How do I get my puppy comfortable with having its paws touched?

Start with just a light touch to the top of a paw for a second or two, rewarding immediately, before working up to holding the paw, separating the toes and applying light pressure similar to what a nail trim requires.

A minute of paw handling daily, spread across a couple of sessions, tends to build comfort faster than one long weekly session that the puppy finds overwhelming.

Some puppies, particularly those with less handling experience before joining your household, react much more strongly to paw touches than others. For a puppy that pulls away sharply or yelps at even a light touch, back up to simply resting a hand near the paw without touching it at all, rewarding calmness at that distance before attempting contact again.

Pairing paw handling with something the puppy already enjoys, such as during a calm chew session or while eating a meal, can make the touch far less noticeable than attempting it as a standalone exercise, especially in the first week or two of practice.

Progress with a genuinely paw shy puppy is often measured in weeks rather than days, and that is completely normal. Comparing your puppy's timeline to a friend's more easygoing dog rarely helps and can lead to rushing a puppy that needs a slower, steadier approach. Celebrate small wins, such as a paw held for three seconds instead of one, rather than waiting for full tolerance before noticing progress.