After going over old posts about Lucy and Hambone, other posts about dogs behaviors, and these threads...

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=233101#Post233101

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=233470#Post233470

and this thread, I had an "A-HA!" moment. (Read: I am an idiot).

When we marker train, she gets excited. We do a sit, stand, here, and follow the leader to charge the mark. She gets amped and then I try to desensitize her? Duh! So, I tried a different method. No marker training prior to : Massage. She lies down beside me, I stroke and massage her where she will let me touch her. Then, I extend the massage to her rear legs and down to her paws. I can lightly squeeze her rear paws and she won't react. Then sneakily massage up around her shoulders and down her front legs until she is almost asleep and then I touch her paws on top, and massage body and rear paws, then back to front paws. I actually got to touch her front paws and stroke the bottoms and hold them for a little bit. I marked the end of the session with "YES!" and then treats. Some massages are without muzzle or paw touches, just relaxation.

Massage calms her and calms me so its a win win. I was starting at the wrong end. Why would she trust me with the front until she knows she can trust with the parts she isn't bite protective of? I wasn't listening to her and believe me, I apologized to her -- with a very long soothing massage.

As I said, I am an idiot. She is teaching me so much. And so is this forum.

The dremel idea is great and so is hand feeding. I don't have a dremel, but I will incorporate the touching of nails with a q-tip and other "materials" instead of my hand and hand feeding her some of her food is a great idea. I had forgotten about that one!

(The dremel idea is good in that I don't know if she is hand sensitive or doesn't want anything touching or pressing on her paws. It makes me wonder if her paws have been pinched and her lips and ears pinched in the past).

Jo, my experience is limited to my small (10 lbs) companion dog. But I use the marker training and treat her generally as tho she is a large working shepherd (a dog, is a dog, is a dog).

Are you tethering? Connie can better advise as she takes in dogs and senior dogs, but I think she tethers them all.

Also, when I first got mine, she was real touchy to her feet and ears, so I would pet her and eventually work my way until I fondled (?) her feet and ears. I now have no problems touching anything on her.

Also, I got a doggie finger nail emery board (kind of like the ones they use on artificial nails) and exposed it to her a little at a time. Now I can easily file her nails. Small dog, so I don't need the dremel. But you may want to start with something like that just to get her experienced with something on her feet.

Welllll....I was tethering. I should go back to that. It hasn't been near long enough, but my daughter and 2 year old grandson moved in, so tethering went on hold. So...grandson is gone this weekend, daughter and I will have to make a schedule.

Thanks for the question.

 Quote: Jo Harker

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How do you establish trust? I try NOT to push her buttons (but I don't molly coddle her either), we walk, work on obedience (so she needs to obey me but have fun doing it), groom, etc. I know I need to be patient. Others have told me the same thing. I need to just breathe and let her set the pace?

Walking, feeding, tethering in the house, marker training, crate training, grooming. All of those will help establish the relationship and build trust. Did you get the pack structure DVD? That will help clarify it a bit more. Also look back on some old threads. There is plenty of good info here. She will let you know when its time to move foward. Be paitent and enjoy your time together.

I did get the Pack Structure DVD. I need to watch it again and again as there is always an extra tidbit I missed the time before. :smile:

She is begininning to be excited to see me when I get home. I can groom her more easily and we take leisurely walks (leash obedience as well as letting her out on the 20 ft. lead and smelling.) She seems more relaxed and interactive so I think I won't make muzzle and foot touching a priority but won't shy away from touching them while grooming or marking for compliance if she offers them to me--read not biting or snapping. And, in grooming, a soft cloth swiped over the paws and muzzle (and thats it), followed by a treat for now.

Thanks for the follow up!