Cutting toenails

[sammgirl]

Hi guys,

have any good way to introduce this? Tried earlier tonight and Harper acted like I wanted to cut her whole leg off and I hadn't even touched a toe!

It feels like maybe she knows that it will hurt and so she fights like the dickens while screaming like a banshee. I don't want to hurt her, but I don't know if I will be able to cut her toe nails with out holding her down.

I bet this is going to be a two person job.

 

[Maura]

You need to take this step by step. Start with grooming her a little and getting her used to being still why being brushed. While brushing, pet her in long strokes along her neck, sides, and legs. Get her used to having her legs stroked, then pick up each foot. Every time you pick up a foot have a treat ready and put it at her nose. She should associate having her feet picked up with a reward. Be calm the whole time, no gushy praise, just simple words in a normal voice. When she is fine with having her paws picked up, hold each one for a couple of seconds, holding longer and longer. At this point, pick up the clipper and as you hold a paw, hold the clipper next to it, but don't clip. When you are ready to clip, just clip one nail off each paw. All of this could take several days before you get the first nail clipped, but it is better than fighting with her every time you need to clip nails. So, after you've clipped one nail from each paw, quit. The next day, groom her, stroke her, and clip a single nail from each paw. Ten down, ten to go. Next time, clip two nails from each paw. Remember to take off no more than 1/8 inch.

 

[OutlineACDs]

With my guy the first time was a two person job. I had my mom hold him and let him take bites out of a raw beef roll and I manned the dremel. After the first time I was able to do it by myself. I held him in my lap and dremeled a toe and gave a cookie.

Good luck. This is the first puppy I have had that took to the dremel so easily.

 

[Dr.Marie]

Take it VERY slowly. I had a dog who was really bad for nail trimming. So, I started off by taking out the nail trimmers and then giving him a treat. I did this for a week or so and then the next step was for me to take out the trimmers and take a step towards him and then give him a treat. It was a month or two before I actually touched the trimmers to his nails.

Eventually he got so that if I said, "Joey, want your toes cut?" he would run over and put his paw in my lap!

 

[Brattina88]

Is this for your puppy? I agree with the above, but also want to mention smearing peanut butter or something like cream cheese on the wall to keep him occupied... That may help!

I trim a friends dog's nails for her. The dog screams, flails, and bites, HARD. The groomer and a vet charged her extra to get them done, and he had to be muzzled. They were getting way too long when I offered to help. It was a two person job... One person to hold the whole jar of peanut butter (in which the dog nearly stuck his whole head in lol) and me to clip clip clip quickly. seems to enjoy it now!

 

[DanL]

lots of treats and praise, and lots of patience. Daisy was pretty bad about it for a while- and holding down a 100+lb dog isn't easy. Now she will lay there and barely wake up when you clip her. Gunnar will actually come over and give you his paw. Bruzer, we never were able to crack that nut, he hides as soon as he sees the clippers.

 

[Amanda885]

It takes time, but just be patient and make sure the dog is as comfortable as possible. try just getting him in the position and petting him, then play with his toes so he is ok with you touching them...

and also what Maura said was really good...

good luck!

 

[ihartgonzo]

It helps a LOT to wait until she's very, very sleepy. Be very casual and emotionless about it. Give her a Kongfull of peanut butter while clipping them. First and foremost, DO NOT let go of her paw when she struggles... as that will teach her that flipping out frees her! D;

When Fozzie was a puppy, I just laid him on his back on my lap. I shushed him when he got squirmy, praised him when he held still, and continuously gave him PB/cookies/cheese/etc for each nail. Now he comes runningggg when he hears the dremel, and impatiently waits his turn. I still lay him on my lap even though he's 45 lbs and quite long... LOL.

 

[yassy]

When my Corgi was puppy, I touched her paws,muzzles a lot and every time I touch those sensitive spot,I gave her small piece of treats.

First some times,I just touched paws,then if she could do ok with relaxed mood, I touched her paw and hold the paw and gave her a treats.Repeat it over and over. While I am doing this,I took her to groomer for trimming nail.

Then, with clipper,I like Millers clipper with orange handle and it cuts pretty good. I started off touch her nail with clipper,click the clicker,gave her treats.Repeat it over and over and once she was ok,I touched paw with clipper and trimmed one nail only for a day. Then, gradually as she gets used to it, I clipped nail more per sitting.She got one small piece of treat per nail.

Now,I am using nail grinder.I think mine does better with this than clipper. I went through same steps for this grinder:touch paw with grinder off, hold paw and touch the nail with grinder off, and finally,when she looked ok, I did grinder on and just a second to do nail and gave her treats etc..