Nail Clipping

[lilybirdsmom]

How do you get your boxer to sit or lay still when clipping or filing their nails? Lily used to be ok with me clipping them - could usually get a couple done at a time but now she just wants to bite you when you do it. We got a peticure nail file and she doesn't seem scared of it but won't let you get it too close to her paw. Any suggestions?

 

[kathysboxer]

What I did with Tyson (we have a dremel)

Grab some treats (food usually gets you anywhere :D) and after doing one or two, give him a treat and praise him like crazy. Do a couple more, same thing. I also make Tyson lay down and stay. The treats are just more reinforcement. I now give him one treat per foot. He does really good.

If he get anxious, you could always just let him go for a couple minutes, then call him back and resume.
Hope this helps

 

[lilybirdsmom]

I'll try that - I'm sure Lily will do anything for a treat! Thanks for the advice!

 

[LILYLARUE]

We have the same problem with my Lily, but if a dremel is turned on she runs from the room. The clippers she barks and nips at. She hates them!

It usually takes two to clip her nails. One of us rapid firing liver treat into her mouth while I trim the front paws and then a straddle and "hold'm like a horse" position in the back to clip.

A few weeks ago tho, found out the dogs love their bathtime so much with the massages, I can trim them in the tub and they don't fuss much at all. Of course, this method also takes two, one to massage and wash, and one to clip.

 

[Cyrus2005]

Cyrus used to be a screaming, bucking bronco when it came to trimming nails. We finally figured out if we gave him a good tummy rub, which he loves, he will let us trim nails without fuss. The last couple of times, he doesn't even lift his head off the floor because he is so relaxed. We don't have to restrain him at all. It has been a complete turn around from the ordeal it had always been for us.

 

[johann]

Restraining Johann made clipping his nails a lot worse! He got quicked (on every toe!) when the vet trimmed his nails after he got neutered. Kinda made him a bit scared about having his nails trimmed.

What worked for us was 2 people, lots of treats, and patience. Hubby would distract him with yummy treats while I put the clipper on his paw. Once he was ok with that, I'd put it around the nail and he'd get another treat. It took about a week of this before I could actually clip a single nail. We just kept slowly adding steps once he was completely calm and ok with the step before it.

But, last night I just grabbed the nail clippers and a biscuit. He stood and let me clip each nail while he munched on the treat. Made all the training and scratches from long nails worth it.

 

[lilybirdsmom]

Thanks for all the advice. On Friday I showed her the pedi-paws first and she sniffed it, then I turned it on and let her check it out. Gave her a treat. Had her sit and give me a paw. I gave her a treat. I would then touch the pedi-paws to her toenail just so she could feel the vibration, not actually doing the filing. She would either sit or lay down and I could do this but then would get up and go after my hand where she knew another treat was hiding. I'll keep at it and I am sure eventually she'll let me do it!

 

[BxrMommieNAZ]

I muzzle both of mine. Not because they bite but because they want to play with the dremmel and it takes 3 times a long, so I throw on a muzzle and get them done in about 5 minutes each (dog not paw).

 

[argosrocks]

the back feet seem to be the easiest if you approach it like a horse ferrier does,facing opposite the dogs face,stradle him,and lift one paw at a time to dremel,as the front go,that seems to be more of a challenge,my guy likes to nip at the dremel,i think in response to it getting his nails hot,so i make sure to just "touch" the nail for short time,and go from nail to nail,the best method ive found is to just do a little at a time,weekly,that way its not so much of a dramatic event.

 

[kenveeb]

I have Casey sit on the couch next to me. He'll sprawl out comfortably and have no problem with me messing with his feet. I started out giving him a treat when we got on the couch, then turning the Pedipaws trimmer on for a few seconds to let him get used to the sound, treat, trimming one nail for a few seconds, treat, trimming a few nails, treat, etc. Now he'll let me do all four paws with barely a squirm. He still gets a treat after each paw, though!