How to clamp down on your little guy?

[ziggy925]

I have to give Ruger ear drops and he hates it. What's the best way to clamp down on a Yorkie to keep him still yet still gain access to his ears. He just squirms out of my arms and dives under the bed, and he really needs these drops. I think I got two drops in one ear and he took off.

Thanks a lot.

[maggiefromnj]

I have no idea. I can't even hold her head still to get her mouth open for tooth brushing. I'm so afraid I'll hurt her neck. Probably lying down on a bed or sofa. Get someone else to hold her while you do the drops.

[yorkietalkjilly]

When I first got Tibbe, he was wild & a fighter, so I would wrap him in a large towel & tape it shut so I could corral him as he fought & fought medicines, treatments, grooming. Then we began behavior modification training & in a rather short amount of time, the towel was no longer needed & he would sit for any treatment or grooming, toothbrushing, etc. Training your dog to trust & respond to you is a big part of getting them to cooperate with you.

[ziggy925]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Training your dog to trust & respond to you is a big part of getting them to cooperate with you.

Thank you.

Any place on the net I can get this info?

[lillymae]

If you could have someone giving a couple of small treats by holding on to them for a bit making the dog have to struggle to get it from their fingers for a bit before releasing it to the dog while you put in the drops it should make it easier for you & teaches the dog the drops aren't so bed.

[chachi]

wrap him up in a towel and put him on your lap

[biapaiva]

My Lily hates too, she can't even see the ear cleaning bottle that she freaks out. The best solution for me was to soak a cotton ball with the medicine and than put in her ears, she does better this way.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by ziggy925

Thank you.

Any place on the net I can get this info?

I would Google "positive reinforcement dog training" and "behavior modification dog training" & read all that you can. This type of training will give you the skills & authority to gently & lovingly teach your dog how to be a happy, well-behaved companion who respects the head of the home. Once your dog learns to trust you implicitly & have no fear of you, it can relax & learn to control its worries & fears, trusting you to guide him through whatever is happening. And it is great fun for you & your dog.

[AllDogBoots]

Originally Posted by chachi

wrap him up in a towel and put him on your lap

this will work as he won't be able to run away.

[ziggy925]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

When I first got Tibbe, he was wild & a fighter, so I would wrap him in a large towel & tape it shut so I could corral him as he fought & fought medicines, treatments, grooming. Then we began behavior modification training & in a rather short amount of time, the towel was no longer needed & he would sit for any treatment or grooming, toothbrushing, etc. Training your dog to trust & respond to you is a big part of getting them to cooperate with you.

I couldn't agree more, and thank you for the info. FYI, I only have one day of drops to go, and he is getting a little better at sitting still. It's not so much his running away, it's the squirming and moving his head around. I'm afraid he will turn quickly into the dropper and puncture an eardrum.

[dawn27]

Try to sneak the dropper bottle in while he is in a calm state just chilling, laying in your lap like an every day occurence. Just have it on the table ready with a treat and than reward him for not reacting.