How to trim nails...

[Jules]

...when the dog does not like to have his paws touched?

Okay... here's the deal. Our foster dog, Casanova, is pretty skittish. When we first got him, he did not like to be touched a lot... well, after time, a lot of treats and positive reinforcement, and socialization, he likes to be petted (even by strangers) and get belly rubs.
However, he is very unwilling to let me hold his paws. I tried to get to it very slowly, I have been just touching his paws for a brief moment, giving him treats while I do so... and he is fine with me touching them now, but as soon as I try to hold them, he snaps and tried to bite my hands. I think I am on the right way, it will just take more time... BUT... I really need to trim his nails.

I tried trimming them after a looooong walk and tons of romping around, when he was really tired, but he wakes up immediately. I tried trimming them while Dan would distract him and give him treats- he turns around and snaps.

What can I do? I am afraid if I bring him to a groomer he will be traumatized and it will be even harder for me to get him to allow me to touch/trim his nails. I don't want to force him either for the same reason.
Plus... they are black, so it's not that easy (at least for me,lol). His nails need to be trimmed asap... any ideas?

 

[Angel Chicken]

To get Kona used to me touching/messing with her feet, I would just spend a little time each day doing a full body rub down on her. When I got to her feet, I would hold it gently in one hand and rub it with another, talking to her in a sweet voice the whole time. If she let me hold them for a little while without snapping, I'd give her a treat.

When she'd snap, I'd say "Anttt! No no, no bites!" in my stern voice. After she calmed down, I'd try it again.

Hopw this helps

 

[very_vizsla]

jersey hates to have her nails trimmed, too. what works for me is to back her butt into a corner of the sofa & get to business. jersey likes being on the sofa AND she can't get away from me so there's a lot less flailing around now.

 

[smkie]

Mary is and old ninny now but still hates her nails done tho i have never hurt her not even once. WE have to do them one at a time with lots of praise for her bravery. COme back in an hour or so and do another. I have cut aot of dogs nails and can attest to a few things...your clippers must not _pinch
the sharper they are the better. Try not holding the paw itself but secure the leg higher up. People tend to squeeze the paw by accident while trying to hold it steady. i have a pic of my favorite nail trimmers in my gallery, they are hard to find but worth every penny. http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=7851&cat=500&ppuser=2623
AS far as the black part, only cut where the curve begins. The nail should be even with the bottom of the pad. Best treats don't hurt either as a bribe and reward for one nail each.

 

[Brattina88]

I agree with the others. It's hard to say - what works for one dog won't necessarily work for the next. I had a foster who would lay on her side, and I would cover her head/torso with a towel. Once she was "blinded" I could do anything to her feet. I don't even remember why I tried that, but it worked :lol-sign:
I tried that with Missy and she flopped around trying to get the towel off. poor dog! LOL

What kind of a dog is Casanova? (sorry, don't recall reading about him) It might be a good idea to take him to a groomer and get him used to that experience. I have a groomer who grooms Maddie every 6wks or so, and I always call her when I get a new foster and sched an appt when she is not busy, so I can bring the dog in and expose them to that type of an environment and strangers handling him (not for petting only). She always goes slow, lets me stay there usually, and gives lots of praise and treats. Missy always howls like I'm killing her when I clip her nails, but she holds still for the groomers. Also, while I have, and maybe their former owners might have, nicked it too short, the groomer should know how to do it better... plus the blades won't be dull, or any other factor that might give a dog an unpleasant experience with nail clipping...
If they're too long, it may be possible that they're uncomfortable too...

Have you tried the smearing peanut butter on the wall trick? just wondering lol

Since he seems fine with you touching them now, I would slowly increase the ammt of time that you are touching them, and then graduate to holding them for increasingly ammts of time with lots of praise and treats. Your goal, at first, could be one toe a day! Whatever works, you know?

BTW - it sounds like your doing a really good job with Casanova. Keep up the good work Foster Mom!!

