Nail Trimming...ARGH!

[StrykerBoy]

Having some trouble trimming Stryker's nails. I have to catch him when he's in the middle of a deep sleep to get it done and even then once he wakes up he fights me the whole time. Takes me a week just to get all 4 paws done.

Tips, Tricks, Advice????

 

[Cami]

Two people. Dremel and a spoon full or two of peanut butter for a distraction!
Quick and easy.

 

[Snowdogg]

Definitely two people, I can't clip Raleigh's nails...always think I'm going to clip his skin so my husband does it while I hold Raleighs head in my arms with a spoon of PB and keep telling him what a good boy he is...littel devil..hates getting his nails clipped

Good luck.

Raleigh, 5 year old Brindle wild boy x

Morrissey and Brooster, Fawn males, 11 years old, always in our hearts, at the bridge xx

 

[johann]

I have a different approach than the previous posters....

We tried the PB/cookies/2 person thing for quite a while. Johann would let us trim his nails, but whoever was handing out the treats would get snapped (accidently got hand, trying to chomp the treat) and it became a 3 ring circus in our living room to trim his nails.

So....one day I had enough. His leash got put on. I put a few cookies in my pocket (hidden). The first times, I would grab his foot gently and wait for him to relax and stand still. Once he did, released the foot and gave him a cookie. Then I progressed to taking his foot and putting the nail cutter around his nail, but not cutting. If he stood still....release and cookie. If he didn't stand still....I would kneel on his leash and hold his foot so he couldn't get away. Once he was still- then release and cookie. Once he is good with this- then cut 1 nail and immediately let go of the foot (before he can pull away) and give him lots of love. Be done for the day. Keep practicing, should only take a few days to figure out "standing still means I get cookies/love". Then start doing 2 nails, give him a big break (play, cookies, cuddle) and do a few more nails. Continue until you can do an entire foot with a reward only after that foot.

I feel like there are basic standards of behavior. Having your nails trimmed needs to be a non-event for my dog....it happens too often to need 2 people and a jar of PB. He'll now stand peacefully and let me trim all 4 feet (cookie after each foot) in about 2 minutes. If he starts to act up, a "Knock it off!" gets him to remember his manners.

It does take time to teach them to behave (took us a week to go from WWE worthy wrestling to a obedient boy who stands still), but I've found it more effective than bribery and/or distraction for long term use. Plus, it makes it safer for vets/groomers/etc that may handle their feet or trim nails.

Good luck with your boy.

 

[KellyJay]

I used to do the 2 person spoonful of peanut butter trick too but he squirms too much it's dangerous I cut Niko's quick once and felt so bad it's a bloody mess.

So I say just spend the $10 and let the groomer do it!

 

[jskeith]

Trimming Romeo's Nails

I have two ways to take care of nail trimming.

The easiest is to let the daycare I take him to trim them while he is there it costs about $3 and is part of the $23 I pay for a day at the daycare.

The other way I use is to lay him on his back between my legs on the couch or on the floor and I use a battery powered nail sander that I got at the pet store. He doesn't struggle to much once he knows he's outmatched.

 

[RockyCody]

yea, the answer is suck it up - pay the 10$ and let someone else do it.

 

[LILYLARUE]

Nail trimming - URGHHHH!

Buster - goes to the vet, gets a sedated nap and trimming. Cost: $93

Lily - Straddle her with a spoon of PB hangin out of my mouth, if she flinches, my head turns and PB goes out of reach. This is easy cause both back ACL's have issues, so she can't fight me. LOL

Smiley - leash goes on, step on leash with not much room to move, he shakes and pees, crouches and is still........nails done very quickly!

Fozzy - Lays on me, his choice, rolls like a cat, pulls the paws, but I still am stronger and get the job done quick!

One person - 4 dogs who hate nail trimmings - lots of PB and cuddles and praises.

It's only taken 1 year to master this technique......and still is quite a show!

Getting with a flyball buddy who has a technique that the dog cant escape her grasp or bite her. I will share the technique when I find out how she does it with 12 border collies who HATE having their paws touched.

 

[rayandsarah]

I have a different approach than the previous posters....

We tried the PB/cookies/2 person thing for quite a while. Johann would let us trim his nails, but whoever was handing out the treats would get snapped (accidently got hand, trying to chomp the treat) and it became a 3 ring circus in our living room to trim his nails.

So....one day I had enough. His leash got put on. I put a few cookies in my pocket (hidden). The first times, I would grab his foot gently and wait for him to relax and stand still. Once he did, released the foot and gave him a cookie. Then I progressed to taking his foot and putting the nail cutter around his nail, but not cutting. If he stood still....release and cookie. If he didn't stand still....I would kneel on his leash and hold his foot so he couldn't get away. Once he was still- then release and cookie. Once he is good with this- then cut 1 nail and immediately let go of the foot (before he can pull away) and give him lots of love. Be done for the day. Keep practicing, should only take a few days to figure out "standing still means I get cookies/love". Then start doing 2 nails, give him a big break (play, cookies, cuddle) and do a few more nails. Continue until you can do an entire foot with a reward only after that foot.

I feel like there are basic standards of behavior. Having your nails trimmed needs to be a non-event for my dog....it happens too often to need 2 people and a jar of PB. He'll now stand peacefully and let me trim all 4 feet (cookie after each foot) in about 2 minutes. If he starts to act up, a "Knock it off!" gets him to remember his manners.

It does take time to teach them to behave (took us a week to go from WWE worthy wrestling to a obedient boy who stands still), but I've found it more effective than bribery and/or distraction for long term use. Plus, it makes it safer for vets/groomers/etc that may handle their feet or trim nails.

Good luck with your boy.

This was our house and I finally had enough. I did the same thing just with the dremel.

 

[srennie]

It takes time and patience but I prefer to take that time and acclimate them to the dremmel. Darby was terrified of the dremmel when we first got her. Luckily Hurley was well acclimated and knew that dremmel meant treat when he was done so when he sees the dremmel come out he runs to the rug and lays down, practically handing me his feet. At first Darby woudl watch me to his nails from across the room, peeking out from behind the kitchen island. After a little time she would come closer and closer. I'd always give her a treat after Hurley was done. Eventually she would watch from over my shoulder. The next step was to get her to lay down and relax and I'd just turn it on and give her a treat. The next week I'd have her lay down, turn it on and touch the back of my hand to her so she could feel the vibration...treat. The next week I touched the dremmel to one back nail...treat. The next week I touched it to 2 back nails and so on and so on.....After about 6 months I was able to fully dremmel all back nails and after a year I could do all 4 with her laying down, relaxed, totally unconcerned with the process and happy to get her cookie when done. During this year I obviously had to use something else so I got a doggie nail file which she was fine with. I know a year sounds like a long time and the last 2 dogs I acclimated to the dremmel too just a month...but Darby was literally terrified of it which is why I took so much time.