s legs and body, he’ll accept new touches more quickly in many places. Spend lots of time massaging the areas where your dog has come to enjoy being touched, and occasionally work on the more sensitive spots. Maintaining and Protecting Your Dog’s Paws During Winter, Whole Dog Journal Product Review: 2020 Dog Gear of The Year, Helping You Keep Track: Activity Trackers for Dogs. Fortunately, a dog’s negative association with touching can often be changed through the use of counter-conditioning and desensitization (CC&D). I was graphically reminded of those benefits recently when our beloved 15-year-old Pomeranian, Dusty, succumbed to an ulcerated cornea and eventual rupture of his left eye. Now you’re going to begin to move your hand to more sensitive places – again reducing the intensity of the other two stimuli – time and pressure. Gradually increase the length of time you stroke each ear gently, and when you’re getting positive responses to 10-second ear stroking, it’s time to increase the pressure. Please take your dog to your vet to address the problem now to help make his (and your!) Sometimes a dog that doesn't … Ask your whether using a sedative would help make the experience less traumatic. Touching a dog should only be done if the dog chooses to make contact with the person, avoid approaching dogs and DO NOT reach your hand out to let them smell you. If you sense that he’s getting restless, stop the session, feed him a few extra tidbits for being a wonderful boy, and release him with an “All done!” cue. After the ears, you might run your hand down the back of his neck, gently and briefly. Old School training would have told you to hold your dog down for growling or snapping at a friend. Kind of a hothouse flower, this guy. Continue to increase the time, very gradually, so you don’t lose the progress you’ve made. Call your dog into your space and begin to pet her with two hands for just a few seconds, then stop and lean a bit away. Oh, these two. My scottie, Sophie is not happy about this stranger petting her. Cats who tolerate, rather than enjoy or … Pain is a huge contributor to aggression – if he’s hurting, all the CC&D in the world won’t change his opinion of being touched – it hurts! He sleeps at the top of the stairs and he’s the most adorable loving dog when he greets me first thing. It's been two weeks now and doesn't seem any better (or worse). Whether it’s a nail clipper, the scale, or some new piece of furniture, try slowly conditioning your dog to accept the item. It is true most dogs are social and do love a good scratch, let’s just not assume they like it from a stranger. When he’s happy to have you stroke both ears firmly for 10-15 seconds or longer, you can move to a new spot. As a result, humans often interact with dogs in human ways, including but not limited to, quick hand movements, forward social pressure, leaning over, staring directly at the dog and sadly, reaching out. If your dog becomes more clumsy, can’t find food or water dishes, doesn’t want to move around as much, or is easily startled, a loss of vision could be the culprit. Hey! Where’s My Chicken?” You want the “Where’s My Chicken?” (WMC?) ... Nova was one of my foster puppies two years ago. How quickly you complete your CC&D program depends on several factors: • Your dog’s age, and how long he has been displaying a negative response to being touched. Muzzle him before the vet or vet tech begins to examine him is., stressed, or on the back of his head, still very gently, it! 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