I have a 10 year old shepherd whippet mix (whippet sized) who is terrified of nail trims ever since the groomer got his quick, and he in turn backed away and fell off the grooming table and was nearly strangled by the leash they were using. I have been trimming them myself since then, but he has always tugged his paws away and pants terribly and is clearly terrified. I have tried conditioning with treats and paw touches but he is still terrified. I have tried a dremel and the noise scares him. He won’t even take a favorite if he knows the clippers are coming. Please help!! Any suggestions aside from having him sedated at a vet office?
Nail trimming PLEASE HELP!
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I am sorry to hear this, and it's a tough thing for both you and your dog. I am horrified that your dog went through something so traumatic at a groomer. A groomer should always have control of the dog so they don't fall off the table.
Have you tried very gradually re-conditioning him to having his paw held, and then gradually to the clipper or grinding tool?
Another thought.....there are dog nail grinders that are almost silent. Maybe one of those would work for him because they won't sound the same.
Another thought is that if you have been keeping his nails short, you can maintain that by using a very coarse emery board, which would be an entirely different thing from clippers or grinders, and he might allow that better. You'd have to do it more often than grinding or clipping.
Have you tried very gradually re-conditioning him to having his paw held, and then gradually to the clipper or grinding tool?
Another thought.....there are dog nail grinders that are almost silent. Maybe one of those would work for him because they won't sound the same.
Another thought is that if you have been keeping his nails short, you can maintain that by using a very coarse emery board, which would be an entirely different thing from clippers or grinders, and he might allow that better. You'd have to do it more often than grinding or clipping.
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My Golden has no trouble with my touching and rubbing her paws. But if she sees me go to the drawer where the clippers are stored, she is gone in a flash. The only way that I can keep her still, is putting her on a grooming table with a 3 point harness. After that it ia piece of cake. I imagine that you can attach a grooming arm to any sturdy table and a DIY Groomer's helper is easy and cheap to make.
My grooming arm is now equipped with one of these.
www.petedge.com
edit: Professional groomers use restraints to keep dogs from injuring themselves should they try to escape. .
My grooming arm is now equipped with one of these.
Master Equipment Color Grooming Arms with Clamps
Master Equipment™ Grooming Arms are now available in three bright colors that coordinate with our folding grooming tables. Each 3/4" square arm is made of steel. Includes a free color-coordinated grooming loop. Free 18" Color-Coordinated Grooming Loop!
www.petedge.com
edit: Professional groomers use restraints to keep dogs from injuring themselves should they try to escape. .
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The problem with restraining a dog so they can't move while trimming the nails, or so it seems to me, is that it will only make nail trimming an even worse experience for the dog because of the added restraints. And will make the whole experience even more traumatic and frightening. Like if you were afraid of cats and got shut in a room with cats....and then got shut in the room with cats, only you were tied up as well. Would only make you more anxious, I would think.
I think that is the dog can't be reconditioned to accept nail trimming, then a mild sedative and/or having the vet do the trimming would be better than restraining the dog.
I think that is the dog can't be reconditioned to accept nail trimming, then a mild sedative and/or having the vet do the trimming would be better than restraining the dog.
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There is a good Facebook group called nail maintenance for dogs.
Would she scratch a board or half pipe with sandpaper?
Your counter conditioning is on the right lines but may take forever. You might make progress a little faster if you use the Bucket Game.
Or there is a game to get used to the dremel. Have 5 random things in a box or bag, and the dremel (I think I have a tin of shoe polish, a plastic tub, a jam jar etc - anything you have lying around.
One by one, take out something, and put it back while she watches. Only when it is the dremel, she gets a reward. It is never switched on at this stage. For the other items, no reward. When she looks at the treat and not the dremel, you are moving forward.
You could then lay the dremel on the floor. If she looks at it, reward. Sniffs it, reward.
Then touch her nails with it off. Reward etc.
Then, holding her paw, touch your nail with it on. That gets her used to the vibration.
Meanwhile, if someone can keep her licking squeezy cheese from a tube, you are well on your way.
