Tricks to make dogs give the paw even if they don’t like it

Perhaps the greatest grace a dog in basic training can show is give the paw which is not just a good social skill.

Dogs that learn to paw get used to having their paws touched, which most don’t like very much.

When they do this, they receive rewards and praise, hugs and prizes for his supposed good manners And they’re enjoying the moment so much that it can be hard to get them to stop.

Everything is very nice, but how do I get my dog ​​to learn to give me the paw?

When the dog is sitting let’s reach out towards him, palm up, as if we were going to give it to him.

Faced with this bodily attitude of ours, most dogs instinctively lean forward, then we lift their paw and move it. from top to bottom in the form of a greeting.

That’s when you have to say “Give me the paw” while we hold him, we pet him a lot and give him a treat of something rich.

Most likely, he will spontaneously extend his paw and try to repeat it because of the pleasantness of the situation.

Many dogs who, in their homes, are phobic towards their paws and gropings, they sometimes relax when the vets at their clinics raise their paws for them.

It’s not because the experts have a magic touch, but because they put the dogs on a table that is often made of stainless steel.

The combination of the height and a cold, slippery surface it makes dogs think more about their stability than what’s going on with their paws. That’s why putting dogs on the surface of a washing machine to cut their nails makes it easier.

Another reason dogs help out at the vet’s office is because They don’t feel safe in this situation.

Although dogs give primacy to routine and hierarchy both of these factors fade away when away from home. There uncertainty The result confuses them, making it much easier to cut their nails or check their paws.

Dogs instinctively pay attention to their paws, but can learn to accept getting their nails trimmed and paws checked when their owners frequently touch their paws, preferably from a young age.

The recommended thing is touch, rub and hold paws for a few seconds each day, gently pressing between the toes of the paw and squeezing the padded part.

The idea is accustom to the dog that touching his paws is not a sign that anything bad or uncomfortable is going to happen to him. The more you feel a gentle touch, the more likely you are to accept the manipulation, nail trimming and checks over time.

Dogs get very nervous when uncertainty comes into their lives, which they often take as a threat.

Some objects that we take for granted go unnoticed by animals, such as pliers, they may seem strange, threatening and alarming to you.

A quick fix is ​​to place the clamp somewhere your dog can see it, like on a coffee table or shelf in your bookcase, always keeping it in plain sight. This will give your dog a chance to smell it, see it and get used to it.

Most likely, he still won’t appreciate having his nails cut, but at least you will be less nervous seeing that shiny, clicking thing held in the hand that doesn’t signify any real threat.

*Prof Dr Juan Enrique Romero @drromerook is a veterinarian. University education specialist. Master in Psychoimmunoneuroendocrinology. Former director of the Hospital Escuela de Animales Pequeños (UNLPam). University professor in various Argentine universities. International speaker.

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