The way that I trim Buckshots nails is with a dremel tool and I lay on top of him. There has got to be an easier way, he is too much dog to wrestle and I dont like using that much force on him. His front paws cause a major rucus, but he sits still for the backs. I think if I could keep him from watching it would be much easier.
How do the pros do it? (big dogs)
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Wow, I feel pathetic that I can't wrestle my bitty corgi to the ground for nail clipping. Though it does take me, a vet, and 2 techs to hold him for shots 
Mollie's groomer has a body suit thing that hangs from the ceiling and she puts the dogs in it and their feet dangle down and she clips them. Don't think you're going to have much luck with a Fila on that one though.
I'm working on desensitizing Frodo to the clippers right now.
Mollie's groomer has a body suit thing that hangs from the ceiling and she puts the dogs in it and their feet dangle down and she clips them. Don't think you're going to have much luck with a Fila on that one though.
I'm working on desensitizing Frodo to the clippers right now.
There actually is a way to do it and make them willing to cooperate. Bribery. When I was grooming I had to do the nails on a 150b Komondor with a mean streak, and the way that worked best for her (and the way that's worked best for my dogs, too, actually) is to use a clicker or a verbal conditioned reinforcer (like "yes") and mark the exact moment you cut the nail (or touch the dremel to it) then give a really valuable piece of food. The dog will learn that each time a nail is cut, he's going to get something cool and his attention will be on the reward to come rather than the awkwardness of the nail trim. Eventually you can work your way up to cutting 2 nails before giving him a reward, then 3, then a whole foot, and so on. My dogs kinda enjoy it now, they offer me their front feet for dremeling and lie down politely for their rear feet to be done. When you're first training them though, it is crucially important to never hit the quick with clippers or burn them with the dremel. If you do, you've just about got to start at square one again because you've confirmed his suspicions that it's bad news when people mess with his feet.
To keep sensitive dogs from looking (Dakota is like this) you begin to keep your stash of treats off to the side and encourage the dog to keep his eyes on those instead of what you're doing to his feet.
To keep sensitive dogs from looking (Dakota is like this) you begin to keep your stash of treats off to the side and encourage the dog to keep his eyes on those instead of what you're doing to his feet.
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pros do it with a grooming table, grooming arm and a noose (I also add collar and hook that to the front of the grooming arm so they can't reach me to bite even when I do the front legs) then you try every holding manuever in the book till you find one that the dog can't struggle as much in and go to town.
Gem, I've broken three or four heavy duty clippers on Kharma's nails . . . . Let's just say that Wolverine's got nuthin' on her And she doesn't even want her feet handled. She'll let me, for just a little while, but she battles with herself to keep from pulling away.
And then there's THE LOOK . . . . .
And she doesn't even want her feet handled. She'll let me, for just a little while, but she battles with herself to keep from pulling away. And then there's THE LOOK . . . . .
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I know it might be useless now, but maybe someone else would find this helpful.
When they are pups, I ALWAYS make it a huge issue to handle feet, mouth, ears, tail - all the "trouble" spots that a dog might react to.
The first time I trim nails, I guage the dogs reaction. If they are stressed and fighting me, I'll do one nail, and give a sliver of hot dog, praise them like a mad man and leave it alone. Next night, I repeat the process. Gradually, I builed up to two nails at a time, then three and so on. My dogs have always loved nail trim time because they know they get really high value treats that I save ESPECIALLY for nail trim/ear cleaning day.
I realize Buckshot is already WAY past small manageable puppy stage, but perhaps you could try the same approach. When it's quite and calm and he's sleeping, stuff some jerky in your pocket, sit down beside him, handle his feet and reward him for allowing you to handle his feet. Then without acting like anything is out of the ordinary, dremel one toe. Give him some jerky and praise him wildly. Then call it quits for the night. Next night, try the same approach. If he tolerates it better, then go for two nails the next night, and gradually build up to doing one paw at a time.
Baby talk works wonders too. With Corvus who is a MAJOR wiggle freak, I have to baby talk him to keep his gnat like attention span on my voice rather than me clipping his nails. Brat.
When they are pups, I ALWAYS make it a huge issue to handle feet, mouth, ears, tail - all the "trouble" spots that a dog might react to.
The first time I trim nails, I guage the dogs reaction. If they are stressed and fighting me, I'll do one nail, and give a sliver of hot dog, praise them like a mad man and leave it alone. Next night, I repeat the process. Gradually, I builed up to two nails at a time, then three and so on. My dogs have always loved nail trim time because they know they get really high value treats that I save ESPECIALLY for nail trim/ear cleaning day.
I realize Buckshot is already WAY past small manageable puppy stage, but perhaps you could try the same approach. When it's quite and calm and he's sleeping, stuff some jerky in your pocket, sit down beside him, handle his feet and reward him for allowing you to handle his feet. Then without acting like anything is out of the ordinary, dremel one toe. Give him some jerky and praise him wildly. Then call it quits for the night. Next night, try the same approach. If he tolerates it better, then go for two nails the next night, and gradually build up to doing one paw at a time.
Baby talk works wonders too. With Corvus who is a MAJOR wiggle freak, I have to baby talk him to keep his gnat like attention span on my voice rather than me clipping his nails. Brat.
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OK, Keri is going to come and manage our big brutes and do their nails for us.
I love a challenge. Especially big, drooly challenges.
The worst dog I've ever had to cut nails on was this big, fat, NASTY liver and white dalmation named Murphy. This dog bit one of our techs in the head, **** near got me, and went for anyone he could reach if he even saw the nail trimmers. With a little creativity (FOOD, lol) we got to where one of the techs could trim his nails if I kept him pinned (with my leg - not really pinned but pushed) against the wall (my leg was between his head and the tech trimming his nails) while holding a treat just out of his reach. He was extremely food motivated and as long as he couldn't see the person trimming his nails, he was more focused on the food than anything else. Of course, I was the one who got to volunteer my leg, lol, but eventually we were able to trim him with no muzzle - as long as those treats were in front of him.