clipping dog

Question
It seems that every time I go to clip my toy poodle, he becomes more and more intolerable to it.  I haven't been able to clip him with clippers since he was a puppy.  He's 8 years old now, and when I clip his hair I have to use scissors.  I tried clipping his hair today, and he bit the scissors, cutting his own lip, and bit my thumb, leaving a gash.  I stopped at that point.  I don't know how to clip my own dog anymore.  I've tried using a muzzle, but he'll dig at his own face constantly trying to tear it off and I'm afraid he'll hurt himself.  No one can hold him while I clip him without getting hurt.  How do I control him?  

Answer
Dear Michelle,
Thanks for the questions. Perhaps a groomer would be better at responding but I'll tell you how I would approach the situation.

Think small, small baby steps, first you teach Gunner to relax when he is on a grooming table (or counter). I'd start a massage program and always place him on the same table each time I massaged him. NO clippers or scissors yet, just touch and treats. Buy the books, Canine Massage, A Complete Reference Manual and Getting in TTouch With Your Dog for massage instructions.

Once Gunner will relax on the table, you slowly expose him to the tools for clipping while you massage him. For instance, get him on the table and have the scissors laying on the table too. He'll probably glance at the scissors, that's ok, say nothing just keep massaging. Don't pick up the scissors, just have them nearby. Repeat until he is ignoring the scissors.

Next, during the massage, casually reach for the scissors and touch them with your hand - no picking up yet, just a touch. If you clicker train, this would be a good time to get out the clicker. Click when you touch the scissors and follow with a treat. The idea is to teach him that whenever you touch the scissors, he gets a treat. IF you are not familiar with clicker training, buy the book, Click Here:For a Well Trained Dog by Deborah Jones.

Once your dog is happily anticipating your hand touching the scissors, take the next baby step. Pick up the scissors, lift them up an inch or so and click and treat. Do not try to trim yet, you are still desensitizing him to the scissors. The procedure would continue with more baby steps. Each step will bring the scissors closer to your dog. You might include one step that is you actually snipping (the air) with the scissors. Again, you snip the air, click and treat.

The whole process could take days or weeks, depending on how  often you perform the massage exercises. In addition to teaching him to relax when you use the scissors, the massage will teach him to relax when you manipulate his body.

Happy Training!
AT