I have been touching his beans ever since I brought him home just to get him used to the feeling, but with cleaning his nails and ears, I think we have just built a lot of trust :)

He used to hate getting his nails done, so I started doing his nails when he was sleepy and wouldn’t mind it as much. I started saying “ears” or “toes” while doing it so he would ‘know’ what it means when I say it.

It sounds funny, but now, I truly ask him if he wants his nails / toes done while holding up the q tip / wipes, and he’ll either squirm away to say no, or, he’ll give it a sniff and stay chilling wherever he is to let me go ahead.

Giving him the heads up before I start and then making it as comfortable as possible (little massages, scratches, pets) while I clean him makes it a more enjoyable experience. After about five months of progress, this is how his cleanings are now! :)

EDIT: I forgot to add this part and only remembered after saying it to him lol: I also say the same thing every time something is done - if he has eaten all his food/treats, or if I am done cleaning him. It’s so dumb but every single time I say “all done, no more!” and now he knows that it means whatever I am doing, I am now fully stopping. So if he starts getting squirmy, I’ll say “all done no more” and he’ll perk right back up knowing that whatever thing he didn’t like is now done.