Reddit reviews Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry

I highly recommend the book Cooperative Care by Deb Jones for any body handling needs.

There are some great suggestions already. I bought this bookto help with my lab mix's issues with nail care and baths and it has been a huge help, he is going from tolerating to liking these things. The author, deb jones, also has a blog with some great information if you can't get the book and she runs a Facebook page as well.

I also highly recommend muzzle training so while you work on building positive associations to grooming. I am in the process of muzzle training my dog, there are so many useful applications and I like knowing that if he ever needs to be muzzled, it won't stress him out further, because he'll be used to it.

Licki mats work great for one-person treat dispensing/distracting while you work.

An unrelated option is to train your dog to use a scratch board (usually a piece of wood with sand paper attached) which will address their front nails but not back or dew claws. I am in the process of going through the Cooperative Care Book to desensitize my dog to dremeling but the scratch board is great for keeping her front nails short (which are the ones that grow the most) while she gets comfortable with the dremel.

https://www.amazon.com/Cooperative-Care-Seven-Stress-Free-Husbandry/dp/0578423138

This book by Deb Jones is a good resource. If you have Facebook check out the Nail Maintenance for Dogs group.

A referral to a veterinary dermatologist would be the next step to take.

Deb Jones has a book on Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry and also teaches an online class at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy on cooperative care.

I think the vet is the right route to go. My girl hasn't bitten me, but she definitely gives a warning when she's had enough or the cotton ball touched something painful. She is prone to ear infections so it is always a give and take. I guess I'm not immediately thinking this is unbridled aggression off the bat, I'm thinking something medically is wrong. In any case a visit to the vet should let you know. If nothing underlying then maybe a behaviorist can help you out.

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Also, maybe give this a go? Cooperative Husbandry

There is a great book called Cooperative Care: 7 Steps to Stress Free Husbandry that will change your life. It takes time and effort but this method is fabulous for turning the tables on dogs who hate being poked and prodded.

I strongly recommend reading the book Cooperative Care by Deborah Jones and following along with it.