Tips for checking paws

For some reason Mia's always been funny about us touching her paws. We wipe them with a towel if she's been out in the rain or mud and she's OK with that, but if you try and investigate them further she legs it.

We try and check them while she's asleep but if we touch one to look between her toes she'll get up and walk away. The problem is, we think she's done something to one of her front paws but we can't get near her to check it.

She's not limping or anything but we think there's something up because in the past week or so she's yelped or flinched when we've touched that paw, and she has started shaking and hiding from us when we go near it now. She actually ran upstairs and hid under a desk last time I tried to have a look which she's never done before, (although she did come over to me about ten minutes and give my ears a damn good licking so I think I was forgiven )

She's absolutely fine with being stroked otherwise - even stroking her legs is fine but as soon as you get to the paws she's off.

Treats don't work and she can't be held because she pulls her leg so hard we have to let go for fear of hurting her, so we're struggling.

Any ideas on how we can check them?

Logan hates his being done but If I need to get a good look at them I can give him a treat to get him interested.

Have you though of maybe playing tug or getting her interested in a game and having a quick look then?

It's worth making a point of checking your dog all over on a daily basis. Eyes, ears, mouth and legs/paws also running your hands over her body to check for lumps etc. She will get used to it with lots of treats and praise.

We have to do this at our puppy classes as part of our certificate but on a practical level it makes things much easier for your vet when he needs to examine her.

I'm forever everyday checking my 2 pooches, they are used to me pulling them around !
Does she know the 'paw' command ? Thus would help her get used to having her paws touched. Plus getting a treat for doing it !

Yes she'll do paw without problem so we can have a very quick look; it's usually when we try and check in between her toes that she disappears.

In the puppy classes we were told to get them used to it and we did try, but it's difficult when she clears off every time and we didn't want to make things worse by chasing her round the house when she does!

I might be able to sneak a look next time we're having a wrestle, she's usually distracted enough then...

You need to counter condition her so she likes having her paws touched. Start very slow by just touching a paw then give a treat. If she's happy with that then take it up a notch, touch the paw for 2 seconds then treat, then 4 seconds and so on. Very gradually build up until you can hold the paw then treat. If at any point she doesn't like what you're doing, go back a step. Continue to do it until she's happy for you to have a good poke around. Always treat after each paw. And always use high value treats. Before you know it, she'll love having her paws handled!

That can take a while, weeks, maybe months depending on how much time you spend doing it, how quick she lets you move up a step etc. so is there no way you can ask someone to hold her securely while you look? Maybe try wrapping her in a towel. If not then you may have to take her to the vets and they will do it.