Body Handling Basics
One thing we want to do while our puppies are small is teach them to enjoy being handled and touched all over. We don’t just want them to tolerate being touched, we want them to love being touched as much as possible. Then when they’re not enjoying the experience, say at the veterinarian’s office, or when they’ve got something in their paw or muzzle, the unpleasantness will only be due to the circumstances, and not an added stressor for a dog already averse to being touched in those areas.
Perform these exercises without a leash, if possible. If a leash is required, always allow your puppy to move away from your touch, while practicing.
Consent is imperative for these exercises. If the dog is not consenting to be touched, you’re instead sensitizing her to it, and making things worse.
There is a special order of operations for the following exercises. It is very important that you reach for or touch the puppy first, then deliver the treat. Avoid feeding your puppy the treat as you reach for him! This is extremely important. We want puppies to associate us reaching for or touching them with the opportunity to eat a treat.
If we touch him and feed him at the same time, our puppy may not notice we are touching him, or he might stay to eat the treat even though he feels uncomfortable.
Practice this order of operations without your puppy, first. Use an object, like a book, and practice touching the book, then removing your hand, and extending your hand with the treat in it toward the book. This practice may feel foolish, but you will be glad for the practice when you work with your live, wiggly pup!
Remember to smile, or at least have a relaxed face and attitude. If you’re frowning in concentration, your dog will wonder what is up that’s so concerning. You can also chat with your puppy as you go along. This is a casual but important time you’re spending with your dog, not a chore!
Don’t put the treat you’re going to give in the same hand you’re touching your dog with. The dog will naturally turn her head and become a fluffy pretzel bending and twisting to see what that yummy thing is in your hand, making your job much harder and distracting the dog from noticing what’s going on.
Body Handling: Tail & Hindquarters
Have 25-50 treats in a container next to where you’ll be working with your pup.
Gently touch your puppy’s back, then feed a treat. Did your puppy calmly accept the touch or did he or she whirl around to see what you were doing?
Next time, watch your puppy’s face as you touch her back. Does your puppy keep her head still and glance at you, eager for a treat? Or does your puppy fling her head around, try to move away, or try to bite your hand? If your puppy puts his mouth on your hand, or snaps at your hand, stop. Go back to gently reaching for the puppy’s back, and feeding a treat. Repeat the reach-treat exercise until your puppy looks at you for a treat, when you reach for him.
If your puppy is looking at you for the treat, you’re at the right level of touch, and can repeat the back-touching and feeding exercise five more times.
When your puppy looks at you for a treat for five repetitions, change your light touch to the base of his tail, then feed. If your puppy puts his mouth on your hand, or snaps at your hand, stop. Go back to gently touching the puppy’s back, and feeding a treat. Repeat the reach-treat exercise until your puppy looks at you for a treat, when you touch his back.
Watch for the same behaviors: the puppy continuing what it was doing, or looking at you for a treat, before moving onto gently touching the puppy’s tail. Repeat the tail touch 5-10 times.If at any point the pup lunges at you or bites you, go back to the lower level of stimulation (reaching, light touch, etc.) until the puppy looks at you when you perform that action.
Body Handling: Mouth
Have 25-50 treats in a container next to where you’ll be working with your pup.
Start by just lightly scratching your pup under the chin, then feeding a treat. If your puppy is excited, start instead by touching his chest, and feeding a treat. Then, take your hand away and put it under his chin, and feed a treat.
Next, gently lift your puppy’s chin with two fingers, as if you are trying to get her to hold her head up, and feed a treat. If your puppy backs up, puts her mouth on your hand, or bites at your hand, stop. Go back to gently scratching under the puppy’s chin and feeding a treat. Once your puppy eagerly reaches for the treat when you touch under her chin, repeat 5-10 times, then go to the next step.
Next, gently touch the tops of the puppy's nose and feed a treat. If your puppy tries to bite or mouth your hand, stop. Instead, reach for the pup’s nose and feed a treat. Do this a few times until he is waiting with his mouth closed, for you to deliver a treat. Repeat 5-10 times.
Make a C with your hand and gently cup it over your puppy’s muzzle, like you plan to hold it – but don’t grab your puppy or squeeze his muzzle! Just lightly cup your hand over his muzzle and feed. Did your puppy calmly accept the touch, or did he or she move away? If your pup moved away, only reach for his muzzle next time, then feed.
Now for the fun part! Gently lift your puppy’s lip on one side of his mouth and put a treat in his mouth! If your pup stays nearby, repeat 5-10 times. If your pup moves away, repeat the muzzle handling step until your pup is eagerly awaiting the treats, then try again.
Body Handling: Ears
Have 25-50 treats in a container next to where you’ll be working with your pup.
Gently touch your puppy’s ear, then feed a treat. Did your puppy calmly accept the touch, or did she move away?
Next time, watch your puppy’s face as you touch her ear. Does your puppy keep her head still and glance at you, eager for a treat? Or does your puppy fling her head around, or try to bite your hand? If so, stop. Reach for the puppy’s ear, then feed a treat. Repeat 5-10 times, until your pup looks at your face for a treat when you reach for her ear.
If your puppy stays close to you and looks at you for the treat, you’re at the right level of touch. Repeat 5-10 times, then switch to the other ear.
Look for the same signs when you touch the other ear. The puppy should continue what she was doing, or look at you for a treat. If at any point your puppy moves away, stiffens her body, snaps at you, or bites your hand, stop and consult your trainer.
Body Handling: Paws
Have 25-50 treats in a container next to where you’ll be working with your pup.
Gently touch one of your puppy’s paws, then feed a treat.
Next, watch your puppy’s face as you touch a paw. Does your puppy glance at you, eager for a treat? If so, repeat 5-10 times. Notice: Where are your puppy’s ears? Are his eyebrows relaxed or scrunched together? If your puppy stays with you and looks to you for the treat, you’re at the right level of touch and can move to the next paw.
If your puppy pants or show the whites of his eyes, or tries to bite your hand, stop. Reach for the puppy’s paw, then feed a treat. Repeat 5-10 times, until your pup looks at your face for a treat when you reach for his paw.
Repeat this exercise with all four paws. You may find that your puppy is more sensitive about being touched on his back paws. If so, alternate between touching your puppy’s front paws, and feeding a treat, and then only reaching for the back paw, then feeding a treat. Once your puppy will watch you for a treat as you reach for a back paw, then you can try touching that paw again.
With contributions from IAABC