More handling practice.

Another session done tonight.

Repeated what we did yesterday, and added things like more invasive eye-handling (pulling upper- and lower eyelid) and opening her mouth. It was really cute to see her figuring out how to relax her mouth. Tomorrow I want to add a paper towel touching her face, then her eyes, then progress to being able to clean her eyes with a wet paper towel without her feeling uncomfortable.

I'm on a roll... when this is going well I want to countercondition her to the hair dryer. :-) Currently she'll walk away when I blow it on her, but she's curious enough to stand around while I use the hair dryer on our older dog, who loves it.

Hopefully I'll remember to take video tomorrow, I'd like to see what it looks like from an observer's point of view.

Some handling practice.

Today we worked on me being able to handle her face while she relaxed. Luna was standing while I handled her.

Lift lips on one side, wait for lips to relax, click, treat.
Lift lips on other side, wait for lips to relax, click, treat.
Pull lips back to check back teeth, wait for lips to relax, click, treat.
Repeat other side.
Gently pull eyelids apart, wait for eye to relax, click, treat.
Other eye, wait for eye to relax, click, treat.
Stick finger into one ear, wait for stillness, click, treat.
Other ear, wait for stillness, click, treat.

We finished with a recall past her food bowl (which was full). I put her on a stay on one side of the kitchen, went into the hallway just around the corner, then called her; 'Girly!' She trotted - without looking at the bowl - right past and came to me, touched my hand when I presented it, then spun and raced for her bowl when I clicked.

Good doggy!