Paw Handling
Grooming & Handling · 23 steps · by Push Drop Stick
Your Dog will learn to enjoy having their paws handled and restrained. This plan is great preparation for nail trimming or grinding, wearing shoes, or putting on a harness, coat, or backpack.
It can be helpful to have Your Dog on an elevated surface such as a raised dog bed, grooming table, or even your couch.
**Puppies:** Getting your puppy happy about having their paws handled is wonderful socialization during the puppy window (around 4 to 16 weeks), when puppies learn what is safe and normal in their world. Because a young puppy usually has no fear to undo and soaks up new experiences fast, you can often run this plan in **proof mode** (proof levels 1 and 2, the harder review steps) so your puppy breezes through it faster than an adult dog might need. Keep every rep positive and let your puppy set the pace.
**Split:** If Your Dog is scared of having their paws touched, start the plan on the first split.
Training steps
Touch a front elbow for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's front elbows for 1 second. Do not lift or move their leg.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a front elbow for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's front elbows for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their leg.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold a front elbow for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Grab and hold one of Your Dog's front elbows for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their leg.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a front paw for a split second
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's front paws for a split second. Do not lift or move their paw.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a front paw for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's front paws for 1 second. Do not lift or move their paw.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a front paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's front paws for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their paw.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold a front paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Grab and hold one of Your Dog's front paws for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their paw.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold a front paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Grab and hold one of Your Dog's front paws for 5 seconds. Do not lift or move their paw. Begin feeding during the hold.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift a front paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift a front paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold the other front paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Grab and hold Your Dog's other front paw for 5 seconds. Do not lift or move their paw. Begin feeding during the hold.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift the other front paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift the other front paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a back knee for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's back knees for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their leg.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a back foot for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's back feet for 1 second. Do not lift or move their foot.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch a back foot for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Touch one of Your Dog's back feet for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their foot.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold a back paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Grab and hold one of Your Dog's back paws for 2 seconds. Do not lift or move their leg.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold a back paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Grab and hold one of Your Dog's back paws for 5 seconds. Do not lift or move their paw. Begin feeding during the hold.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift a back paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift a back paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold the other back paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the hold.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift the other back paw for 2 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grab and lift the other back paw for 5 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is in any position.
Begin feeding during the lift.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Congratulations! You now have a dog who loves having their paws handled, which is excellent preparation for nail care and putting on shoes.
If Your Dog starts avoiding having their paws handled, that's completely okay! Simply Drop back to a step they're comfortable with and work through the plan again or restart the plan with proof steps. Go at Your Dog's pace and do as much training as they need.