Is Your Dog Scared of Having His Toes Nails Cut? Clipped? Dremelled?

Use these three methods to teach your dog that he need not be afraid of getting his toe nails handled, cut or dremelled. Systematic desensitization (staying under threshold), wearing them down on smooth hard surfaces and using a scratchboard)
Additional tip: If you clip the nails after exercise, the dog will be less reactive and if the nails are wet (say after running in the rain for a while), they are softer and therefore easier and quieter to cut.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• dog
• scared
• fearful
• toe
• nails
• cut
• dremelled
• grind
• clipped
• trim
• desensitize
• scratch
• board
• pedicure
• peticure
• clipper

[roz3657]

I would think it would be much safer to take the dog on a sidewalk or basketball court than using the street pavement to file down it's nails.

[supernaturalbc2009]

@roz3657 This was on a blocked off dead end road. No vehicles allowed.

[brucemercury]

Wow - your tip worked like a charm! My dog, a large dog, is usually such a big baby. I tried your example after dinner. This is a dog that has never liked any treats. I gave her more dinner nibbles. She liked them and I was able to cut her nails without any crying or whimpering! The only thing I did different was had her lay on her side I can see the nails in the light better. I've always dreaded having to cut her nails, to have an easy time in just one try with is life changing. Thanks

[supernaturalbc2009]

@brucemercury That's great! You can also place the dog on a firm raised surface such as crate or grooming table as well. This makes it easier for you to see and you can post lighting so you can see the nail quick! Donna

[nataliawasilewska97]

how did you tought jessie to scratch her paws on the sandpaper??? It is really coll trick

[supernaturalbc2009]

You shape the behavior in small steps. It starts with a foot target on the sandpaper, then anytime she drags her foot, swipes her paw or scratches her toes, you click. Then withhold the click for a short period and she'll offer harder scratches as you saw in the video.

[techieteri]

Thanks for a great video :) I have a 6 mo. old chiweenie and his black nails grow so fast its like magic! I am getting out the sandpaper right now! I am disabled so it's hard for me to get out on concrete to wear at least part down naturally. But I do give one of the neighbor kids .50 2-3 times a week to run around w/him, which he does anyway, to get extra energy out. Holding him for something he hates is impossible. He is like a little torpedo and his short shiny coat makes it much harder. teri

[PetluverChannel]

I've tried just wearing them down for about years now...I really need to cut them before he gets injured. The nails are really hard now. Any suggestions?

[debrajdunford]

Thank you for caring so much and posting these videos for us. The multiple methods are great. I'm looking for sandpaper right now. I have to 10 to15 lb dogs and they are biting, screaming and scratching. They are small and slippery and can't even hold them. They have silky short hair coats and can Houdini their way out of any hold. Again thank you so much.

[AnusiaLA]

It's impossible to teach my chihuahuas anything. I used to have a bigger dog and I was able to teach her a lot of things, so I'm pretty sure it's not entirely my fault.

I love my dogs, but they are not even 100% house broken lol They have to wear diapers at home.

I have to go to groomer to trim their nails. I wish I could do it myself, but they are so small that I'm scared I'll hurt them. They panic, cry, scream, try to bite... I give up.

[AynglCristole]

What a great video, thank you. I have been struggling with my corgi/lab

[therogue0ne]

nicely done...