When you've got it figured out, let me know. Carson is that way, because of TPLO surgery.

He's got a sore on his elbow now, and I tried to look at it and he pinched me on the face. That scared me big time.

We can use a head halter on him, it helps a lot. He knows how to lay flat and I control his head while husband doesn the dirty deed of cleaning and treating the sore. He gets a piece of weiner here and there, and we move slowly. Big treat when we are done.

 

Kinda what I figured. Oh well.

I was hoping there was a super secret training exercise to fix this! The "2 person + hot dogs + work quickly" is all we have come up with too...

 

Muzzle for safety is what I'd do myself. Train it/desensitize it use it when she's not in pain.

 

Have you conditioned her to like a muzzle? For me, that would be step 1. Simon came to me with issues having his feet touched, so I muzzled him for nail trims (and actually still do). He likes his muzzle, as it is a peanut butter delivery system.

Kikopup has some good videos on clicker training dogs to like touching in various ways (head touching, etc.). Those might be helpful.

 

Nope, we have never conditioned her to a muzzle, but will do so.

She doesn't have "touching" issues, it's strictly a pain thing.

 

Then I'd muzzle her for safety when she is in pain and needs poking and prodding. I honestly would do that for almost any dog. Their natural response to pain is to bite. When I had to have Simon examined recently we muzzled him because we knew he'd be uncomfortable and it had to be done.

Poor Mac. Hope she doesn't have any painful things happening right now.

 

She got pinched by a crab while playing on the beach. She'll live.