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Grooming Conundrum with Nails

1.5K views 3 replies 4 participants last post by  CharliGirl  
#1 ·
I did Graham's nails last week. What I thought would be an easy thing turned into a nightmare of stress (and scratches).


The first time we had him trimmed, the vet did it at his check up past adoption. He seemed to handle it very well. She didn't use a guillotine style, but the kind with the two blades. So, come last week I tried to do his nails with the same style of clips. He wasn't a happy camper. His nails are clear enough I could see the quick so all I did was trim the tips, far enough away so as not to cause sensitivity. He did two nails okay, but flinched away every time. Then he started to squirm and yelp when I did the other nails, still doing the tips and not going for any length. They weren't terribly long, but I wanted to keep up in them as they were getting sharp.


He wouldn't even let me use the Emory board on his nails to find them down as the blade left them even sharper.


Graham is great about us looking at his paws, handling them, and what not. I'm not sure why he reacted why he did. Giving him treats during it did very little to soothe him.
 
#2 ·
If he was really stressed when you started trying to give him the treats, then it was to late for the treats to have much, if any, effect. If the treats weren't high enough value, then they weren't good enough to distract him from the nail clipping.

It also sounds as if you trimmed to many nails at once for the treats to have much effect.

Go slower, and at his pace. Since you did two nails without him panicking... Clip one nail, give him a high value treat, clip another nail give him another high value treat, let him go, and do something fun with him. In an hour or two, or the next day, try for two more nails and use the same process. If you notice that he's calm and not stressing after you do two nails then do a third and stop. Do three nails a few times then try and add a fourth if he's not stressing. The important thing is to go at his pace.

He may never learn to like getting his nails clipped but he should be able to learn that he gets treats if he puts up with it and once it's over he gets to do something really fun.
 
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#3 ·
Start counter conditioning him. Don't even bring out the clippers yet; just start messing with his feet and nails while praising and giving treats (highest value you can find). Move at his pace. When he's good with that, have the clippers in hand and just let him touch them and touch his feet with them, still praising and treating. Once he's good there, clip one nail and treat/praise like crazy. Move at his pace until he's okay with it.

I couldn't cut Nola's nails without her completely freaking out (screaming, thrashing, jerking away, struggling) just last year. With a crap ton of CC-ing, I can now clip all her nails in one sitting while she sits quietly on my bed, completely unrestrained. She even gives me her foot to be trimmed on cue. I can drememl them with no problem now, too.
 
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#4 ·
First off, I would make sure your nail clippers are sharp - otherwise the nail can split or shatter which can be very painful.

Secondly, were you nervous or felt unconfident at all? A lot of "getting a dog used to nail trimming" has to do with getting used to is yourself as well.

At the salon, I cannot tell you how many owners that would come in saying their dogs hated have their nails done and/or wouldn't let them touch their feet. Once the dogs came back with us, they were fine nearly 100% of the time. Because nail trims were something that we would do dozens of times every day, it was no big deal for us, and the dogs would pick up on that and calm down.

Don't get me wrong, there were still dogs that did not want it done or had previous bad experiences. Then we would move slowly, do one nail at a time, or just pet them and have the owner bring the dog back in another day or two for another try. But a new person and new environment is usually enough to get a dog thinking instead of reacting, and before you know it you are all done.
 
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