my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

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doglover27
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:58 pm

my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by doglover27 »

My dog HATES nail trim time. I am slowly working with him on being more comfortable with his paws being touched, but he needs a nail trim NOW. I can't take him to a groomer because he struggles WAY too much. He is about 50 lbs, or 22.7 kg, so he is not a small dog. It took 3 people to hold him down last time and he still pulled his paws away while trimming, making it dangerous for him and us. I don't want to traumatize him or hurt him, but he needs his nails trimmed. What can i do?!
Also when I took him to the vet they could not get his temperature because he FREAKED OUT. He tried to run away, sat, turned around and kinda mouthed the vet tech. Not hard, but still. He was fine when they gave him his vaccine though, no mouthing, no freaking out, nothing. He is such a good dog, but he just freaks out in these situations. I think I know why, but I don't know how to help it... Please help me!
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Mattie
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Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by Mattie »

Have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTKrJ2s ... re=related it gives ideas on how to shorten dog's nails without clipping them.

To teach her to let you clip her nails have a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTKrJ2s ... re=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWZUcLfH ... re=related

You can use a dremel instead of clippers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQb3I5pz4wc
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/PIXIE.jpg][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/th_PIXIE.jpg[/img][/url]
doglover27
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Joined: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:58 pm

Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by doglover27 »

Thanks, I will have a look at those links :)

I also looked up a "dog nail filing board" and found a site that tells you how to make one for fairly cheap, and it says it really works. I think I am going to try that. :)
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Mattie
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Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by Mattie »

I would be interested in that as well. :D
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/PIXIE.jpg][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/th_PIXIE.jpg[/img][/url]
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Mattie
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Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by Mattie »

Thanks. :D
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/PIXIE.jpg][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/Nethertumbleweed/th_PIXIE.jpg[/img][/url]
horza
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 5:22 am

Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by horza »

Hi

just wondering when you know it is time to cut a dogs nails.

i will admit i have never done this (i have a 4yr old Groenenal, and a 5 mth german shepard/lab) the older dog goes to the groomers twice a year, but ive never asked if they do nails, it is something i have never thought about (i know silly me) , she does live outside most of the time so id this why her nails are quite short, and blunt????

thanks
Natalie
doggymama
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Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:58 pm

Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by doggymama »

My puppy hates having her nails trimmer. Luckily, I've come up with a genius idea to make this easier!

To get her used to the clippers, once a day, I put her on the grooming table (a work top in our utility room), I put a harness on that I tie to a little hook on the wall, so she is safe and secure.
I have yummy treats ready (cheese and chicken).
I take the nail clipper - let her sniff it.

Then I take the clippers, gently take one paw and PRETEND I'm about to cut it. IE - hold the clippers against her nail so she can feel it's touching her. Then I clip - very close to her nail but not actually touching it. She knows that something's happened, but before she has time to react - I give her a treat. I do this with say 5-10 nails, only pretending to clip by holding the clippers close to her paws, and then treat. After a few days she was so used to having the clippers near to her nail that when I actually DID cut her nail, she hardly reacted.

She will get annoyed if I attempt to cut all her claws in one go, so I usually do front paws first, give her a break to run around - and treats - then I do the back paws after a while.

It worked for us - hope this helps you in one way or another!
misskris
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Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:33 pm

Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by misskris »

just wondering, does your dog squirm and flail while she is on harness? My dog acts as if I'm trying to KILL her when I try to trim her nails...I can't even get her comfortable with being AROUND the clippers. I let her sniff them and put treats around them, but she won't go near the treats until I pet her and tell her it's ok...then she grabs the treat and jumps back. I've tried holding the treats next to the clipper, but she will be VERY apprehensive around them.

I need help also! I can't take her to the groomers yet because she's a pup and doesn't have all her shots yet =( but she desperately needs a nail trim! I've tried absolutely EVERTHING (had my fiancee hold the HIGH-VALUE treat and tried clipping while she was distracted / tried to do it while she is asleep / tried to do only one nail and give a great treat, etc.) but she cries and flails and I'm afraid I'm going to pull her arm out of her socket when I try to hold it to clip the nail so I let her go and she runs away in total fear.

I don't want to harm her and leave a fear imprint on her during this careful time, but her nails are so sharp! I will go and watch all those youtube links posted above, but any other help would also be greatly appreciated.

add'l info: she's a 3.5 month old border collie mix-breed who I have had for the past month or so. Doing great with housetraining and obedience.

thanks eveyrone!
salamana
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Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:52 am

Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by salamana »

I don't think you need to trim your puppy's nails. He is too young. OK they have sharp nails (and sharp teeth) and they claw, but it's normal and his nails don't have to be shortened.

To habituate it, the first thing is : habituate your puppy to be manipulated. Touch him everywhere, his paws, his nail, his ears. It's just a coaxing. Then do the same thing, but with a little piece of tissue. You're teaching him it's not a problem to be touched by other thing that your hand. Do this like a ritual. Every morning, put him on a table (he can't jump or escape), manipulate him for five minutes, and give him a big reward. It's a very good boy !

For the clippers, more you focus on and more you tell your dog it's strange and dangerous ! You don't do all this mess for a shoe on the floor. When you're at home, keep your clippers on the floor in the room you are with your puppy and act normally. Read a book, play with him, forget this clippers ! One hour before his meal, put the clippers near his bowl, on the floor. Give him his meal like the other days without paying attention to this strange thing. He will forget it and habituate himself to his presence.

Therefore, It will take a little time before you can trim his nail because you must build his confidence (you have forced him and destroyed his confidence on you and on these clippers) but if you are patient, it won't be a problem. (and he doesn't need to have his nails trimmed now, so you can wait without problem). Moreover, there are dogs which they never need to have their nails trimmed as they do enough exercises outside to wear out them.
misskris
Posts: 66
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:33 pm

Re: my dog HATES getting his nails trimmed. HELP!

Post by misskris »

ok! Sounds good =) I am actually planning on walking her twice a day once she gets vaccinated, and my area is all concrete, so maybe you're right, hopefully, it will be enough to file her nails down naturally!

I'll do that with the clippers, thanks for the advice!
kris
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