Be at the dog's level.

To be at the dog's level, you can squat down, or put the dog on a table. If you put the dog on a table or counter, make absolutely sure the dog cannot jump nor fall off, even in excitement. It's too easy to break a leg, or suffer a bad sprain.

Here, we are on a walk; I am holding two leashes - two dogs. I am squatting in the middle of the road (not much traffic here). We are relaxed, in the middle of a pleasant walk.

Have the dog sideways to you

This way, you avoid the innately threatening gesture of looming over the dog. Avoid staring the dog head-on in the face.

Lifting the paw

First, I place my hand behind the foreleg, then push very gently, with a very slight cupping of my palm to support the paw; then I lift gently, not high, just a little.If the dog retracts the paw, I just start over again. This picture was taken after Kwali had once retracted her paw. When I repeated, she allowed her paw to stay lying on my hand..

Slow and steady does the job.

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