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Nail trimming

2K views 21 replies 6 participants last post by  Princesse 
#1 ·
Hi Everyone, I have a problem being able to trim my Duke's nails anymore... we were able to do it all along until we let the vet do it at one appointment and she cut the quick! Now we cant handle his paws at all! He growls and even tried to bite my husband 😳 any advice on how to proceed and make the experience more fun and trusting for him? This is the only place puppy corner that I'm able to open to start a new thread.. I hope it's ok. Thanks in advance for the help.
 
#3 ·
#6 ·
Yes thank you, that's a good idea. I'll get him use to get his paws touched again at night when he's on the couch with me before falling asleep.
What do you consider a high value treat? Any specific brand that you know that you could share with me? Thanks.

On my problem moderators I'm only using my android phone to access this forum, could it be the problem?
 
#7 · (Edited)
Different dogs have different ideas of what high value is. Mine like hot dog slices cooked in the microwave (in a single layer on paper towels—it just takes a minute or two, depending on what brand you're using and how many you cook) until they're kinda leathery—they make crunchy little disks once they cool off. Or bits of dried sliced salami, or liverwurst. Some like string cheese, bits of cooked meat, cooked chicken liver—I've heard of some dogs who practically do jumping jacks for things like watermelon, apples, bananas or berries. It should be something they really like, and the only time they get it is when you are training (or accustoming them to something they're finding difficult—like nail trimming)

Just give a tiny bit at a time, just enough for them to taste the flavor, basically, especially if the treat is high salt or fat, and remember to subtract the calories in the treat from their normal dog food if you end up giving a fair amount. If you're trying a new treat out, something that is quite different from his normal diet, I would just try a little at first to make sure it doesn't upset his digestion.

Keep the treat right in front of his nose so he can lie there and nibble as you handle his feet; pinch the treat between your fingers or hold it in your fist to make it hard for him to get it all in one big glumph. Otherwise you'll have him jumping all over trying to reach you (well, really the treat will be what he is after) and he may even get your hand instead of the treat if he gets too excited.

At some point, you might want to try dremeling instead of using clippers—once they are accustomed to it, dogs seem to like it better (clippers pinch, I gather.) But that usually takes a bit to get them accustomed to the noise and vibration, so he needs to be totally OK with having his feet touched before you try something like that.




I'll add the bit about your android phone to the question thread I sent admin. I don't use a phone to get online, so I can't help you much.
 
#8 ·
Oh okay thank you very much! Now I see what is a high value treat! Yes make sense😉 because he's not really interested in store bought treats anymore so I'll try a good quality hot dog👍🏻and try different ones that you mentioned until I find the perfect one for him, great. Thank you for helping me looking into my troubles of opening others links or threads on the forum by communicating with the moderators, I appreciate it very much👍🏻
 
#10 · (Edited)
Good morning, Princesse!

I don't know if you're able to open the tech desk thread, so I thought I'd pass their message on here:

"I can see what I can do in the back end to get your settings enabled. While I do that can you clear your mobile browser's cache and history. It may be pulling up old data which could be the issue too.

Let me know if you see any changes after doing so.

Thanks,
Gerrit"
 
#12 ·


This works great for a dog that don’t like nail trims , I had to get for one that would try and bite the Dremel , and for one that growled a little , The funny thing that happened was when I put it one them , tup hey froze , no kidding ! They would just stand they and be pretty good , it’s a nylon mesh . Our vet loved it , I told him that it was for both our protection , lol

Might give a try and good luck
 
#14 ·
Hi, we were using clippers, although I was told to try to switch to the dremel! So I will give it a good try.
Oh yes what a good idea! How come I didn't think of that lol, a muzzle. Well worst come to worst I'll definitely will go and get one! Can I find one at any pet stores like pet smart and pet supermarket? Right now I'm getting him used to get his paws touched again and I'm regaining his trust...Thank you very much for all the help! I can't call you by your sceen name because on my side it only says guest for everyone one answering me, I apologize. Thanks again👍
 
#15 ·
When using a dremel , I mve from nail to nail - if you grid on one nail long - it will get hot and they will feel it threw there quick . I also try and hold the nail some as the dremel will vibrate it also . My guess the first time you do it , it most likely will be a rodeo . :grin2:
 
#16 · (Edited)
I dunno, ECIN. I mean, I hear you about the rodeo—it's a cute answer :2smile: :wink2:…but seriously, if it is much more than slightly nervy behavior and some eye-rolling, the person trying to do the dog's nails is going too fast trying to accustom the dog to the procedure.

Princesse—a dremel may be in your future, and it is the best way to trim nails, as far as I'm concerned. But it does take some work to accustom even an ordinary dog with no bad nail-trimming experiences to it—what you're doing right now with getting him used to having his feet touched again is a necessary step, and I don't think you want to rush that. But here's a little about dremeling nails, for your future reference:

I use a dremel (more or less like this one).

