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Yes, I agree – great step by step instructions @jenz!
This sort of cooperative care is so challenging.
So many of us, myself included, were used to doing things to our dogs (giving them a bath, taking them for a walk, trimming their nails). As the years went on, there has been a shift to doing things with our dogs.
That requires them to opt-in to whatever the interaction is, not just simply tolerate it but to actively. Muzzle training with Puzzle taught me that. Because of her reactivity toward unknown dogs (and related bite history), whenever we go on outings where we might meet off-leash dogs, she wears her muzzle.
That said, I don’t put it on her. She learned to put her nose in on cue (“snoot”) and we used D/CC to give her a happy association with wearing it. Mind you, she certainly didn’t want a cloth muzzle put on her face when a vet tried it years ago!
It takes time, careful intention and specfic skills, tons of patience, and maybe a lot of cheese to change a dog’s mind about such things.
We look forward to learning along with you and Daisy @ruthabigail – thank you for sharing your journey with us!