Need advice
 

I need help on how to do all the grooming stuff on Joel. They say puppies will let you do stuff to them but he freaks out when I go near him with brushes or anything and I feel so bad when I try to.
Like puting on his harness, he is terrified of it and shakes the whole time and cries. I dont want to baby him but he makes me feel so bad. The other night I put it on him and he was shaking and I didnt want to take it off while he was shaking to make it like I was saving him from it, so it took 20 min. until he finaly laid down and I took it off.

So anyway I need advice on all that stuff, brushing, clipping nails(I can do it when he's sleeping but I dont want to have to clip his nails in his sleep when hes 8 years old! Lol), brushing teeth and the harness. My sister thinks I baby him and she gets annoyed at me, lol. But I dont mean to and I dont want him to grow up to be a wimpy dog. And Ive tried using treats, hes just scared of them, he doesnt even like peanut butter:eek:
Hes practicaly scared of his own food but eats when he's hungry, and hes also scared of spilled water.........anywhere.
And my sister thinks to get him used to his harness I should make him sleep in it and leave it on all day,and it makes sence and I kinda want to try it but Im gonna feel sooooooo bad, but I know eventualy he'll get over it. Sorry but im so worried im gonna mess him up forever, and those eyes! Oh my goodness how do they look so sad and cute! So any tips would be helpful.

Hi, well i think you are right about not wanting to do
the grooming things when he is afraid .
It will only make it worse.
Try taking it slowly one step at a time.
Like one day just get some tiny treats ,get the brush out
maybe sit on the floor with him.
Just hold the brush 5 or 6 inches in front of him
if he remains calm tell him good and give him a treat.
Keep practicing this . The next step would be to just touch his side with the flat side of the brush and do the same with the treats.
Don't attempt to brush him till he is comfortable with this.
I think after awhile he will learn that nothing horrifying is going
to happen to him.
I hope this helps .

:thumbup::thumbup:

Good advice...

my boy is terrified of his old Harness. I decided to throw it out (donate) and get a brand new one, different style, different color. and start fresh. I kept him inside for a few days and just left the thing on the floor in his room. When he started to chew on it and play with it, I gave him treats, and started praising him every time I put it on.

He still runs when I bring the harness out now, but at least he accepts it, and knows he gets a treat as soon as it's done.

He hated the ones that go over the head. so I bought a step-in.

Agreed...lots of treats. I even thought of maybe laying the brush on the floor with treats kind of close and then closer so he could eat them and get closer. Lots of praise is such a good idea.

You've gotten some good advice. I totally agree, just let him tell you when he's ready. I'd try just leaving the brush and harness laying around so he's not so freaked out when he sees them, then get him used to smelling and going up to them. Maybe put a couple of treats on the items so he will go up to them. Good luck, I have a scaredy cat too...Hot Rod freaks when I roll the vacuum out. lol He's fine with it running, but the rolling makes him a wild dog, he barks and nips at it. lol

Thanks fpr the tips, I know treats are the most important part, but the thing is I havent for ANY treats he likes, he acts like im trying to poison him, lol. Hes fine with seeing the brush but doesnt like when it touches his skin, thats a good idea to use the back of it first. And with the harness, I already taight him "check it out" and he'll touch it when I say it and I praise him and sometimes he'll even slowly pull it around and than run, lol