Puppies need to be handled a lot from a very young age to accept handling better more happily as adults.
Elsie's puppies have had their nails clipped numerous times from as young as a week old. Their nails grow so fast and it is so important to get them used to being handled for this procedure.
There will always be puppies who cope with being restrained better than others, however it is important - if puppies struggles to wait until they are still (even if this is only for a fraction of a second) before you put them down and release them.
Again it is important to build positive associations between the handling and something good.
I have used the same protocol with handling the puppies as we use in our puppy classes which involves the following;
Pick up puppies paw - give a small piece of chicken.
Pick up puppies paw and squeeze gently - give a small piece of chicken
Feel around the claws including the dew claw.
Fold back puppies ears and examine them gently - repeat good experiences after each handling exercise
Look at puppies eyes
Feel around puppies lips
Look at puppies teeth
Run hands all over puppies body
Repeat handling of paws with back paws
Gently pull out puppies tail away from their body
Hug puppy gently - before releasing and rewarding.
Hug puppy gently and look into puppies eyes before releasing and rewarding
Most dogs dislike being hugged - most dogs will tolerate it, but it is an unnatural experience for them. We are humans like to hug, we are a primate species. Dogs are not primates and do not hug one another, and it is something that some dogs find a very scary experience. Many children are bitten whilst hugging dogs, or putting their face close to dogs as the dogs become frightened. Obviously this behaviour also depends on the temperament and past experiences of the dogs too.
If more breeders practiced these desensitisation activities our puppies would be better equipped when out in the big wide world to deal with this behaviour.
How often have you been out in the park when a stranger has approached your dog, leaned over it, made eye contact and gone in to stroke or touch the dog? We need our dogs to be comfortable with this :)
Elsie's puppies have had their nails clipped numerous times from as young as a week old. Their nails grow so fast and it is so important to get them used to being handled for this procedure.
There will always be puppies who cope with being restrained better than others, however it is important - if puppies struggles to wait until they are still (even if this is only for a fraction of a second) before you put them down and release them.
Again it is important to build positive associations between the handling and something good.
I have used the same protocol with handling the puppies as we use in our puppy classes which involves the following;
Pick up puppies paw - give a small piece of chicken.
Pick up puppies paw and squeeze gently - give a small piece of chicken
Feel around the claws including the dew claw.
Fold back puppies ears and examine them gently - repeat good experiences after each handling exercise
Look at puppies eyes
Feel around puppies lips
Look at puppies teeth
Run hands all over puppies body
Repeat handling of paws with back paws
Gently pull out puppies tail away from their body
Hug puppy gently - before releasing and rewarding.
Hug puppy gently and look into puppies eyes before releasing and rewarding
Most dogs dislike being hugged - most dogs will tolerate it, but it is an unnatural experience for them. We are humans like to hug, we are a primate species. Dogs are not primates and do not hug one another, and it is something that some dogs find a very scary experience. Many children are bitten whilst hugging dogs, or putting their face close to dogs as the dogs become frightened. Obviously this behaviour also depends on the temperament and past experiences of the dogs too.
If more breeders practiced these desensitisation activities our puppies would be better equipped when out in the big wide world to deal with this behaviour.
How often have you been out in the park when a stranger has approached your dog, leaned over it, made eye contact and gone in to stroke or touch the dog? We need our dogs to be comfortable with this :)
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