Nails....

[Sam'smom]

Sam absolutely hates having his nails trimmed, has right from the get go, I've tried distraction, with treats, such as a kong filled with peanutbutter, I've tried when he's good and relaxed and soothing him, bribes... sigh... He just has never liked having his feet touched in any way, shape or form... I have never forced the issue, I don't pin him down I can usually maybe manage one or 2 toes if he's sound asleep but it's going to be an issue more and more as winter is coming and his nails won't naturally wear down in snow and he has dew claws on his hind legs that the nails are bothering him, I think so anyhow as as he tries to chew on them.... so am kinda at my wits end with this... any suggestions on how to get him to be less afraid or aggitated about getting his nails trimmed?

[Sue R]

Have you tried handling his feet and toes when you are not trimming nails? In other words, get him accustomed and relaxed about your handling both feet and toes when nothing is going to be done, just handle, treat, release. Start with one foot, one toe, handle, treat (or play), release.

 

When you "graduate" to trimming, do the same - one foot, one toe, one trim, treat, release. Ease on into it until you can do all reasonably comfortably.

 

My dogs lay upside down between my legs while I sit on the floor and do their nails but I eased into it when they were young as described above.

 

Best wishes!

[Ms.DaisyDuke]

Check this out....part way down the page under counter conditioning there is a link for a video showing how a dog became comfortable with something he didn't like. I would just post the you tube link but it's not working for me right now.

 

http://www.fearfuldogs.com/conditioning.html

[Sam'smom]

yep I have tried this approach, I touched his feet and played with his toes right from the get go day one since I got him at 8 weeks... I am gentle and soothing with him give him rewards to try and get him to associate it with something good but he's never liked it even as a pup and inspite of all my best efforts he just hates his feet being touched and the nail clippers are seemingly an item of pure torture to him.... and really for the amount of times I've ever been able to actually clip his nails.... I just don't get it as to why he hates it so much... I've never cut the quick..He's never been pinned down to have it done, I try not to force the issue with him as I don't want to make him even more afraid than he already is.... I just don't know how to help him relax a bit more... it's very frustrating as just don't know why he's so afraid of it to begin with.....

[Barb Scott]

We use a cordless dremyl; the first time we use it on a puppy, we do pin them down. After that, they seem to not be bothered too much. In fact, Zip even lines up for his turn and gets back in line when he's done. We can do 4 dogs in less than 10 minutes. BTW, our local TV news station did a try-it before you buy-it on the new seen on TV nail grinders. Their results were less than impressive so don't waste your money...

Barb S

[jdarling]

I have a couple that don't like their feet touched either, and hate the feel of having their nails clipped. I have much more success with a miniature quiet Dremel.

 

Jodi

[Alaska]

The two best online links I know of on this subject:

 

How to Dremel dog nails (Dober Dawn)

Clipper instructions from WSU Vet School

 

Dober Dawn addresses the desensitization process in some detail (part of which is knowing how to use the equipment correctly, which the WSU page also covers).

[Guest maya's mom]

Where are you located when you try to clip his nails? Are you doing it on the floor, etc? We had some problems trying to clip Maya's nails when she was little, and someone told me to never do it on the floor, b/c that is "their space". We had previously put Maya up on our dryer when we had to clean her off, or dry her off from being outside, etc. So, we put her up there and while my husband clipped her nails, I would pop cheese in her mouth! The cheese keeps her focus, so that she doesn't pay attention to my husband. But really, as we've done more things with Maya up on the dryer..........like brushing teeth, brushing her hair, etc..........She now associates this as the "place where stuff is done to her". She tolerates its, and knows that she will get super treats if she is good. We never keep her up there too long. Maybe a designated place would help you, if you haven't already tried it. Good luck!

[Diana A]

A couple of mine were sensitive about nail trimming. They don't mind the fur on their feet trimmed, or their feet handled any other time, but they hated the trimmer. I think even if you don't get the quick, it squeezes the nail and that seems to bother them. I was replacing the blades fairly often to keep them sharp and that seemed to help. I did buy one of those pet dremel's advertized on TV and actually really like it. I had done a dremel before, but without the plastic guard on it, and was always worried about getting hair (mine or the dog's) caught in it. The guard on the new dremel is great, and the dremel head is wider so even hair that gets in past the guard is no where the hub of the part that turns so I've had NO problems with hair even when I get in a hurry and do nails on a dog that needs his foot hair trimmed (there is another TV brand with a smaller head inside the guard so I can't vouch for that one). Mine is the pedi-paws; I think the one with the narrower head is peti-cure or something like that. I have one who doesn't like the noise of a dremel, so for her we still use the trimmers. I just hold her down and she gets a treat after each nail. She's not thrilled about it but she tolerates it for the treats.

[Shadows Mom]

I used to clip Shadow's claws, but she absolutely hated it. I use a dremel now and its great, she rolls on her back and plays with a toy while I do her claws.

[SincereArtisan]

I second placing them up on a higher surface to try trimming nails. Its a distraction, and they're more OK with having things done when they're wondering why they're up so high, lol. Another tool is a muzzle. I'm sure your baby doesn't bite, but think of it in regards to a twitch on a horse...it gives them something to think about while you're doing other stuff.

 

Some dogs actually accept nail trimmings better when laying on their side. Others are better when you pick the foot up and curl it towards their body as if tucking it against them, much like you would pick a horse's feet. But the majority of dogs do hate to have their feet touched.