If your pooch loves being cuddled but acts annoyed every time you touch his front paws, then hes certainly not alone in his behavior. A lot of dogs get extremely touchy when it comes to the idea of their feet being in another individuals hands, literally. This often is fine and dandy — until nail trimming time inevitably comes around. Of course, if its a new problem, make sure your furbuddy hasnt injured his paws.
Your dog might be irritable about contact with his feet because of all of the sensory components that are contained within them. Dogs paw pads consist of nerves that communicate with oscillations. These are useful for enabling canines to figure out the firmness of terrain for traveling over it, often for running. The spots in the middle of their paw pads feature uber-delicate nerve tips that also might contribute to their deep dislike of their feet being handled by others. In short, dogs often feel uncomfortable — and awkward — when people go near their paws, either front or back.
By getting upset when you touch his front paws, your dog might be interpreting your behavior as being an “alpha” one. Whether youre attempting just to pet his paws or to trim his too-long nails, your pet might perceive your paw-touching action as a display of social status, and in turn might make a big show of expressing to you that he objects to it and wont stand for it. He might even think of it as being an attack — definitely not your intention.
Dogs tend to be highly tactile in their interactions with fellow canines, whether theyre playing together or simply greeting one another. Although they might do a lot of touching, you might also notice that they usually keep away from feet. Not only do they generally abstain from touching others feet, they also usually abstain from smelling them, too. Disliking having their paws touched might just be an instinctive doggie characteristic. Dont take your pets dislike of it personally.
If your dog gets a little testy when you touch his front paws, it could be because you do so abruptly and out of nowhere. Canines are naturally protective about their paws. After all, dogs in the wild often dont stand much of a chance once their paws are wounded — and this apprehension transfers to lots of modern dogs, as well. By putting your hands on your dogs quickly, you might just be startling the poor thing — and creating a negative, frightening association with the action as a result.
What can I put on my dog’s paws to stop licking?
Use a bitter spray or cream – Coating your dog’s paws with a bitter spray or cream can help deter them from licking and chewing the area. Some people say to use chilli or pepper but you should only use pet-safe products as they won’t irritate your dog’s eyes or nose.
What can I do for my dogs sensitive paws?
Take them to the vet to manage the pain and treat the problem. Most dogs will have a high tolerance to cold ground and snow, even though they have sensitive paws. However, temperature is not the only thing a dog’s paws need to be protected from.
Dog Excessive Paw Licking: Stop It With Natural Recipe
The dog, man’s best friend, is our four-legged best buddy. We have to take great care of our dogs mentally and physically. So what are some reasons why your faithful pet won’t let you touch his or her paws, and what can we do to fix the issue? You might need to seek out the help of a dog behaviorist near Fredericksburg VA.
So why does your dog not want their paws touched? It’s not necessarily anything that you’ve done wrong. Paws are sensitive and give the dog a lot of information about their environment. That sensitivity triggers the dog’s instinct to protect themselves. It’s also possible that the dog has had a bad nail trimming experience or one of their paws was hurt at some point.
Our hands are filled with nerve endings. The same goes for our dog’s paws. Dogs use their paws for a number of tasks that benefit their everyday life such as:
Since all of these tasks require a dog to use its paws, its no wonder that they can be so sensitive to being touched. However, being able to effectively touch your dog’s paws without having to tussle with them is a must. You may need to look into hiring a dog behaviorist near Fredericksburg VA to help your dog overcome the fear they have over someone touching their paws. In fact, utilizing dog training Spotsylvania Va dog owners trust with the well-being of their pets can be an effective move for you and your sweet pooch.
Professional dog training Stafford VA, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania VA dog owners are known to turn to might be how you need to help your dog. The trainer uses specific methods to train your dog to not shy away from a person when touching their paws for any reason. The following are techniques they might use:
A dog behaviorist near Fredericksburg VA might also use these same techniques to guide your dog to a more submissive attitude when it comes to touching his paws. It’s important to get to the root of why the dog doesn’t want his or her paws touched.
Conditioning a dog to not pull away or bite when you touch their paws can be extremely difficult. Trying to do so yourself can be frustrating and could possibly result in you getting bitten. Calling a dog behaviorist near Fredericksburg VA is an investment, but it’s one that can reduce struggles that you and your dog have or could have. One of the most heart-wrenching things is when a dog bites its owner or, worse, someone else. Biting someone else can lead to legal issues and the dog being put down.
Because of the potential risk that exists when a dog doesn’t like their paws touched, dog training in Stafford Va can be the answer to reducing those risks. Any time you mitigate an issue, you prevent future challenges like having to deal with a bite victim’s injuries or even dealing with your own. Nonetheless, it’s not always about risks but about your dog’s well-being.
If your dog has an aversion to having his or her paws touched, Wag Ur Tail Dog Training can help. Our behavioral consulting service will get to the bottom of what is going on and help your dog feel better about their paws being touched. Call us today at 540-324-3518.