Problems with nail cutting

[Jade010103]

I have cut Jade's nails on a regular basis ever since I brought her home at 8 weeks. She's now 21 months old and it's getting harder to cut them. She cries and pulls her feet away from me not wanting me to do it. What I don't understand is that I've never cut her too short, I've always given her a treat afterwards and she just gets worse everytime I cut them. Lately I've been only doing one paw a day so I don't stress her out. Once I start with a paw I make sure I finish so she doesn't think that her attitude gets me to stop with that paw. Just the other day when I was cutting her nails I had my husband petting her and she got so mad after I cut the first one she snapped at my husband. That was all the petting she got from him so then I just told her no and quickly finished the rest of her nails on that paw. She doesn't care when I clean her paws after coming in from the rain and I touch her paws all the time, it's just when I try and clip her nails that she gets so mad. Does anyone have any advice on how I can cut them a little easier? Also I have a brand new pair of cutters so the blade shouldn't be dull making it pull on the nail or nothing. Please help!

 

[Mwarlzabwark]

nail cutting

Here's one thing I've never tried on Charlie, because each time he goes to the vet and I ask if they could trim his nails they inform me his nails are as short as they can get. I used to own a cockerspaniel if her nails had ever gotten this long ...they would be curling. But, the one thing I did learn from my cocker was that they can train you. She never seemed phased by nail cutting in the beginning either, and the vet had actually hit her quick once or twice. Later on, she did nip and tug and pull away as well, the vet said I may have unknowingly caught some of her fur in the clippers and caused her to tug back. Her tugging back and nipping at me actually made me nervous about cutting her nails and so I turned it over to my husband who wisked off her nails and she let him, for a while. She got to where she was twitchy with him as well. It could have been that we both caught fur with the clipper or it could just be she figured out as she did with so many other things, how to retrain us to do what she wanted not what we wanted. My husband has pointed out time and time again how my dogs have me well trained, to the point I know if they want food or just a particular toy, by the look on their face. I do not have a whole lot of advice to offer except if you haven't already, change where and when you clip the nails so it's less of a pattern. Wear out your puppy with playtime just before clipping their nails, that seemed to work best with our cockerspaniel if we wanted to clip her nails was doing it after a bout of playtime. Have the vet do them when you do vet visits for other reasons.(so it's a different person and out of element for the pup).

 

[sandy's mom]

My Sandy is 3.5 and will not let me cut her nails at all.
She pulls and whines whenever I have tried. But, I have been told that a small dremel tool does a great job. I haven't tried it yet.
It is easier for me to pay someone than to stress both of us out. She does fine with other people.

I guess she knows I am a push over.

 

[Gruntsmom]

Have you considered the Dremel tool? There are many threads on BW about it, and lots of people who use it to trim their furbabies nails. I started trimming Grunts nails with a clipper when he was only a few months old, and it became a dreaded routine for the both of us. Then I heard about the Dremel. Do a search on it....it will give you another option. I dremel twice a week because my baby boy does not like to lay for too long. He's 19 months now and comes very willingly when I call him - "Wanna do some nails?", and he sees the Dremel and treats come out! After we're done, he gets a paw massage, some belly rubbing and lots of hugs and cuddling!! Good luck!

 

[Poetic_thing]

I was told by both my vet and trainer (many years ago) to be consistent, calm and firm with them. My boxer used to lie on the floor and I would lie with her and give her belly rubs while my DH cut her nails. She used to pull her paws away, but we persisted and she got better. My Minpin is okay if I hold him with his head facing the opposite direction and my DH cutting his nails. He used to whine and cry so bad I'm sure my neighbours thought I was killing him. My thoughts are to continue and be consistent. Good Luck.