Clipping nails on a willful dog that hates having nails done
- Thread starter Laurelin
- Start date
BostonBanker
Active Member
Gusto never bit over it (although he would head-whip at my hand once in a while), but he was really, really uncomfortable with the clipping. His nails are mostly white, and pretty soft and thin, and I think the clippers did genuinely pinch and hurt a bit.
The dremel has made such a huge difference. Not only is he much more comfortable, but because I was so paranoid about hitting the quick, I never even tried to get his nails to shorten.
I spent a week or so before I even started trying to dremel doing foot handling without clipping at all, and just overloading him with treats. I wanted to try and break the association between my hands on his feet and clipping. I did it all on my bed, where he's very comfortable (when I dremel, I just throw a big sheet over the top so I don't have nail dust on my bed). Lots of touching = cookie stuff.
Once I got the dremel, he got comfortable with it a lot faster than I thought. We did maybe 2 sessions of touching the nails with it off before I started turning it on very low. I'd run it, turn it off, touch a nail, turn it back on. Eventually worked up to touching the nails by probably the 3rd session. Kept it low for a few times and didn't really work on getting the nails shorter, but within a week, I could turn it up and really go to town.
I didn't even try the back feet for the first couple of weeks, but for whatever reason, he didn't care about them at all when I did start. For some reason I thought they would be harder.
It's all worked really well. I can do each foot with maybe one cookie in the middle (I jump back and forth from toe to toe). I had the sheet down two nights ago, but started with Meg who was also on the bed (and just gets clipped). When I finished her and turned to him, he was sitting near the dremel with a dark drool stain on the sheet. Pavlov would be very pleased.
The dremel has made such a huge difference. Not only is he much more comfortable, but because I was so paranoid about hitting the quick, I never even tried to get his nails to shorten.
I spent a week or so before I even started trying to dremel doing foot handling without clipping at all, and just overloading him with treats. I wanted to try and break the association between my hands on his feet and clipping. I did it all on my bed, where he's very comfortable (when I dremel, I just throw a big sheet over the top so I don't have nail dust on my bed). Lots of touching = cookie stuff.
Once I got the dremel, he got comfortable with it a lot faster than I thought. We did maybe 2 sessions of touching the nails with it off before I started turning it on very low. I'd run it, turn it off, touch a nail, turn it back on. Eventually worked up to touching the nails by probably the 3rd session. Kept it low for a few times and didn't really work on getting the nails shorter, but within a week, I could turn it up and really go to town.
I didn't even try the back feet for the first couple of weeks, but for whatever reason, he didn't care about them at all when I did start. For some reason I thought they would be harder.
It's all worked really well. I can do each foot with maybe one cookie in the middle (I jump back and forth from toe to toe). I had the sheet down two nights ago, but started with Meg who was also on the bed (and just gets clipped). When I finished her and turned to him, he was sitting near the dremel with a dark drool stain on the sheet. Pavlov would be very pleased.
FransterDoo
New Member
I have some that are awful about nails and good or not, every dog here is different.
We dremel 4/6.
Our little guy has to be swaddled and muzzled and clipped. No treats - just get 'er done.
3 of my dremel dogs like to be standing. I treat while my wife scoots around lifting each paw.
My 4th dremel dog just starting letting us cut his nails at all (and he's 6)! You can't touch his feet. we worked on a trick where he lays down and puts his paw on a little block of wood. My wife can stead his nail with it hanging over the edge and slowly do them. All 4 paws takes 2 sessions most of the time though we are getting closer to just one session.
We dremel 4/6.
Our little guy has to be swaddled and muzzled and clipped. No treats - just get 'er done.
3 of my dremel dogs like to be standing. I treat while my wife scoots around lifting each paw.
My 4th dremel dog just starting letting us cut his nails at all (and he's 6)! You can't touch his feet. we worked on a trick where he lays down and puts his paw on a little block of wood. My wife can stead his nail with it hanging over the edge and slowly do them. All 4 paws takes 2 sessions most of the time though we are getting closer to just one session.
Maxy24
Active Member
I spent a long time desensitizing Tucker to all the steps of having his nails done but as soon as I'd actually get to the point of clipping one we'd be right back to square one. So I had read about people putting pb on a spoon to distract them while doing nails but since I didn't have a helper I tried something else but similar. I put him on one of those little tables people eat dinner on while watching TV and smooshed cheese (though you could always smear pb or something) into the table in front of him. Then while he is trying to lick that off I do nails. At first I'd just handle feet but now I can clip all his nails without much of an issue ( he still looks annoyed but he wants to eat cheese and is sufficiently distracted that he doesn't panic). I'm sure it won't work for everyone but it's been a miracle for us, clipping wasn't possible before. I still can't dremel though, I tried and he flew off the table. I tried on the ground and he tried to maul the dremel, so I gave up on that, clipping is good enough.
