By now, your pup should be pretty easy to handle as far as their body. We’ve addressed the main sensitive points of dog care, from the feet to the tail, and if there’s a weird spot your pup doesn’t like that isn’t normal for dogs—the tummy perhaps—you probably have a good idea on how to fix it.
Now that we’ve addressed most of the body, we’re going to increase the difficulty by working on sensitive points on your dog’s face. We saved this for the last for two reasons. The first is that the face is closer to the teeth, and therefore it’s much easier for your dog to get in a bite. The second is that chihuahuas have a very sensitive mouth and it’s possible you may get a pain reaction.
We’ll be going over the mouth in more detail later, but for right now we’re going to work on something your pup is unlikely to have pain with—the ears.
Why Desensitize the Ears
Chihuahuas are a unique breed because being a chihuahua actually seems to have a protective effect against ear infections. Only 3 other breeds share this trait. With our chihuahuas so resilient against infections, why do we need to touch the ears at all?
Well, for long haired chihuahuas, tiny mats can end up being formed directly behind the ears, and they may need to be shaved off. These can happen even with those who brush diligently.
Even dogs who are used to being brushed and handled can freak out to a buzzer right behind the ear, but before we can work up to clippers we need to work up to touching the ear.
Cleaning the ears is also usually included in a groom regardless of whether the dog is prone to ear infections or not, which means it’s likely someone will be touching your pups ears. It’s best to have your pup used to it just in case someone decides to.
How to Desensitize the Ears
By now you probably have a good idea of how this is going to be done. A good starting point for ear touching is actually scratching right behind the ears. The majority of dogs love to be scratched here. This is also a good starting point because it prepares your pup for what we’re about to do.
Scratch your pup behind one ear, and then reward your pup several times. When they’ve warmed up to the idea of an ear scratch and a treat, move to rubbing the lower bottom of the ear. Repeat this 10x and watch your pups reactions.
If they care at all, either keep at this level or go back to an easier point. If they don’t, you can continue a little bit higher. 10x in the middle of the ear for instance. Again, watch your pups reaction.
Finally, touch the back of the tip of your pups ear, with a 10x repetition, going back to an easier level if your dog objects.
Making it harder
Let’s face it, we rarely rub stinky, moist cotton balls on the back of our dog’s head. It’s more likely the “wet willy” we’re giving the dog’s ear canal that they usually object to rather than touching. We’ll be getting to medicines and moisture in the following training protocols, so don’t worry about desensitizing them to all these things at once.
Now that your pup is fine with the back of the ears being handled, go from touching the tip of the ear to gently rubbing the tip between your fingers on both sides. Reward and repeat 10x.
How did your pup feel about the difference between a light rubbing on the back of the ear, and a gently holding/rubbing the tip of it on both sides? A gentle ‘no’ could be as subtle as flicking the ear to remove it from your fingers.
Keep working on it until your pup has no reaction besides looking for their treat.
When they are eager and ready to receive those treats, and aren’t trying to pull their ear out of your grasp, move to rubbing the front and back of the ear a little bit lower down, perhaps the middle of the ear.
Again, keep at this until your pup has no reaction except for to look for treats. If they find it too hard or show an objection, even a small one like flicking their ears or shaking their head, back off to something easier for at least 10 repetitions before trying again.
Finally, switch to rubbing just in front of the ear, right on their temples. Some dogs actually really love being rubbed right there, while others find it less wonderful. If your dog finds it wonderful, it makes a good cool down from all that touchy ear stuff.
If your pup is less thrilled about getting their temples rubbed, keep gently working at it until your pup is excited for the treats—er—to get a rub on the temple.
What Does This Do
In order to clean an ear, you’ll have to be able to at the minimum hold the ear open and wipe it out with a cotton ball. You shouldn’t need to stuff your fingers deep into the ear to get those results, and you shouldn’t. This can cause damage to the ear.
Instead, desensitizing the ear itself can make ear cleaning and any necessary medicines a lot easier, as well as making other facial desensitization, mainly the eyes and mouth, easier.
In our next session we’ll be working on the corners of the eyes, before finally getting to work on the mouth.
Similar Posts:
- Introduction to Tail Desensitization
- What Age Do Chihuahua Ears Stand Up?
- Introducing Hindquarter Desensitization
- DIY Grandma Costume
- How to Measure Your Dog for a Muzzle
