top of page
hand-2599052_1920_edited.jpg

Body Handling

Help your puppy prepare for being touched at vet visits & for grooming

About Body Handling

Puppies aren't born with the love of handling and restraint, so it's our responsibility to get them comfortable to prepare them for different types of handling by people, veterinarians and groomers. The exercises below will help your puppy learn that being handled, examined and groomed predict good things.

​

You will use treats in all of these exercises. The order of handling relative to when beginning and ending the flow of treats is important. This flow describes the open bar, closed bar technique: 

Number 1 graphic

With treats hidden, begin handling

Number 2 graphic

Then, bring out treats & start feeding

Number 3 graphic

Stop handling, then stop feeding treats

handling order
Chihuahua Bath

Other Tips for Handling your Pup's Sensitive Parts:

​

Paws, Toes & Nails

  • Pick up your puppy’s paws, & look between toes as if checking for foxtails; don’t forget the back paws

  • Hold you puppy’s paw & touch the nail clipper or nail file to his toenails

  • Clip or file toenails; give a treat after each nail

​Ears

  • Look inside each of your puppy’s ears & gently clean each with a tissue

  • Use a small bottle to pretend to put medicine into your puppy’s ears (leave the cap on)

Mouth & Teeth

  • Place a hand over your puppy’s muzzle & briefly lift your puppy’s lips to look at his teeth

  • Rub your finger along your puppy’s teeth and gum line

  • Start short bouts of toothbrushing (2-3 seconds) using pet tooth paste, followed by a special treat

Hugging & Restraint

  • Hold your puppy against you gently for 2-3s, then start feeding treats

  • Restrain more firmly & for slowly increasing periods, as long as your puppy is comfortable

Bathing & Grooming

  • Put your puppy in the (dry) bathtub, on a towel or mat; have a treat party or play with favorite toys in the tub

  • Add a little water to the tub & let your puppy explore

  • Slowly introduce you puppy to bathing by pouring small amounts of water over him, followed by treats

  • Brush your puppy, giving treats every few brush strokes

Following handling with treats isn’t just for puppies. To keep you dog happy with invasive handling as an adult, make sure grooming & veterinary procedures are always followed by treats.

Content adapted from: Kelly Lee's DogKind, a fellow graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers in Davis, California.

We offer private training by our certified dog trainers in:
Frisco, TX  Dallas, TX  Prosper, TX Plano, TX McKinney, TX  Fort Worth, TX,  Allen, TX, University Park, TX, The Colony, TX, Richardson, TX Garland, TX, Southlake, TX, Celina, TX, Highland Park, TX, Rockwall, TX & more! If you live in the DFW area and need help, reach out!

Contact Us

214-210-2695  (phone/text)​

Phone

Email

Areas of Service

Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Plano, Allen, Richardson, McKinney, North Dallas, Park Cities, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Irving, Southlake, Arlington, Lakewood, East Dallas - Additional DFW cities also available; Virtual Anywhere

Hours of Operation

By appointment only

A black dog  looking up

positive reinforcement dog training near me dog training and boarding near me dog behavior Specialist near me

©2020 by Wiggle Butt Academy       MEET the Toolkit and Board & Maintain are Trademarks of Wiggle Butt Academy, Copyright 2022

By submitting any of our online forms, you agree to receive text messages at the provided number from Wiggle Butt Academy in response to your inquiry or active case. We do not send marketing messages by text. Message frequency varies, and standard message and data rates may apply. You have the right to OPT-OUT receiving messages at any time. To OPT-OUT, reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us. 

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
bottom of page