Dachshund puppy terrified of brushing? How to ease his fear.

Not all dogs are used to brushing and it may make them nervous. You can try making it a positive experience by giving her high value treats while she is being brushed- have someone feed them to her during brushing, or put peanut butter on a spoon they can hold for her to lick off, or if you are home you can put peanut butter spread on a plate she can lick. I would also consider Adaptil spray placed on a bandana prior to grooming (available online).

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! This us unfortunate! I would first watch out for your safety, I do not want you to get bit. I would try wiping peanut butter on the tile or the bath tub and see if turning the water on and spraying around him (not one him at first) eliminates the growling. Gradually over time, if this works, try wetting him then bathing him. If this doesn't work I would ask your Vet for a short acting sedative like Trazadone to give 2 hours before the bath to help calm him some. Then last option is to muzzle him so you can bath him safely. I wish you the best! https://www.simplemost.com/peanut-butter-on-wall-makes-dog-sit-still-bath/

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would ask your vet for oral (pills) sedatives to try at home. I would also purchase a muzzle to use so he can not bite you. Maybe with the right combination of sedatives and muzzle you will be able to trim around his face and do his nails. Sadly there is a small group of dogs that need injectable sedatives to have their nails done at the Vet. You can also practice with the oral sedatives, using yummy treats and gently play around his face and feet with the hope to desensitize him. It would take time and practice. You can also hire a trainer or a Veterinary behaviorist. I hope this helps and I wish you and Baby Bum the best!

Zeus is gorgeous! Thanks for including a picture. The problem with strong dogs is that they quickly realize that they can overpower you. I have problems with this with my own pit bull. The best way that I have found to trim his nails is to use a Kong filled with peanut butter to keep him busy, then nonchalantly trim his nails. Certainly that won't work for Zeus right now if he is very anxious with nail trimming. There are a number of medications that we will try to use for nail trimming at home (or to decrease anxiety in the clinic). Trazadone works great for some dogs, but sometimes we have to adjust the dose. So, you could give the recommended dose 2-4 hours before trying a calm nail trimming with positive reinforcement. You may only be able to trim a few nails, but I would consider that a success for a nervous dog. Be patient with the process. If the Trazadone does not decrease his anxiety enough, then I would recommend talking to your vet about other options or the possibility of adjusting his Trazadone dosing. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It is good that you are exposing Oscar to new things. Overtime he should adjust, but you do have to go slow & limit these public excursions to a few minutes at a time. I am sure you are very reassuring with him, but do reward him with special treats when he seems to relax. You can also try some of the natural stress relieving products such as Zylkene. The best way to help Oscar get over his fears is to work with a veterinary behavioral specialist. Your veterinarian should be able to see if there are any in your area. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like your dog is very anxious. I would discuss a long term anti-anxiety medication like prozac with your Vet and maybe xanax, acepromazine or trazadone for special trigger events. You can try to buy some interactive toys to keep him busy or kings that he can push around that dispense his dry food. Also a behaviorist or trainer may be helpful to provide tips on calming him. Sadly due to his underlying condition there may not be a perfect fix for him, just managing it to a point that is tolerable for him and you.

I certainly sympathize with your situation. My own 2 year old dog is the same way. The key to training him is to expose him to situations that are not too scary for him, but improve his confidence. This is not a quick or easy process, and will need to be continued long term. I have found the best method to be a desensitization and counter-conditioning system. When Max encounters something that is slightly scary for him (not too overhelming at first), ask him to sit or lie down for a treat. The goal is to get him to do something that he is comfortable with and receive a treat (positive reinforcement) for doing that behavior instead of being afraid. Do not give him any reinforcement (verbal or otherwise) for fearful behavior, but try to ignore it. Instead reward the behavior you want to see. It would be a great idea to have a trainer try to help you start this type of training program, so you might ask your vet for a recommendation on a trainer. I have been using this on my dog, and it works well, but requires a lot of work. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.