How do I get my dog used to having its face touched?

The area directly around the eyes is one of the most sensitive parts of the face for most dogs, so beginning with touches to the cheek, chin, or side of the muzzle establishes a baseline of comfort before you approach anywhere close to the eyes themselves.

Once cheek and muzzle touches are comfortable, progress to brief touches just below the eye, then eventually to the corner of the eye itself, each new step held for only a second or two at first before rewarding and releasing.

Short, daily sessions over 1 to 2 weeks build more lasting comfort than a single long session, since your dog needs repeated positive experiences rather than one extended exposure. If your dog tenses or pulls away at any step, return to the previous, easier step rather than pushing forward.

Many dogs tolerate touches to the muzzle and chin considerably more easily than the area around the eyes, which makes the muzzle a good middle step in your progression, bridging the gap between the more neutral cheek and the genuinely sensitive skin right at the corner of the eye.

Practicing face touches during a calm, sleepy moment, like just before bedtime when your dog is naturally more relaxed, can sometimes yield faster progress than attempting the same practice during a more alert, energetic part of the day.

A calm, quiet environment with no other pets or distractions nearby also tends to speed up early progress considerably during these first sessions.