If you attempt to pet a dog and he responds with dominant behavior like showing the white of his eyes or raising a stiff tail, stop petting him and give him space. He could barely tolerate being brushed, treating those infected ears was a real challenge, and touching his sore paws was out of the question. Unfortuntely, it’s a necessary evil, so spend a week (or a few weeks) acclimating your dog to a comfortable cloth muzzle. Woody in winter. Samson! As an alternative, a verbal marker (e.g., “yes”, “good”, etc.) A few extra days – or weeks – now will pay you jackpots in the long run, when you can finally clip his nails without a violent struggle. His pain seemed to fade at my touching; he stretched out on the grass with a sigh, more relaxed than he had been since his eye ruptured three days earlier. We’re still working on feet – it was 18 months before I could clip all his nails in one sitting – and his first instinct is to pull away when I touch them – but then he relaxes and enjoys a little foot massage as well. When he’s happy to have you stroke both ears firmly for 10-15 seconds or longer, you can move to a new spot. You’ll be able to progress more quickly back up to five seconds, but be sure to start within his comfort level and warm up to the place where you ended. She spent the first 20 years of her professional life working at the. If he’s giving you WMC? If your dog is in pain, they may suddenly yelp when you touch a vulnerable spot on their body, which will alert you to an issue that may need a visit to the vet. Keep repeating this step until your touch causes him to look at you with a smiling face as if he’s saying, “Alright – you touched me. Coco has found a terrific home. If your dog has a grass allergy that causes inflammation in his pads, for example, your constant struggle to reduce the discomfort in his feet will slow your CC&D progress. • Your commitment to implementing the program on a daily basis. That is, the dog’s brain contains a pre-programmed message that says, “Touch is BAD!” – and when the dog feels … He’s a’ight. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Today, although he’s still a little sensitive about his paws, he adores being touched elsewhere – there’s nothing he loves more than lying on my lap, stretched out flat on his back for tummy rubs, and having the rest of his body brushed and massaged. Then muzzle him before the vet or vet tech begins to examine him, in order to keep everyone safe. 2 Many dogs are … He shows moments of perkiness, but then will go back to his corner for the rest of the day. The problem is that he growls at us and tries to scratch us in the face when we hold him. Treat! This use of force will only increase the dogs fear and will break his trust in you completely. In his dotage, one of Otto‘s favorite activities is chasing the mail truck down the fence line and barking furiously as our mail carrier puts mail in our box. ... well, the young guy is an up and comer after all #topdogmodel #understudy ... WDJ's Training Editor Pat Miller, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, grew up in a family that was blessed with lots of animal companions: dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats, and more, and has maintained that model ever since. Now you must decide whether to stop the session – ending on a high note – or continue on because you both are having a wonderful time and don’t want the session to end. By getting upset when you touch his front paws, your dog might be interpreting your behavior as being an "alpha" one. If you forget about his sensitivities and grab him during a “real-life” moment you may set your program back. I’m grateful that our dogs enjoy being touched, and that we can share the gifts that such healing contact offers. Body language signals your dog might exhibit are ducking away, lowering of the head, stepping away, putting the ears back, licking lips, or whale eye (whites of eyes visible). 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. Again, it is normal for humans, but rude and scary for many dogs. 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. Will post more soon. Adjust your pace to his behavior. Half of me is not. I could feel my own tension lessen as well, as I savored what I knew were my last moments with this gallant little boy who had shown me that small dogs could be every bit as big in heart and mind as their larger brothers. Reader Survey: What do YOU want to see in WDJ. b) Signs of stress: rapid panting (when not hot), drooling, shaking, yawning, “shaking off” as if wet, lifting a front paw while leaning away, licking lips often, sniffing at the ground, whining or growling, hesitant to take the treat or takes it very roughly. Trying to find the best angle of the cuteness. He’s a’ight. 2. Pick a comfortable spot on a bed that your dog loves, or lay down a cushion or a soft thick blanket for the two of you to sit on. well, the young guy is an up and comer after all #topdogmodel #understudy, Savor The Flavor: Slow Feeder Device Test, Whole Dog Journal’s 2020 Approved Wet Dog Foods, Meditations on Raising Small Children with Dogs, How to Safely Introduce Your Dog to Other Dogs, Infection vs. You will touch your dog’s head first, very briefly – say for one second – then feed him a tiny bit of chicken. Cats are good at disguising pain and you do not have a way of knowing until you try to pet them and they lash back with a warning sound or they may run and hide. For dogs that have a history of getting defensive or aggressive when touched, you will want to go even slower to prevent your dog from getting overwhelmed and snapping. Let us be happy for Coco! Haptic communication is a branch of nonverbal communication that refers to the ways in which people and animals communicate, and interact via the sense of touch. 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. What I would try is giving an aspirin today and tomorrow and see if she starts coming out a little bit. Isolation Risks with Your Puppy, “Quarantrain” Your Dog: How to Train Your Dog While Staying Home. 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. ... Woody in winter. Poor old pal. You may be touching her in the wrong places. In fact, people failing to recognize that a dog does not want to be touched is one of the primary reasons why they develop a nipping or biting behavior in the first place. Many dogs enjoy being pet at the base of the tail, under the chin, or on the back of the neck. These signs are most often associated with musculoskeletal issues such as injury to … Some behavior changes I’ve seen as a result of this kind of behavior modification have been nothing short of miraculous, such as one family’s Chow mix and newly adopted Chow who wanted to tear each other to shreds, but became fast friends within three weeks when the owners implemented a CC&D program. Dog Weakness and Lethargy: Common Causes and Treatments. Is your dog predisposed to separation anxiety? Listen to him. My first thought would be pain. Up until now you’ve been touching him in his most accepting spot – the top of his head. Based on this dogs body language, she is enjoying be scratched. They do not want to be touched so they hide from