Kyllobernese
Member
I bought a Dremel but have not tried it yet. The little dogs are all good about getting their nails clipped. Kris is not. I know I should have worked on it more when she was young but even then it was not easy.
I am always by myself so I finally took her into the Doggy Daycare and had my friend that owns it, do them for me while I fed her treats. She has been better since then but still objects by not holding her feet still, jerking just as I get the clippers on so have to really watch I do not quick her.
I am always by myself so I finally took her into the Doggy Daycare and had my friend that owns it, do them for me while I fed her treats. She has been better since then but still objects by not holding her feet still, jerking just as I get the clippers on so have to really watch I do not quick her.
I have always been a 'get 'er done' person with nails. None of my dogs liked them but they would resign themselves to it pretty quickly.
Hank bit me pretty good over it today. Not drawing blood but he was not happy and pinched a nice quarter sized blood blister on my arm. I'd like to avoid that happening again.
I know the vet/groomer is an option but I like doing them often and keeping them very short.
Thank you for the ideas. I am definitely going to try them out next time.
Hank bit me pretty good over it today. Not drawing blood but he was not happy and pinched a nice quarter sized blood blister on my arm. I'd like to avoid that happening again.
I know the vet/groomer is an option but I like doing them often and keeping them very short.
Thank you for the ideas. I am definitely going to try them out next time.
Hahaha. Nails. Fred.... Nails. Well we've tried most techniques and the WORST is forcing him (which you'd be surprised how many people recommend. Clearly they've never owned a dog who totally freaks at that and is extremely strong).
We began dremel as a puppy. Went well till he decided no. Then we tried clippers. Clicker trained it. Went OK till he decided no. Then we went back to basics again. Then tried different positions, approaches, holding him, 2 people, cajoling him. You get the picture. Over a long time too, I worked hard to negotiate this!!!!
I've discovered we have to work together. And use LOTS of praise and lots of treats and no force what so ever. Basically I get treats out and place them where he can see them. And I mean high value human stuff. Then we shut ourselves in the smallest room and I pretty much wait for him to stop moving ask for a paw and spend far too long doing the toe dance (I aim clipper, he moves his foot) till we get one good snip. Then we have a PARTY and he gets ham. Then we repeat. We don't always get all toes done, but we get most done.
It's not the quickest process but it works and is the least stressful. I've never had to clip bodhi nails ever. Freds drive me mad!!!! It's taken 2 years to get to this point and I think we have a semi mutual understanding now lol
We began dremel as a puppy. Went well till he decided no. Then we tried clippers. Clicker trained it. Went OK till he decided no. Then we went back to basics again. Then tried different positions, approaches, holding him, 2 people, cajoling him. You get the picture. Over a long time too, I worked hard to negotiate this!!!!
I've discovered we have to work together. And use LOTS of praise and lots of treats and no force what so ever. Basically I get treats out and place them where he can see them. And I mean high value human stuff. Then we shut ourselves in the smallest room and I pretty much wait for him to stop moving ask for a paw and spend far too long doing the toe dance (I aim clipper, he moves his foot) till we get one good snip. Then we have a PARTY and he gets ham. Then we repeat. We don't always get all toes done, but we get most done.
It's not the quickest process but it works and is the least stressful. I've never had to clip bodhi nails ever. Freds drive me mad!!!! It's taken 2 years to get to this point and I think we have a semi mutual understanding now lol
Stingr69
Papillon Fan
Lauralin,
Here are some tips you might try.
http://www.hollyhuxford.com/PapillonGrooming.htm
I have some Dremel tools but I am afraid to try them just yet. The nail trims have been getting more stressful here lately.
The snood and stocking technique is a very good idea. I have also seen on YouTube where dogs can be desensitized to the Dremel sound over time before you begin to use it on nails. Worth a watch.
Another good grooming tip for the skittish Paps. - I leave the hair dryer running on a stand when I bring out the electric hair clippers. They can't hear the clipper buzzing so I can trim the bottom of the foot pads that way.
Hope this helps,
-Mark.
Here are some tips you might try.
http://www.hollyhuxford.com/PapillonGrooming.htm
I have some Dremel tools but I am afraid to try them just yet. The nail trims have been getting more stressful here lately.
The snood and stocking technique is a very good idea. I have also seen on YouTube where dogs can be desensitized to the Dremel sound over time before you begin to use it on nails. Worth a watch.
Another good grooming tip for the skittish Paps. - I leave the hair dryer running on a stand when I bring out the electric hair clippers. They can't hear the clipper buzzing so I can trim the bottom of the foot pads that way.
Hope this helps,
-Mark.