There are some dogs that will let you do anything you want to them without a fight and then there are the ones that would tear your hand off before allowing you to touch them.
I have one of the latter dogs and as much as I try to assert myself and become the alpha dog in the pack, it never fails that he knows how to intimidate me into stopping whatever I'm doing to him.
An example of that is when I try to clean his ears.
He does not enjoy this annoying little necessity and while my other dog will take it like a, well a rational human, my little Chihuahua will have none of it.
It has become an annoying, impatient and unpleasant chore to say the least but one that needs to be performed on a routine bases.
Here are some tools and experience from the trade of dog ear cleaning (so to speak).
If you have a large dog, you might want to have him lie on a table or the bed making sure he feels safe a secure.
Speak softly and reassuringly as you stroke him.
Tell him what a good boy he is.
While wrapping your arm around him, grasp his upper leg area to prevent him pulling away as you look inside of his ears.
You should never use an object such as a Q-tip to probe or dig into his ear because any sudden moves from your dog could potentially cause you to accidentally puncture his ear drum.
If you find after examining his ears, that they are excessively dirty or that you can see an indication of a mite infestation, schedule a vet appointment right away.
He made need a more thorough cleansing that you should only entrust a vet to perform.
If his ears are only slightly dirty, take a cotton ball or soft cloth and first wash the outer portion of his ears.
If you're really brave, you can purchase some ear cleaning solution from your vet.
Squirt the ear cleaning solution directly into the ear canal and while using your fingers and thumb, massage the ear at the base, pulling up on the ear to ensure the solution is going all the way into the canal.
Then take your cotton ball or cloth and insert it into the ear and wipe the canal clean.
Repeat the same process to the other side.
You would think that a smaller dog would be easier than a large one...
but you'd be wrong.
You will undoubtedly need a helper for the little one as they can be very good at wriggling out of any kind of wrestler's hold.
If he can manipulate the situation any way he can, he will be gone in the blink of an eye.
One great tip I learned from having to give medication to a cat was that if you wrap him in a towel or blanket, his movements will be much more restricted and you will definitely have a better hold of him.
As always, try to remain as calm as possible as they will sense your stress and frustration and become even more agitated.
Speak softly and calmly to him and praise him when he holds still.
Then, just follow the same steps as above and his ears will be as clean as a whistle in no time.
As always, it's a good idea to check with your veterinarian to be sure you are doing the best strategy for your dog.
Depending on the breed, some dogs will have specific issues with their ears that may require a more in depth examination and cleaning.
But do check your dog's ears on a regular basis just to be sure.
A tale-tell sign that your dog's ears are dirty or infected is if there is a strong odor coming from the ear canal.
If this is noted, make an appointment with your vet for examination.
The ears could either already be infected or on the verge of an all out infection that will need antibiotic for treatment.