face cleaning

[chauncey]

I have recently adopted a five year old male Bulldog who is delightful. However, he will not allow me to touch his face and, in particular, clean his folds. If I approach him with a cloth, his jowl quivers. As soon as I touch his face slightly, he tries to bite me. He was surrendered by a person who sprayed him in the face with vinegar to train him to obey. I suspect this training method has caused this aversion to face touching. He desperately needs his face to be cleaned, but he goes into attack mode whenever he sees a cloth approaching him. Help.

 

[sisters3]

I have recently adopted a five year old male Bulldog who is delightful. However, he will not allow me to touch his face and, in particular, clean his folds. If I approach him with a cloth, his jowl quivers. As soon as I touch his face slightly, he tries to bite me. He was surrendered by a person who sprayed him in the face with vinegar to train him to obey. I suspect this training method has caused this aversion to face touching. He desperately needs his face to be cleaned, but he goes into attack mode whenever he sees a cloth approaching him. Help.

Poor thing!!! AWESOME YOU ADOPTING!!!!!

Not that I have experience in RETRAINING [MENTION=15364]oscarmayer[/MENTION] [MENTION=2894]2BullyMama[/MENTION] [MENTION=8741]Manydogs[/MENTION] may be able to help. But in the meantime I received the best information when training Joey to sit still and allow me to clean her face, here is the advice I received here at this forum (Joey was 8 months, she's almost 4 years old and I am still learning from wonderful people here)

"Treat in one hand, wipe in other.... show and let her smell treat. Wipe face, then reward. She'll eventually catch on that if she allows you to clean her face, she'll get a reward"

I sure hope this helps and please stay in touch here, photos, etc. you will love it and receive SO MUCH SUPPORT!

Other more experienced folks will be along to help, hang in there.

 

[Lalaloopsie]

Start first with getting him used to cloth approaching his face, eg give him treats from the tissue. Let him get used that good stuff comes out of a tissue. Then may be in a week, when he tolerates tissue around face, put some coconut oil on it, he will be interested to lick it most probably, and then you try to wipe his face with it, first not going into rope, just touch his nose and lips. After couple of weeks try to reach into rope. Coconut oil is natural antiseptic and suitable to wipe bulldog folds (at least better than nothing). May be later you can try something else, when he will start to trust you, but begin with coconut oil, it is tasty and smells good.

 

[helsonwheels]

I have recently adopted a five year old male Bulldog who is delightful. However, he will not allow me to touch his face and, in particular, clean his folds. If I approach him with a cloth, his jowl quivers. As soon as I touch his face slightly, he tries to bite me. He was surrendered by a person who sprayed him in the face with vinegar to train him to obey. I suspect this training method has caused this aversion to face touching. He desperately needs his face to be cleaned, but he goes into attack mode whenever he sees a cloth approaching him. Help.

Hello my Canuck friend. Welcome!!!

I’m so not a fan of spray bottles either. Can you imagine vinegar in the eyes.

Have you tried a unscented baby wipe? It’s small and you can hide it in your hands, cuddle up to him and only start wiping his forehead n stop. Wait an hour, and do it again. Turn it into like play time like wipe your nose then his nose, then one paw. Then leave the wipe in front of him so he can smell it. Go slow. No need to get to the folds immediately. Even if it takes a couple days to get there. I use baby wipe. Mostly for you white face one as Duke has much bigger folds than Nyala. Baby steps as you just adopted n already 5...

 

[2BullyMama]

Welcome to EBN. And thank you for adopting!

treats, treats and treats.... you have to retrain him to make it a positive experience. It will take some time, but as others suggested ..let him smell the cloth and treat/praise when he doesn’t growl. Good luck and let’s see some pictures

 

[ddnene]

I like the idea about the unscented baby wipes... I use those on Willow, because she never has any face issues.

 

[chauncey]

This is also a good idea. Chauncey is not a fan of cuddling either. He loves to be petted, but he is not a cuddler/leaner. He is getting more affectionate and now allows me to touch his cheeks.

 

[chauncey]

Great idea! Thanks.

 

[2BullyMama]

This is also a good idea. Chauncey is not a fan of cuddling either. He loves to be petted, but he is not a cuddler/leaner. He is getting more affectionate and now allows me to touch his cheeks.

Keep in mind.. it can take a full month before they feel comfortable


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[Manydogs]

All have given great advice! As mentioned, don't try to rush it, you need to gain his trust. Such a shame that he learned not to trust. Your "parents" are whom you are supposed to trust.