Desensitizing

Training your dog and cat to be handled may prove invaluable when your best friend needs to be examined by your veterinarian or needs grooming.

Most dogs who are groomed regularly from "puppy hood" become quite relaxed and comfortable being touched and looked at whether you are lifting an ear to look inside, opening the mouth or picking up a paw. Most dogs and cats who are not groomed regularly have some sensitive areas and will squirm, scoot away or may even become grumpy if you try to see or touch those areas.

If you are starting with a young dog or cat, they will quickly learn to look forward to the time and attention you give them stroking their coat or touching their mouth or paws as a veterinarian might do in a regular exam. Keep your practice sessions to just one or two minutes and give them lots of praise for staying still when you touch their ears, mouth, teeth, paws, nails and tail.

If your animal already has a strong opinion about being touched, there is a process called desensitizing we use to gently get dogs and cats comfortable with situations they need to learn to permit.

Take your time. It is important not to rush. If your dog hates to have her feet touched, make letting you touch her foot worthwhile. Offer her a favorite treat as you touch her foot softly and quickly at first. Gradually increase how much you touch her foot with each treat. Depending on how sensitive she is about her feet, you may work this out in an hour or you may make gradual progress over weeks.

It is not important how long it takes to desensitize your dog or cat and get them to allow you to look at their mouth, in their ears or check each foot. That will vary according to each animal's previous experience, breed, age and temperament.

After the cat or dog has learned to allow you to touch formerly sensitive areas, reinforce success by routinely repeating the exercise in a relaxed setting. If you are watching television and your dog or cat who hated to have a foot touched is lying on your lap, casually include the foot in the petting process. You may even do a kitty foot and toe massage with one hand while scratching her ear in that very favorite way with the other hand.

These simple exercises build trust with your pet and confidence that you can handle your companion animal when it is important. When your dog is coming in on a rainy day, it is extremely helpful if he will calmly let you dry his feet before he bounds around the house.

Whether a groomer needs to clean your dog's ears or your veterinarian needs to give your cat a checkup, everyone will benefit if the animal is calm during the process. And your dog or cat will benefit the most!

 
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Published in the San Mateo County Times, October 5, 2002