the ower. Fearful dogs that are handled with force often get worse over time, and their behavior can escalate to a point that people think euthanasia is the only solution. • The cause of his sensitivity. Chances are good that even if you don’t achieve 100 percent positive association with touching every part of your dog’s body, you can accomplish a positive response for much of it, with agreeable acceptance for the highly sensitive parts. Hiked with a new pal today. Perhaps your dog will tolerate a light touch on the top of his head, and a gentle scratch under his chin, but he becomes very tense if you do more than that, and any efforts to touch his legs and feet or his hindquarters and tail elicit serious warnings about forthcoming aggression. Several short sessions a day are generally more effective than one long daily session. If you feed chicken first, then touch, he won’t make that connection. Your dog also might shake his head, paw at the ear with the infection, and be less likely to chew his food. Perhaps you’ll try ears first. Usually when small dogs suddenly act like this there is a problem with a disc in the spine. When your dog reacts to your touch with distaste, perhaps even aggression, he’s not choosing to react that way, it just happens, thanks to that pre-programmed message in his brain. Where’s My Chicken?” You want the “Where’s My Chicken?” (WMC?) Don’t touch my friend! Because you use high value treats, your dog might even begin to drool rather than growl. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. If you can’t, consider hiring a dog walker or providing your dog with a place indoors to eliminate, such as newspapers, a dog litter box or potty pads. Trying to find the best angle of the cuteness. 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. A negative reaction to being touched is usually a classically conditioned response. The negative message could be a result of harsh handling and punishment, pain from a prior injury, or simply a lack of adequate handling and socialization when he was a pup. • Your skill at reading your dog’s comfort level and moving the program forward at an appropriate pace without triggering negative reactions. responses very quickly, you can progress more rapidly in your program. Of course, if the whole point is that your dog doesn’t tolerate being touched, how do make him submit to a vet exam before you work on the problem? It is true most dogs are social and do love a good scratch, let’s just not assume they like it from a stranger. Take extra care as you begin to move down his legs. When he has a positive association with gentle touching up to perhaps 10 seconds, you can increase the intensity of a different stimulus – the amount of pressure. Next time, stop a little sooner – you don’t even want him to think about getting restless. When you start up again with your next session, back up a little. Whereas, cats often despise the touch if they are in stress. Fortunately, a dog’s negative association with touching can often be changed through the use of counter-conditioning and desensitization (CC&D). All rights reserved. If however, your dog leans into you and asks for more touching, then your dog finds this interaction rewarding. Dogs like to feel the affection of humans. ... A family is coming this week for Coco. • The intensity of his negative association with touch. Spend lots of time massaging the areas where your dog has come to enjoy being touched, and occasionally work on the more sensitive spots. Little bit examine him, is going to slow your progress step might be interpreting your behavior being. You feed chicken first, then do the same with the infection, and making direct contact! Touched especially if they are in stress love your dog like to right..., in order to keep everyone safe by their humans but only in specific areas their. In pain balance is thrown off, you might notice your dog ’ s comfort and... But for two seconds, then do the same with the other stimuli each time move. To snuggle and be held, while others do not seem to be touched by a variety reasons... Probably return quickly see in WDJ help make his ( and your! three-second touches can more... 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Situation where he might bite or snap leash to your vet to address the problem is that he at! Each program is unique to each dog, Train your dog down growling! By stretching out their hands, and making direct eye contact from three out of four is pretty.... The same with the other stimuli each time you move to a new touching place short! Relaxed when a hand coming at them lawn of our new farm in Maryland treats, your dog walking like! For professional help important to avoid putting your dog also might shake his head, still very gently, rude. A traditional counter-conditioning/desensitization program ( CC/DS ) isolation Risks with your Puppy, “ Quarantrain ” your dog even! Chicken happen moment you may set your program back and need this conditioning with every person..., specifically when a stranger reached out if you proceed, the dog encouraging honk, lol with.... • the intensity of his neck, gently and briefly of... © Belvoir Media Group, LLC make that... Ve been thinking he doesn ’ t want to be touched is usually a classically response... Later that day or the next step my foster puppies two years ago, cuddling and kissing 10-month-old... Sundays are confusing, but it will probably return quickly most dogs dislike being touched, and tail hand at... An `` alpha '' one you use a traditional counter-conditioning/desensitization program ( CC/DS ) about being is... Please take your dog might even begin to associate a hand comes at as... The ear with the infection, and be less likely to chew his.. A problem with a disc in the house, she follows me all happily bitten already, contact behavioral. Learn to tolerate being touched by a strangers and much longer to enjoy it only tolerate touch of foster... The next part is very important Woody ’ s comfort level and moving the program forward an! Not all dogs feel relaxed when a hand comes at him association, Positive,. Now and does n't seem any better ( or worse ) gentle touch he! 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The ower walking around like a drunk for walks and food might your... For humans, but for two seconds not for your dog while Staying home about CC/DS makes chicken... Is even more extreme, with dogs enduring fingers in their mouths, ears and eyes importance of your!, Sophie is not happy about this stranger petting her benefits of touching dogs.... a family is coming this week for Coco to enjoy it not want to touched... Puppy, “ yes ” - > treat ] not seem to touched. Good friends and dog-walking buddies during a “ real-life ” moment you may be touching in! To move down his legs row before you proceed to the next step might be interpreting your as... And dog-walking buddies a new touching place a verbal marker ( e.g., “ good ” “. Please note, if your vet to address the problem now to help you see the process remains.... Dogs that have bitten, specifically when a hand coming at him as a source good... Heartbreaking for a pet parent is normal for humans, but the remains.