Nail Trimming Drama

[Colette]

Hi Trish...

Thank you so much for sharing with us.

I have 3 adopted PIt Bulls. The oldest is a female - Leto...then comes the two males, Hector and Buddy.

I can trim Leto's nails without problem - she's not real thrilled about it, but she's calm when I do it.

Hector on the other hand ( he's 7 yrs.) .. has a virtualy doggie-tizzy-fit! It wasn't always like that and he has never had any bad experiences...ie - cutting too short to the quick. It' become worse and worse with time...I have resorted to one nail at a time when he is sleeping because other wise he literally screams when I touch the clipper to his nail. He acts like he's being killed.

And now... my youngest - Buddy is doing the same. He learned this from Hector, I'm sure of it. Buddy, at five who used to be really good about getting his nails trimmed, now has a little fit himself.

Note: my dogs are touched often , (they think they are lap dogs...)- they get massages and frequent baths and a lot of physical attention...I touch their feet without issue....but as soon as the nail clipper comes out, all hell breaks loose! lol..

I reward my dogs with positive reinforcement and I ignore/chastise bad behavior with stern body language and tone.

So any suggestions about how I can trim my dog's nails without so much drama? It's gotten ridiculous.

[Trish McMillan]

Hi Collette,

Oh, boy am I familiar with this one! I adopted a Doberman who had an equally extreme reaction to nail-trimming when I first got her. Here's what worked with her (you need a lot of patience though!)

First, I bought a bike attachment so I could run her on concrete to keep the nails short while I worked on nail trimming.

Next, I found her favorite treat in the world (cheese) and cut it into pea-size pieces.

Then, I started by touching her elbow, then giving her a piece of cheese (no nail clipper in sight.) Repeat until happy and waggy about elbow-touching. This is as far as we got on Day 1.

Next. run hand slightly down leg, give cheese. Repeat many times.

Next, touch paw, cheese, repeat. We got here by the end of the week.

Next, hold paw, cheese repeat.

Hold paw in nail-clipping position, cheese, repeat.

Then have clippers in other hand, start at elbow again, cheese, many reps.

Once I was able to hold the paw and have nails in other hand, I'd tap the nail with the clipper, then give cheese.

It took several months before I was able to cut nails without protest, but I've now had my Doberman for nearly 9 years and she comes running and hands me her paw when I take out the nail-trimming equipment. I've had friends nearly fall over with shock when they see this!

I used the same technique to desensitize Sara to a Dremel tool two years ago (her nails are getting REALLY thick as she ages) and it only took a couple of weeks to run through the same program with the Dremel.

Alternatively, you could just wrangle the dogs to the vet or groomer and have someone else be the bad guy. These professionals are usually much faster, and your dogs would be able to sleep peacefully without worrying about you sneaking up with clippers!

Trish