Just an ordinary 'before the walk' training session. He earns each and every one of them--doing this. Sometimes short, sometimes long, and okay, if I'm really really super tired, or if the walkway is a sheet of ice, maybe not. I schedule extra time, but even a one minute routine is more than enough to make a point. If I am lazy and don't ask, he'll pogo up the driveway to remind me.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Friday, January 10, 2020
Nail Care for dogs, Sonic gets Dremelled
The question comes up enough, how do I do my dogs nails.
Well, I dremel, I'm pretty much petrified of snipping nails as I have no idea where the quick is, so I dremel.
Here's how I do it.
First, get you and your dog is a boring smallish space, bring a treat jar or bait bag with really tiny but yummy treats, bring your dremel, bring a book, or better yet sticks.
Sit down and turn on the dremel. If your dog shows any interest at all, mark (clicker or your voice (ie. "yes") and toss a treat his way. Even if he is away, it really doesn't matter, just mark and treat any response. When the dremel is on, treats show up. Deliver treats to whatever spot your dog feels safe and comfortable, don't use the treats to lure him closer. Keep that dremel on, read your books, or do as I did, and start whittling sticks, this will give you a feel for dremelling and make a new noise. Keep those treats going. If your dog is really comfortable over there, you can slow the treat shower and only treat when your dog looks your way or takes a step in closer. Don't lure with the treats, make sure it's his idea to come closer. Make sure your book is very good, or you have interesting sticks to work on, or do your own toes. Doing your own toes is very good practice as you will learn first hand how it feels, pretty comfy, but it might bounce or vibrate which feels weird. You'll figure out how not to do the uncomfortable stuff on yourself. In the meantime, your dog will get used to the sight, sound and smell of dremelled nails (yes, they have a smell, you can wear a dust mask, groomers do).
Once your dog is very comfortable and lying down or standing close to you, you can briefly touch his paw with the non-dremel holding hand, the dremel is spinning and making noise but not on your dog, mark and treat your touch, repeat, as long as your dog does not pull his feet back. If your dog pulls his feet away, don't treat just wait for him to come back or act curious, mark and treat, and repeat the paw touch.
When your dog is really comfortable with the paw touch you can proceed to touching with the dremel. Anytime your dog pulls back, just go back to the step that he was comfortable at. Read your book, whittle sticks or your toes to maintain your good cheer and patience.
Eventually, you'll have a dog happilly running to you to get dremelled.
Nail Maintainance for Dogs is a facebook group that has very comprehensive instructions, you have to join to find them.
Lately, I'm getting close to the quick and Sonic lets me know by pulling his paw back. I let him know by respecting that and often I'll touch that nail with the dremel, but not touch the quick, so that I let him know that I am listening to him, and then I go on to the next nail. Because the line of communication is open, I don't need to worry about dremelling too far into the quick, he will tell me by pulling his paw back, and then give me his paw to continue on.
Dremelling is one of our favourite activities.
Well, I dremel, I'm pretty much petrified of snipping nails as I have no idea where the quick is, so I dremel.
Here's how I do it.
First, get you and your dog is a boring smallish space, bring a treat jar or bait bag with really tiny but yummy treats, bring your dremel, bring a book, or better yet sticks.
Sit down and turn on the dremel. If your dog shows any interest at all, mark (clicker or your voice (ie. "yes") and toss a treat his way. Even if he is away, it really doesn't matter, just mark and treat any response. When the dremel is on, treats show up. Deliver treats to whatever spot your dog feels safe and comfortable, don't use the treats to lure him closer. Keep that dremel on, read your books, or do as I did, and start whittling sticks, this will give you a feel for dremelling and make a new noise. Keep those treats going. If your dog is really comfortable over there, you can slow the treat shower and only treat when your dog looks your way or takes a step in closer. Don't lure with the treats, make sure it's his idea to come closer. Make sure your book is very good, or you have interesting sticks to work on, or do your own toes. Doing your own toes is very good practice as you will learn first hand how it feels, pretty comfy, but it might bounce or vibrate which feels weird. You'll figure out how not to do the uncomfortable stuff on yourself. In the meantime, your dog will get used to the sight, sound and smell of dremelled nails (yes, they have a smell, you can wear a dust mask, groomers do).
Once your dog is very comfortable and lying down or standing close to you, you can briefly touch his paw with the non-dremel holding hand, the dremel is spinning and making noise but not on your dog, mark and treat your touch, repeat, as long as your dog does not pull his feet back. If your dog pulls his feet away, don't treat just wait for him to come back or act curious, mark and treat, and repeat the paw touch.
When your dog is really comfortable with the paw touch you can proceed to touching with the dremel. Anytime your dog pulls back, just go back to the step that he was comfortable at. Read your book, whittle sticks or your toes to maintain your good cheer and patience.
Eventually, you'll have a dog happilly running to you to get dremelled.
Nail Maintainance for Dogs is a facebook group that has very comprehensive instructions, you have to join to find them.
Lately, I'm getting close to the quick and Sonic lets me know by pulling his paw back. I let him know by respecting that and often I'll touch that nail with the dremel, but not touch the quick, so that I let him know that I am listening to him, and then I go on to the next nail. Because the line of communication is open, I don't need to worry about dremelling too far into the quick, he will tell me by pulling his paw back, and then give me his paw to continue on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)