Would she scratch a board or half pipe with sandpaper?
Your counter conditioning is on the right lines but may take forever. You might make progress a little faster if you use the Bucket Game.
Or there is a game to get used to the dremel. Have 5 random things in a box or bag, and the dremel (I think I have a tin of shoe polish, a plastic tub, a jam jar etc - anything you have lying around.
One by one, take out something, and put it back while she watches. Only when it is the dremel, she gets a reward. It is never switched on at this stage. For the other items, no reward. When she looks at the treat and not the dremel, you are moving forward.
You could then lay the dremel on the floor. If she looks at it, reward. Sniffs it, reward.
Then touch her nails with it off. Reward etc.
Then, holding her paw, touch your nail with it on. That gets her used to the vibration.
Meanwhile, if someone can keep her licking squeezy cheese from a tube, you are well on your way.
Thanks for your response! Yes I have tried conditioning But as soon as we start trying to put our hands near his paws, he runs away and hides. Even his favorite treats won’t help. I will have to try to find the quiet dremel. Thanks so much for the tips!
Thank you so much for your suggestions!! I will definitely try that grooming table with harness. That is one thing I haven’t tried. I thought I’d need a special table. Thanks again!My Golden has no trouble with my touching and rubbing her paws. But if she sees me go to the drawer where the clippers are stored, she is gone in a flash. The only way that I can keep her still, is putting her on a grooming table with a 3 point harness. After that it ia piece of cake. I imagine that you can attach a grooming arm to any sturdy table and a DIY Groomer's helper is easy and cheap to make.
My grooming arm is now equipped with one of these.
Master Equipment Color Grooming Arms with Clamps
Master Equipment™ Grooming Arms are now available in three bright colors that coordinate with our folding grooming tables. Each 3/4" square arm is made of steel. Includes a free color-coordinated grooming loop. Free 18" Color-Coordinated Grooming Loop!
edit: Professional groomers use restraints to keep dogs from injuring themselves should they try to escape. .
I have never heard of a scratch board before but I did look it up and anything is worth a try at this point. Thank you so much for your ideas! Much appreciated!
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Plz be VERY careful with the Dremel..The friction causes a heat buildup very fast and that will cause pain. It is also easy to go too far. If you see a tiny round spot while dremeling, that is the quick and you must stop before it becomes an oval shape..also very painful for the dog.
In any event, Hope that it all turns out well.
I am aware of the dremels heating up, and luckily I know how to spot when the quick is nearing..but thanks so much for the reminder. Very kind of you 😊
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Excellent!
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Perhaps consider asking your vet for a mild sedative, so that you can try to condition him to allowing his nail trims at home? I wouldn't suggest putting him on a table of any sort, (he hasn't forgotten that he has fallen off of one) or taking away his ability to move away if he chooses, perhaps laying on a dog bed or couch would work??
Something to think about is that perhaps it is not 'just' the clippers/dremel that he is afraid of, but the traumatic event that occurred. It could well be that he associates those tools not only with the pain of having his nails clipped but also with falling off the table and nearly losing his life. When dogs experience a traumatic event, they don't forget it, they remember everything about what happened, and what led up to what happened, so if something 'triggers' that memory, it is no surprise they panic.
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So he has had some bad experiences for sure! What he needs now is confident, calm and caring leadership. Remember touching and or trimming his feet is your agenda not his. But if you're anxious he will be too!
I'd start slow, but not tentatively. He needs to gain confidence in your handling of his paws. So do it kindly, but insistently, and give lots of praise! Work with that for a while, it's no emergency, dogs go years at times without a nail trim and survive! So take it slow.
The key to working with any dog is to "focus on the dog before you". Whether it's feeding, or training, or grooming. It's all the same. Focus on "this" dog while you're doing anything.with them. You can see when they're about to go over threshold, as they call it - which basically means losing it! - so don't go there, stop short. At that point your dog learns nothing!
Spend some time, help your dog get over his fear! He'll have a much better life, and so will you!
Thank you so much for your suggestions!
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