We did another convalescent home visit yesterday, and then today I ground
his nails and I was struck suddenly by how far he has come. Frewway
started out as a very nice dog with no issues anyone would think
troublesome. STill he had some things to learn. One was that when he
first arrived he thought anything he could touch was his to ake. Now he
will wait, slobbering, for permission when food falls on the floor. I
successfully told him to "leave it" with the cracker and scrambled egg
bits on the floor at the place we were visiting yesterday. On his first
several vistis he tried to hold onto the elevator floor when we moved.
Yesterday he walked right in and stood calmly when we moved. And today he
stood quietly while I did his nails. The first time I turned the grinder
on near him he ran away.

The process of getting him to accept the grinder was, I think, a good
example of paying attention to the individual dog. Freeway also used to
have another annoying habit. When I pet Tsuki Freeay would try to shove in
between us. So I took to just picking up the grinder and turning it on -
and Freeway would quickly leave. It did not surprise me that the response
didn't last very long. Then I was giving Tsuki hugs in between grinding
Tsuki's nails. So it wasn't long before Freeway stayed put while I turned
on an off the grinder and waved it around him, then did one foot at a
time. Apparently now it has gotten to where Freeway sees it is no big
deal.

I'm one lucky person.

--
Diane Blackman
http://dog-play.com/
http://dogplay.com/Shop/

wrote in message ...
The process of getting him to accept the grinder was, I think, a good
example of paying attention to the individual dog. Freeway also used to
have another annoying habit. When I pet Tsuki Freeay would try to shove in
between us. So I took to just picking up the grinder and turning it on -
and Freeway would quickly leave. It did not surprise me that the response
didn't last very long. Then I was giving Tsuki hugs in between grinding
Tsuki's nails. So it wasn't long before Freeway stayed put while I turned
on an off the grinder and waved it around him, then did one foot at a
time. Apparently now it has gotten to where Freeway sees it is no big
deal.

Good for you! This was also how I think Bodhi learned that grinding
nails was a good thing. He used to be SO naughty! Although he
would stand still, he would scream & howl the minute I picked up
the foot (he was good when we'd go to have someone else do them,
though!). I started doing Coda's nails deliberately in front of him.
Coda would get to lie on the couch (a special treat, by invitation only)
and get cookies after each toe (for Bodhi's sake) and loads of
praise. It wasn't long before Bodhi began hanging around, nosing
for a cookie. The rest is history.

I'm one lucky person.

Yes, and Freeway is one lucky dog. :-)
Shelly & The Boys

Diane said in rec.pets.dogs.activities:

When I pet Tsuki Freeay would try to shove in
between us. So I took to just picking up the grinder and
turning it on - and Freeway would quickly leave. It did
not surprise me that the response didn't last very long.

What a great idea!

I'm one lucky person.

Join the club. I suppose there can be more than one lucky
person around here.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.