Contented Grooming Sessions - Handling A Dog Using Positive Re-strengthening
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012Grooming your dog and doing general health checks can be difficult if your dog is not cooperative.
Regular grooming of your dog will boost his health and wellbeing. The physical contact between you during these sessions also happens to be good for your relationship. Regular checks of eyes, ears, nails and teeth are necessary for early recognition of any health Problems.
A dog which has been handled often from puppy-hood should find these sessions relaxing and stress free. Touching of the dog’s body, head and paws and combing the coat on a regular basis will prepare him for a life of relaxed grooming and handling. Being able to open a dogs mouth with little struggle will help if he desires medication. Ear and eye drops will be less complicated if he is comfortable having these areas touched.
An adult dog new to handling can present quite a difficulty at grooming times. Fear and stress caused by what the dog sees as manhandling can present unhelpful behaviours. Often the unwished-for behaviors can appear as aggression.
If this is the case with your dog it is vital at this point not to continue with the grooming session. The dog is frightened and simply asking you to leave him alone. He does not completely understand what you're actually doing to him. If you continue to touch him despite his alerts your dog may bite.
All dog training should be a positive experience for your canine. You're going to need to train your dog that grooming and handling is no threat.
Clicker training is a positive reinforcement based training system that can be used to boost grooming sessions. The dog should be tuned into the clicker to the point of expecting a reward every time he hears a click. This should be carried out far from the grooming environment.
When tuned in. The clicker can be taken into grooming sessions. The click must identify positive handling experiences. Start with keeping the session’s low key and click then treat to reward each time the dog lets you touch him. Try touching him gently with a brush or lifting one paw. Always read your dog and his reaction. Don’t rush him in any fashion. If he looks tense or snarls then you have handled him more than he's going to accept at that point.
By gradually rewarding positive replies to handling you may retrain the dogs mind. Grooming sessions will be rewarding times filled with positive strengthening.
Grooming your dog is highly important, but learning the right dog training method to be in control at all points, is way more vital. Learn more by going to this informative dog forum.
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