My Bredli is *very* head-shy, if I tried to get her to back off with my hand over her head I'd get bit for sure. I also found out by getting tagged that it didn't work on my JCP, and he's not crazy head-shy. So yeah, you do have to get used to the not-BP things. But you'll get it; go in from whatever direction he's not looking (distracting with hook or movement with your other hand or something will help), and scoop him up with confidence - even if you have to fake the confidence part.
Once he's a big muscular seven-footer who wants to go over *there* right *now*, like my girl, you'll wonder how baby snake was ever intimidating!
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