All dogs are not Lassie clones. It's a wonderful thing when you have a care-free confident dog that has zero issues with you brushing teeth, clipping nails, and toweling off. However, every dog is different. Some dogs shut down and accept their fate. Others show teeth, growl, or bite to get the point across that they do not want to be handled like that. Owners are often very surprised when their dog expresses discomfort from basic touching.

Dogs with touch and restraint issues, often the more restraint is added, the more the dog fights back. Vet visits turn into nightmares. Owners can feel angry and helpless. There are several helpful training strategies for the touch sensitive dog, including muzzle training and a program of desensitization and counter-conditioning. But the most help is found on the other end of the leash. It's a two-way conversation with the dog about comfort level. The owner has to learn to give their dog choice and control in body contact.

Here's a video I recorded when I got home from a hike with the dogs. (Don't look at my hat head!) Hi-Fi had rolled in something disgusting and I had to get the stink off him. Through offering him choice and respecting his comfort levels, we had a low-stress clean up.