[Ldyrev1]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Only way you'll ever get to do it is lay her on your lap and snip one bit of hair from one foot, then instantly let her up to go outside and run off her tension from the fear and give her a fabulous treat and big praise. One hour later, do the same thing. One hour later, repeat. One hour later, again. Keep it up. Only two seconds to snip and she's up.

Little snip at a time so short and sweet the dog begins to learn it's just this one little thing - boom - and then I'm up and free, rewarded with this luscious chicken and then I get to run off my fear and nerves. And then very short hourly the repetitions after the 3rd or 4th day begin to be a part of life to the dog. They really do begin to accept and expect it. She'll know it's soon snip, treat, run outside time each hour. It's about the only way to work with a phobic dog unless you are some kind of Dog Whisperer expert - seconds at a time, working up to what you want. And don't despise small beginnings.

You won't get anything done really at first and it will take a good long while before you ever do get any real hair cut but she'll begin to little by little realize she can bear that one snip if the treat is juicy enough and she's not made to endure it for but those few seconds. Being fearful and forced to endure something for a long time is anathema to a phobic.

But if you go in really short steps and work up so slowly over time, one day you can snip snip snip a bit longer before she's up. And you work up from there slowly.

This is really fabulous advice and I can see it working for other phobias. Jeanie you are wonderful!!