A while back I was bored one night and feeling silly. I started singing and dancing and playing tag with some of the dogs. I had an older puppy that wasn't used to my stupid antics and she started barking at me, and I laughed and started talking to her like "what you barking at" and she bolted out of the room. For several days she would lay on my lap, but if I talked she bolted. I felt terrible. She acted terrified. I started talking to myself (I'm a widow and live alone) in different rooms in a quiet soothing voice so she could hear me but not be close. After a week or so, all was well again.
When grooming the pups that are scared of the shears, we let them see it, smell it, look at it without it on, then while holding them we turn it on and let them see it while we are talking to them softly. Once they realize it's not going to "kill" them they settle down.
I think new things scare some that are a little sensitive.
__________________  Deb Sillers
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