Why is my dog so sensitive to touch all of a sudden? Here’s What to Expect

How to help a dog learn to like being touched

You can teach your dog that handling can be a good thing, even if she might not currently like being touched. First, see a veterinarian to rule out any medical causes for the discomfort. You want to make sure that your dog isn’t in pain. The training you will do will not help if your dog hurts whenever you touch her. After you get the OK from the vet, you can begin to work on teaching your dog new associations to touch.

Here are a few items you will need before starting to teach your dog to enjoy touch:

Comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely.

A lead, to let the dog have freedom of movement without allowing wandering.

A washable mat big enough for you and the dog to sit on. Ideally, the mat would be big enough so the dog could lie down on the mat next to you or between your legs.

A treat pouch, such as a fanny pack with a zipper or other closable pouch.

Treats to fill the pouch. They should be your dog’s favorite treats, broken up into pea-sized pieces.

A grooming kit: a comb, a brush and nail clippers. (These are for teaching instead of actual grooming.)

Follow these instructions for helping your dog to become more comfortable with touching:

If you are doing this exercise at home, you might want to work with soothing music playing, to reduce distractions. To get started, put the dog on lead and wear your treat pouch. If the dog is too focused on the pouch, you can keep the treats in a plastic bag inside the pouch to control yummy smells until you are ready to give a treat.

Next, place your mat and grooming tools on the floor and let the dog investigate. If your dog is disinterested in the items, you can sprinkle some of those delicious treats around the items to encourage your dog to come and investigate.

Try sitting on the mat with the dog and encourage her to come toward you. You can call her to you or toss treats next to you on the mat. Don’t stare directly into the dog’s eyes or lean over the dog, since she may find this behavior threatening.

Make sure you are relaxed yourself. If this exercise is going to be relaxing for the dog, you too must be relaxed. Start talking to the dog using a calm, soothing voice. If your dog has a strong aversion to touch, don’t touch her at all this first session; just reward her with treats for being comfortable with you nearby.

Follow-up training to help a dog who is sensitive to touching

During the next session, repeat what you did the first session, giving treats when she seems relaxed. Signs she might not be relaxed include panting, suddenly closing her mouth when you reach toward her, licking her lips, or turning her head away from you when you reach out.

If she does seem relaxed, you can try touching her. To do so, start on the spots that are within her comfort zone. For example, she might be more comfortable with having her neck and shoulders touched rather than her rear end. As you touch her, move your hand slowly so you don’t startle her. Again, give treats as rewards for being relaxed. Try not to touch the spots that she is uncomfortable with.

Depending on how sensitive she is, you might see her relax quickly or not relax much. You might have to do several sessions before you see and feel the changes in her energy and body language.

Some dogs are fearful of touch in general and will need many sessions of these exercises to become relaxed. All sessions should be kept short; five minutes or less is a good starting point. When the dog begins to relax, you can add five more minutes, and continue adding time until the dog is able to fall asleep.

Do Not Hesitate To Give Them Lots of Treats

No, your dog did not write this section. Many pets are very food motivated in addition to being eager to please. Have a wide variety of their favorite treats at the ready when it is time to get them more acquainted with touch. If you give them treats often when they are relaxed or do something worthy of being rewarded, then they will come to understand that touch equals a positive experience.

This is perhaps the most important tip of them all. While the technique with which you go about teaching your dog to accept touch is certainly important, you can’t expect them to go from zero to 100 overnight. Even the most attentive and perfect training will take some time to work, so remember that this is a process that needs to happen in its own time.

Trying to rush your dog will cause them to become overwhelmed or uncomfortable, so it is crucial to move on their timetable instead of your own.

Dog that is sensitive and insecure of touch