Q: clipping dogs nails

Answered by anitajo on 1/18/2006, 5:28 pm

Q: clipping dogs nails

> > I haven't had any luck in clipping my dogs nails. When I
> > get the clippers out and he sees it he goes hyper and
> tries
> > to grab it. I can't hold him still. He becomes a wiggle
> > worm. Is there any help for the situation?
>
> Before I begin, I should tell you that it may take a bit for
> you to desensitize him to the whole situation and if his
> nails need cutting between now and then, you can take him to
> the vet or a groomer. My vet charges $5 a foot, it's really
> not that expensive.
>
> You're going to have to desensitize him to the whole
> situation. Firstly, you want him to be still when you're
> cutting his nails as a wiggling dog and nail clipping can
> lead to nipped quicks and a fair amount of blood.
>
> I like to use the 'settle' technique. My vet taught it to
> me and it seems to work. Get down on your knees and have
> your dog lay down with his back to you (or move yourself so
> his back is to you). Lean across the dog and hold his legs
> that are touching the floor (his left legs if he's on his
> left side, his right legs if he's on his right). One hand
> will hold the front leg, the other the back leg. Make sure
> when you do this you aren't choking or leaning to hard. The
> arm holding the front leg should be resting across the
> shoulders, your other arm should be just under the rib cage.
> If you have a large breed dog, you may find your chest
> resting a bit on the rib cage, be sure you aren't
> compressing the ribs. You want to repeat 'settle' very
> calmly. The end goal is to have the dog completely relaxed
> in this position for 2-3 minutes. At the end of your time,
> let him up and give him a treat. If he fights you (be
> prepared for it at first), he doesn't get a reward, you
> gently restrain him, putting him back in position if
> necessary.
>
> In conjunction with 'settle', make sure your dog doesn't
> mind having his feet held and manipulated. If he does,
> you'll also need to desensitize him to this aspect. Hold
> his feet gently in your hands and first. If he doesn't pull
> away, treat. You want to eventually be able to hold, rub
> and manipulate his feet with no problems.
>
> Once your dog has learned 'settle' and doesn't mind his feet
> played with you can try clipping his nails. Put him in a
> settle and clip one nail, only the tip, being very careful
> of the quick (the vein that runs up the nail). Give him a
> treat. Your done for now. Later in the day or the next
> day, clip another nail. You follow on in this manner until
> all the nails are done. You can see why it's going to take
> some time. :) As he's more relaxed with the clipping
> experience you can do 2 at a time, 3 at a time, eventually
> clipping them all with no problems.
>
> * Make sure you're using the correct size clippers for your
> dogs breed. Not large clippers for a small breed or small
> clippers for a large breed.
>
> * Some dogs do better with the scissor type clippers, some
> with the guilletine type. Experiment and see what your dog
> prefers.
>
> * Make sure that the clipper blade is sharp. You can buy
> clippers with replaceable blades or you can just replace
> your set.
>
> * Take your dog for walks on concrete...this acts as a
> natural nail file when done enough and you won't have to
> clip as often.
>
> Many people, myself included, have turned to the dremmel to
> grind dogs nails instead of clipping. Mine have taken to
> the dremmel much better than the clippers.
>
> If you'd like to try that...teach the settle and handle the
> feet, same as above. Once the dog is in a reliable settle,
> turn the dremmel on and leave it near, not touching his
> nails. Treat him if he behaves. You might need to practice
> this, some dogs don't like the noise.
>
> Once he's used to the noise, again, you can do one nail at a
> time. Be sure to only file down the tip and to not hold the
> dremmel to the nail for more than 2 to 3 seconds as it gets
> hot and can cause discomfort.
>
> http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html
>
> This is a very good site that explains how to dremmel nails,
> showing pictures of the author dremmelling her doberman (who
> is in a settle). :)
>


Thanks! I'll give it a try. He loves treats!
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