nail-clipping nightmare:

[milos_mommy]

Milo HATES his nails clipped. Beyond all belief. i don't know why. to my knowledge, no one has ever cut the quick (of course he was a pet shop puppy, so anything's possible).

I can hold him, touch his paws, play with his nails fine. As soon as i touch the clipper to his foot, he starts biting at my hand (not hard mind you, just sort of holding onto it as if to say "get it away from me, woman."). Yesterday i tried the peanut butter on a plate trick, put Milo next to me, put the plate of peanut butter on my lap, and help him with one arm around him holding his foot and the clippers in the other (they were guillotine style, i also have the scissor style). As soon as i put a TINY amount of pressure on his nail, he literally SCREAMED. it's not even a bark or yelp, it's a literally scream. it sounds like a wailing baby. he does it every time the vet clips his nails. It takes usually two people to hold him and one to clip his nails. it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to do it, plus i don't want him to hate me. i've touched his paws and nails since i took him home, both with my fingers and the clippers. his back nails are short from running on the blacktop and stuff, but his front nails are getting really long. i don't want them to cause an injury in agility, and also, we're going up to my grandma's house were there are three young (ish) children, and i don't want him to scratch them. i'm not sure how he'd be if i filed his nails, i don't think he'd mind very much, but i need to clip them first.

should i just grab him and do it, regardless of how much he fights or cries? or should i just keep trying to get him used to the nail clippers (which somehow i don't think is going to happen, Milo's not the forgive-and-forget type).

 

[duncan15]

there are many dogs i know that for whatever reasons, or unknown reasons, hate their nails being clipped. the best way i have found was to have 2 people hold the dog down and one cut (on bigger dogs that is). one thing i have learned while grooming is that when you start something you have to finish it (unless in extreme situations). in other words, if you pick up the foot and attempt to trim the nail, letting the dog pull away is the dog getting what he wants, and enforcing his behavior. this is why holding works, the dog can concentrate on something else and is forced to deal with something that really isnt a big deal anyways. your attitude has a lot to do with it too. if you are thinking "hes never going to let me do this' then he probably wont. think positively and try not to assume what he is going to do.

but i would say try and have somenoe there to help you when you do try and cut the nails

 

[milos_mommy]

there are many dogs i know that for whatever reasons, or unknown reasons, hate their nails being clipped. the best way i have found was to have 2 people hold the dog down and one cut (on bigger dogs that is). one thing i have learned while grooming is that when you start something you have to finish it (unless in extreme situations). in other words, if you pick up the foot and attempt to trim the nail, letting the dog pull away is the dog getting what he wants, and enforcing his behavior. this is why holding works, the dog can concentrate on something else and is forced to deal with something that really isnt a big deal anyways. your attitude has a lot to do with it too. if you are thinking "hes never going to let me do this' then he probably wont. think positively and try not to assume what he is going to do.

but i would say try and have somenoe there to help you when you do try and cut the nails

thanks, i'll get some help holding him down (he's a JRT, but he's WRIGGLEY. it'll be a lot easier with some help.)

 

[bubbatd]

I tried to do my neighbor's 1/2 pitt/1/2 lab yesterday...but they were so long I had no idea where the quick was ! We couldn't get him to co-operated , so I decided to keep my nose and clippers and have her vet do it ! Ollie is pretty good , but it would be easier if there were 2 of me !

 

[Fruit bat]

Can you just run him on the sidewalk or the pavement in the evenings ? I mean after you clip them ? It keeps Sadies nails neatly filed down. I have not had to clip her nails, other than her one dewclaw that grew back.

 

[duncan15]

walking regularly does wonders for dogs that are over 20-30 pounds. i know many that dont ever need a trimming b/c they are always walked. smaller dogs, like jrts, dont have enough body weight to wear down nails. sometimes it helps for back nails, but usually not the front.

 

[Sush]

Have you tried to "mummy wrap" him? Sounds bad but that's what I did when Sage was a puppy. She used to yelp anytime she saw the nail clippers get near her nails. I'd take a towel and loosely wrap her upper half, covering her whole face. I'd talk to her and usually keep her head under my chin and rub my chin on her head while I did it. Now we have no issues. Different things work with different dogs but when they can't see what's going on it will sometimes calm them...or sometimes do the completely opposite! Never know till ya try

 

[matrixmommy]

my dogs do not like getting thier nails clipped either.. the only way i have found to do it is if i get them on their backs put one of my legs over thier chest while my daughter is rubbing thier bellies and talking to them.. if i dont do that they will pull away whine mouth my hand etc.

 

[gypsysoul]

I always bring my two dogs and one of my cats to the vet for a clipping. The two dogs always put up a BIG struggle, and Cleo just gets pi**ed!...so they get it done the hard way....trip to the vet. Josie, my other kitty, is the only one that will let me trim her nails. She doesn't particularly like it, but there's no hissing, growling, or big struggle with her. She's the only one that's figured out that's she's not being hurt.

 

[smkie]

No one has ever cut my Mary either and she is still my nail ninny even after 14 years. I make sure my clippers are sharp, dull clippers cause a pinch that takes a nervous dog right over the edge. THe clippers should cut through the nail like butter. I do one nail at a time with loads of praise and available bribes. I do not hold the paw but the leg higher up. My brother use to squeeze my hand too tight just for meaness and i think we do that too without realizing it trying to hold the foot steady. Proper tools make the job so much easier and i dont know why good clippers are hard to find but i have a favorite. http://www.chazhound.com/pictures/showphoto.php?photo=7851&cat=500&ppuser=2623 i will let an hour or more go by before i do the next nail. I start with the back feet first because they seem less worrysom then the front, at least with the nail ninnies i have had in the past.

