Trimming Nails

[BogeyBaby]

Chico was a dream when doing his nails. He'd lie upside down as I slowly Dremeled his nails. It seemed as if he could fall asleep while I did my work.

And then I got Misty. She doesn't like her feet held. Thankfully hers either don't grow quickly or she chews them to keep them short.

And then I got Bogey. That dog acts as if I'm going to kill him when I do his nails. He screamed at one point and NO, I didn't cut his quick. I wasn't even holding the clippers at that time. DH has to help me every time and I can only manage to get his front feet done. I hope he gets used to it soon. I really don't want to have to pay someone to do it for me. And with the heat of the summer coming we can't walk as much so it needs to be done more often as I cannot stand clicking on the tile in the house.

Gosh, even my cats are easier to trim than Bogey.

[ZoeysMommy]

Nails are always a huge project in our house. Zoey chews her down and i swear she does that because she absolutely hates having her nails clipped, my corgi acts like im killing her before i even touch her, my pom wants to kill me and my chihuahua is the only one who is semi decent about it if I bribe her with cheese

The cats are so much easier. I hate nail cutting day!

[bett]

vangie wears hers down, on her own.
eli lets you touch and play with his feet, but the dremel scares him so that 4 people need to hold all 16 lbs of him (frenchie)
jake needs the blue pills that knock him nearly out, then two of us hold and dremel. vet won't do it.

[Snowshoe]

There are several videos on the internet of desensitizing a dog to clipping. Here is one, I didn't watch all of it but it's Karen Pryor clicker training that is used. It sure isn't speedy.

Using Clicker Training to Desensitize a Fearful Dog to Nail Trims - YouTube

Oban is not fearful but when he was a puppy I found a towel over his eyes helped. All I needed to control was the wildly waving paws and happy teeth that thought the whole thing was a game. With the towel he couldn't see where to bite and wave and just calmed right down. I had him on his back between my legs as I sat on the floor.

[Polly Pipkin]

Polly will wear hers down, but when we do need to get them done, I let them do it at the vet's. She's fine with me touching her feet, but I'm scared I'd cut too short.

[4Thelove]

Chula is the only one that hates getting a pedicure, sounds like Bogey

[Calley's Family]

Good thread! As ours have gotten older, they are less active and as a result, don't wear theirs down like they used to. We've been hesitant to use a dremel as we thought it might get too hot. We use a couple of different types of files and those seem to work well, although it takes some time. I'll be lurking here to see what ideas are posted. Thanks!

[SCDoug]

Lola fusses and wiggles around when we try to do her nails.

We usually take her to Petsmart once a month for a nail grind. I watched them do her nails a couple of times. You guessed it....polite, not moving an inch, tail wagging. Master at the game the game for sure.

[POPTOP]

Mardi is very cooperative. DH does help me by laying beside her and giving her a belly rub, talking to her and in no time back paws were done. Well this time she decided front paws were not on the agenda. So, we waited a night and did the front. She has the fastest growing nails I've ever seen and keeping up with them is a full time job.

Archie, while getting better about his feet being handled, will not let me clip or Dremel. Petsmart is our friend. It takes two groomers, one holding, one clipping and Dremeling, but he behaves. It's worth every penny.

[Shelley]

Most of nail trimming is a head game with the dogs, you have to present yourself as confident, be firm with them, and time your rewards (good puppy!, yes! Food Or whatever you use) just perfectly so they know the behavior you are rewarding them for. They may not enjoy it, but they don't have a choice in the matter. My girls get lots of verbal reinforcement while I am doing their nails, and a jackpot at the end.

I desensitize puppies that are born here to the dremel early on so they get used to it. I did my 5 week old puppies today.