 

[Jules]

Uuuuuh....good ideas, guys!

Laura.. that's what I have been doing, too But he's making real slow progress. I have been clipping a nail every day or two... but they are growing like weeds on him! :yikes:

Smkie: I have the exact same clipper Works great for me too... at least with T-Bone.

Casanova is a pit-mix... he is a sweet guy, just a lot to handle LOL
Brattina, I will try the blanket-trick... and the peanut butter- smart! Hehe... I guess if worst comes to worst I will bring him to a groomer... just for now... and maybe it won't be too bad. I just tried to avoid him freaking out.

 

[Doberluv]

It will take more time. You're on the right track. I would not recommend using any sterness or unpleasantness of any kind with association of handling her feet or clipping nails. If she snaps, you've progressed too far too soon. Go back to where she is comfortable and work there some more. Make a big fuss, use a high value treat, something she doesn't get otherwise. I rehabilitated a dog who became balistic, vicious, nuts with even sitting next to her with clippers in hand. I used ice cream and with each tiny, baby step ahead, she got a spoonful of icecream and a whole lot of attention. Use the attention that your dog likes, not something just you think she should like. Make sure she is happy. Just go more gradually.

Once she's comfortable with touching and stroking her feet, touch her nails, stroke them. When that's perfectly fine with her, show her the clippers, treat/ party. Touch them to her nails while you stroke them. Move on to gently scraping the clippers along a nail, then tapping a nail with the clippers and when she's fine with one nail, quit. That's it. End the session on a good note with treats and happy voice. Have a little game afterwards. Then next time, start from the beginning and work up again, never going beyond the point where the dog is relaxed and comfortable.

It took me about 4 days to get this dog to the point where I could clip just the barest smiggin off of a couple of nails. When you are to the point where you can do that, again....just do one or two and try to end the session when she is perfectly fine and relaxed. Do this a couple of times a day for a short time. There is no rush to get her nails in perfect shape. It will take time to get them back to where the quick isn't so distal (to the end of the nail) so, you might as well go gradually so that she will be easier to do in the long run. My son's dog, the one who was so crazed about clipping nails had talons. They were so long, it was distressing to see. But still....I took it slowly and now she is not only fine with clipping, but with using a Dremel too!

When I talk about going gradually and not going beyond the point where she was successful IF she is uncomfortable, that does not mean to be tentative or unsure of yourself. Act very matter of fact and happy and confident. Do a little bit in the process and quit on a happy note....lots of ice cream or whatever you use and a game of fetch or whatever, right after. But don't scold or say, "NO!" to a dog who has a fear of this clipping. She is reacting out of fear on some level, whether it seems to be that she just doesn't like it and doesn't want it or if she's really afraid. In either case, I believe it stems from fear of the unfamiliar. So, it's best not to add to that by making it more miserable. Associate it all with as good a time as you can. Set her up to succeed by not going ahead in the processs before she's ready.

 

[dogzrulez]

generally if your dog takes regular walks on rough surfaces such as concrete raods, trimming nails isn't reqd. however once in a while that they do grow big, i prefer taking my dog to the vet. while the vet clips the nails, i hold her feet and keep talking to her to keep her distracted

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

I still am not able to trim Chloes nails. She absolutely despises having her feet touched. Even when she's totally relaxed, sound to sleep in my lap on her back, the minute I touch her feet she's growling at me...or trying to pull away. It's really tough!

 

[elegy]

you're doing the right thing- just go slow slow slow. it took me weeks to get to the point where i could cut mushroom's nails. he still hates it but he'll lay on his side and let me do it without a fuss. he used to bite and carry on and be a complete idiot. it just took lots and lots of time. and, i admit, a bit of manipulation- he LOVES my bed. i lie in bed every night and read, and he wants to be with me. so i'd lie in bed and read and touch his feet, and if he wouldn't let me, he had to get off the bed. bed was a powerful enough reward that he'd suck it up and let me touch his feet every night. we moved on from there.