It seems to be much easier on the dog; apparently a guillotine clipper still hurts and squeezes a little even when you're using it properly.

Here's an older post about how to get them used to one:

Dogs are generally more comfortable having their nails dremeled than having them clipped. Dremels don't seem to pinch or squeeze the nails the way clippers do; you can get a nice smooth edge to the nail; it's much easier to avoid hitting the quick. But they do make noise and vibrate the nail as they grind it, so you have to go slow introducing one.

Here's a nail trimming demo we put together a long time ago.

https://www.dobermantalk.com/doberm...ns-nail-trimming-dremeling-demonstration.html

Here's another. I had asked for a picture of the underside of the dog's nail, because that's how I tell how much to take off. See post #21
https://www.dobermantalk.com/doberman-health/27115-nails-how-much-dremel.html (Unfortunately, this is an old post, so some of the links to pictures don't work anymore, but the picture on post 21 is still there, fortunately.)

This about how to get your dog used to a dremel:
"Just take it slow...depending on what she will allow...you may even need to start with rubbing it all over her with the motor off. Then with the motor on, but just somewhere in the room at a distance, then touching a nail for a second or too, then grinding one nail, then a whole foot and so on.

And of course, lots and lots of treats---sometimes even after every toenail when you get to the full foot thing.

Go ahead and start getting her used to the thing. Keep clipping if you need to until she is OK with the grinder. But, of course, do the grinder introduction randomly throughout the day and not in the same session as clipping time.

Two hints...

1. Always support the nail with a finger or thumb as you grind . That lessens the vibration on that toe, and I imagine makes it less tickly for her.
2. Never grind on one nail for more than few second at a time. The area you are grinding can get quite hot. If you need to do more grinding than that, just go on to another nail and come back to the first."
I use a cordless Dremel multipro--the rechargeable battery doesn't have a super long running time--if you're doing multiple dogs in a row, that could be a problem for you--but a corded dremel is rather a pain to use (for me, anyway)

Dremel style tools marketed specifically as nail grinders for pets often don't have enough power to do tough dobe nails--it's really better just to use an ordinary hobby dremel with the coarse sandpaper roll.
And here's a little more, by TriciaKoontz EXCELLENT ADVICE—where you might want to start, Princesse—except even without the dremel, for now

Be sure that she is in a comfortable position (I have them lie on their side with head on the floor), then hold the paw with calm steady pressure and don't let go when she twitches or pulls the foot. The second she relaxes the leg again, give a praise word, set down the Dremel and feed her a very small high-quality treat (cooked chicken or hamburger works for me). Keep doing this until she learns that not pulling back is the key to getting the treat. If you keep letting go of the foot, you are essentially rewarding her for jerking and thus making the behavior stronger.

A good trick is to have someone else pop the treat in her mouth as soon as you say "good" or other cue word that you give the instant she relaxes the leg. If you don't have anyone else around, just practice doing it yourself - it becomes easier with time. I don't even turn the Dremel off, just set it down, quick reward, and back to the job.

Keep rewarding for relaxed foot holds, along with short breaks for a relaxing mini-massages in between every foot (or, more often at first if she is really keyed up over nail work). I do a slow whole body massage, making sure my dog is lying with head on the floor and completely relaxed. This is how I taught my Bella to relax and now she lays flat out on the floor when I bring out the Dremel. It took a number of times but patience and good rewards will win over the twitchy ones. You have just accidentally "taught" her to jerk away with unintentional rewards for that behavior. BTW, the little mini-massages also work to calm your energy so you are not so tense about the job yourself! Good luck!
 
#17 ·
Mel , Kadin is 5 now and ever since he was a puppy - he hates his left paw nails done - the inside one from the left is a true challenge - I think he hurt it when he was very young as it not straight , maybe he broke it . but a big male can be a handful .

I just did little girls nails , she is the best I have done in a long time - she gets wiggly when I do her fronts for what ever reason
 
#21 · (Edited)
I guess one thing I would add is that if you have a partner who can feed those high end treats while you grind the nails.... it helps to distract. I would also start the dremel on low and get them use to it. Move from nail to nail and avoid building
heat. The cheaper grinders also seem to have a higher pitch to them so Id spend the money and get the quieter real dremel. My 2 cents, and we try to do nails every 3-4 days....
 
#22 ·
Thank you for all of the great suggestions! I'll get him acclimated to the dremel like shown in the link and buy the quiet one . But at the moment I'm regaining his trust with massaging his paws etc...Yes I have my husband that can help with feeding him the high value treats while grinding! I did received you pm Melbrod but I wasn't able to answer on it... I'm not too savvy so that might also be part of the problem lol. I did what you suggested and started a tread on tech help desk for my problem. Thanks again to everyone!
 
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