I'm a professional groomer and used to train so whenever a client comes in with a matted dog and says "but she won't LET me brush her..." I just sigh on the inside. What, you give your dog a choice? I have to let them know that they have two choices: rearrange the power structure or have a nakey dog.
You have the right attitude to be successful- great job!
Oh my !!! I laughed so hard, reading this last night, that i woke the dog... who then had to make certain that everything was alright !
I agree wholeheartedly with the suggestions given on being "boss". I believe that " tentative " is not a good way to be with any sort of animal (and some humans). nor am i suggesting that rushing blindly into a critters space is the way to go either. Quiet confidence ( even if one really does not Know what they are doing ) is a Good approach. Just about all livestock respond to that.
My least favorite animals are First Fresheners ! But in time they do (usually) come around. The first week is the worst ! Goaty fighting the 'step-up' to the milkstand ( until they find out that Grain is up there too)....then trying to milk those itty-bitty teats ! (argh)... also trying to aim the milk Into the bucket rather than down my jeans ( not terribly successful)... trying to finish the job Before the grain runs out.... and last but not least... teaching them to pull their head Back from the stanchion and actually Turn around to exit the stand with out panicing and falling off. Oh Yeah !! We 'loves' First fresheners !!
One tip that helped me a lot.... We also have the nice steel pail from TS that was mentioned in a previous post. I love it. But... I have found that using a smaller plastic pail ( that is scrupulously cleaned after milking) to milk into, then dumping the milk into the steel pail has helped. The sound of milking into the smaller pail is 'softer' if that makes any sense and the does mind it less. Also i had one doe, a heavy milker, who would start crouching and actually compress my wrists onto the edge of the bucket. It Hurt !
Good Luck to Glenolam. Stick with it ... You will do Ok.
I want to say all of my does kicked and jumped at first. You just can't give up. One layed down everytime I touched her udder. And I would pull her back up over and over.
You have to keep trying. I would hold a back leg out, then they can't buck as hard. After about a week of milking twice a day and struggling they figure out they can't get out of it. And they will calm down and stand nicely.
Every once in a while they pick a foot up or wiggle. And I just say no, and pat their butt. But for the most part they behave now. Although I am spoiled now and don't milk by hand as much. I use a maggiedans milker.
Against what a lot of people/books say, I only milk once a day. Both my husband and I work Mon-Fri so evening milkings are where I collect my rations
She has a relatively large bag (well, what do I know, but to me it seems like she does) and I don't plan on emptying it completely until the twins are 8 wks old.
Right now I'm just trying to get in the swing of things so when the time comes I'll be able to empty her out in no time at all.
way to go! 
But for the most part they behave now. Although I am spoiled now and don't milk by hand as much. I use a maggiedans milker.
