Get Your Puppy Used to Being Handled

Getting your puppy accustomed to being handled is part and parcel of the socialization process. Your pup will have to be handled many times during his lifetime and if he is not used to this, it may provoke him to react with hostility.

During his lifespan, he’ll have to be taken to the vet or to a dog groomer. Moreover, he’ll come into contact with adults and children who will try to pet or otherwise handle him. If he is not taught how to react to handling, he may display unusually violent behavior and in certain cases may also retaliate by biting or nipping. Therefore, getting your pooch used to being handled is now become the need of the hour.

You should try setting aside 5 minutes each day to handle your puppy. It’s simple and easy and will train your pet to minimize his resistance to being handled or even to welcome it. You need to get your pup to hold still and run your hands over his body. Begin at the top of his torso and work your way to his tail. Also don’t leave out the sides. Look for bumps or lumps on his body. Then raise each paw in turn and check if anything is stuck between the pads. Lift and look into his ears and also examine his mouth. If your pup is restless and refuses to let himself be handled, you can offer a food treat each time you handle a body part. This will divert his attention. Each time you try to prod a sensitive part of his body, give him an additional treat. This works like a charm when you’re trying to handle your puppy.

If your puppy lets you handle him without much ado, always reward him later with a treat. This will reinforce the idea that positive things happen when he lets himself be handled without a fuss. Next, you can take things one step further and begin grooming him. Wipe his body, brush his coat, clean his ears and clip his nails. Be generous during the grooming session and keep lavishing him with tasty food treats.

Once your puppy gets used to being handled by you, you can let others begin handling him as well. Start with immediate family members and then gradually include other people he is familiar with. After sometime you can also extend it to include people that he has never met before. Initially, you can let others only pat him. Once he gets used to being made a fuss of by other people you can then let them run their hands over his body and lift his paws and ears. Just remember to proceed very slowly and steadily and take it one step at a time.

Don’t forget to praise your pup with words each step of the way and if at all he seems unhappy or distressed, stop what you’re doing. Instead do something that he likes, play with him and try some other time.

Getting your puppy used to being handled has many benefits. You can examine and groom him at leisure. He will tolerate a vet’s prodding hands with minimum resistance. Moreover, you can be sure that he won’t snap or snarl when a passing child or adult tries to pet or otherwise handle him.

Socializing your puppy includes getting him used to being handled not only by you but also by others. In time, you’ll have an obedient dog who’ll tolerate all kinds of handling within reasonable limits.