Teaching Your Dog to Love the Vet & Nail Trims (Desensitization)
Vet visits and nail trims are often traumatic. Your dog panics. They fight, growl, or hide. This isn't just stressful for you. It's truly terrifying for your dog. It makes necessary care difficult or impossible. The problem is fear. Your dog associates these events with pain or being forcibly restrained. We need to change that. We will use Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning. This teaches your dog that handling and the vet are actually wonderful. Your dog needs to love being touched everywhere. This builds trust. Do this when your dog is calm. Use High-Value Rewards: You need the best treats for this. Cooked meat, cheese, or liver paste. These are the rewards for surviving the scary touch. The Gentle Touch: Start simple. Gently touch your dog’s shoulder. Say "Yes!" and immediately give a treat. Repeat 10 times. Target the Problem Areas: Move to the most sensitive spots. The paws, the ears, the tail, the mouth. Paws: Touch a paw. YES! Treat. Gently rub bet...