 

[Poppy]

Here are some things that may help you, or at least I've used with great success

First make sure you and the dog are calm, you may even use some rescue remedy for your dog.

Be confident, yet kind - a dog picks up on your feelings and will pick up if your unsure of yourself. A dog will get nervous if they sense the person is unsure of themself. Keep in mind as well that dogs are very sensitive about their feet and belly as these are their most vulnerable areas. Do not use any force type methods, I've seen many dogs ruined this way. I've witnessed vet tech's pinning dogs to the ground on their back and clipping nails. This is tramatizing and most dogs learn to fear more and never trust.

Do a few nails at a time and reward, don't over do it on the first go. A Vet or groomer needs to get them done, you have the time to desensitize. Also, groomers and vets normally have more of a success rate as the dog is on an unfamiliar surface. Try putting your dog in the tub and try doing the nails. Use tons of praise while clipping. Have you ever tried a dremel?

Some other things I have read and tried myself with success are blowing in the dogs nose. I read on another forum where a groomer blew in the dogs nose, then snipped a nail, blow - snip etc.

If you have someone hold the dog have them hold the dog in a secure hug. Sometimes a dog will find comfort in a hug.

Do not fight, struggle or get upset during the process this can escalate the fear and show the dog you can't be trusted. You have to earn the dogs trust to work in such a sensitive area.

duncan15 made a wonderful suggestion, walking on pavement can keep the nails down. I've known dogs that were walked daily on pavement that never needed their nails clipped only dewclaws.

Sush also brought forth a good idea. I know a very gentle groomer who has her assistant hold smaller dogs like a baby being cuddled and talking gently while the groomer snipped all the nails. Most of these dogs didn't even notice, plus the security they felt helped them.

 

[EbonyDal]

A lot of great ideas here. I've had some "nail ninnies" myself; I find that it has helped me to teach my dogs to lay still when held on their backs, then when held upright. I teach my big dogs to stand/sit still. I do this by gently, but insistently, holding them until they dont move. They learn the only way to be treated and released is to be still. I dont force them I just block them. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 people at first. We practice this regularly without doing anything else. Then when I need to do something like trim nails, etc, they know I will do it anyway, I desensitize them as well, and there is little or no fuss. My adults stand for nail clipping, dremel, teeth brushing, blow-drying, ear cleaning and the long-hair for clipping; they stand willingly and calmly with no collar or leash on them. I am currently teaching my puppy and she is getting good at sitting still when picked up and held, so in another few days or week when I am ready to clip her nails she should be prepared too [and the breeder did them a few times too before she came home].

 

[adojrts]

A few years ago, I leased a very nice little jrt female for breeding from a fellow breeder and friend.

She came with really long nails (house dog not a kennel dog) and when I asked about it they said that of all of their dogs she was terrible to do ( she had bitten while being done), therefore she didn't get done very often............and ended up wearing a muzzle.
She didn't even allow for her feet or lower legs to be touched and if she saw the nail clippers she growled and left.

I knew that many methods had been tried without success. So I waited until she started to become a part of our home ( a couple of weeks) and developing a relationship with her etc.
During this time I clicker trained her for some stuff.
Without the clippers I clicker trained her to allow me to handle and massage her feet........getting progress!!! Haven't gotten bit yet, yipeee.
Then I started putting the nail clippers (she knew I had them) in my pocket and continued to clicker train for known behaviours.
I progressed to holding the clippers while training.

She progressed to the point that I could touch her or rub the nail clippers over her entire body and not worry about them. Actually she would get really happy and excited when she even saw the nail clippers, because it meant that great rewards were to come.
The night that I clipped ONE nail, she got a jackpot of rewards. Next evening we did 2 and so on.

It took about 1 month for me to get all the nails trimmed from the first day that she came here. After that I never had a problem with her again, her nails were trimmed every week along with the other dogs.
She was here for a total of 6 months (during that time she had 7 lovely Tri Smooth pups!! by my stud) and when she went home, they could now trim her nails. As far as I know, they've never had a problem.

Good luck
Lynn

 

[EbonyDal]

AdoJRTs, WOW very impressive! You convinced me to try your method instead-! May I have permission to cross-post your message?

 

[adojrts]

EbnoyDal,
Absolutely you can cross post it and thanks.
All it takes is time, patience and understand that for whatever reason the dog is afraid/worried/concerned etc. It is possible to turn nail trimming etc into a positive experience and one that dogs will actually look forward to or go to sleep while you do them.
Good luck
Lynn

 

[EbonyDal]

Thanks very much! My 3 dogs are good about nail clips but I have friends with small dogs who hate it, I will share this with them. Thank you again so much. What a wonderful method, I am going to start using it also.

 

[iluvsquirt]

omg thats amazing!! im glad i just take my dog to petsmart to do it. she doesnt like the table and tried jumping off..but..shes happier when they're done.

 

[mrose_s]

sophies the only dog of ours that hates having her nails done, which i completley understand as her lack of dewclaws and the massive scars where they should be suggests they were hacked off when she was young. plus its only her fornt feet she hates being done

last time we were doing them mac bled a little (felt so bacd) because her nails are full black and its really hard to judge. she threw her head back but didn't make a sound, then she just sat here and let mum finish. she's such a good little girl