Tired of getting nipped while you clip your dog’s nails? Make things easier on yourself by giving your dog a stress-free nail trimming! Check out this blog post for the best tips on how to do just that. If you dread trimming your dog’s nails because it is always a struggle, then know that there are ways of making the nail clipping experience less stressful for both you and your pup, while also getting better looking paws in the process!
Nails should be trimmed every four to six weeks with sharp nail clippers or trimmers, but if you are like most dog owners then it can get postponed for many reasons for too long. Some dogs may hate having their nails cut, which makes the experience stressful for both of you. If your pup doesn’t like nail clippers or getting his paws handled in general (which is fairly common), then you can try the following tips.
The Grind of The Nail Trimming Process
Your dog may seem scared of the nail clippers just on sight. How hard could it then be to trim them? Consider a dremmel tool instead. It is less intimidating and will grind down nails instead of snipping them off at an angle like most regular nail clippers do. Dog nail grinders can be used on their own without the need of any clippers at all, as some dog owners like to clip dog nails off and then grind the rest only to smooth the nail tips.
The dog nail grinder can help remove sharp edges from claws after you are finished clipping them. But you will know if your pup’s nails are ground down enough because they won’t sound as sharp when walking or feel sharp when jumping on you. So, just spend more time grinding than cutting and you’ll get the same result without all the stress.
Guillotine style clippers can be scary because they look like they could do a lot of damage to your dog’s nail. And if you don’t watch it, they will! You can cut the quick of overgrown nails in what takes to press a button. Instead, go with the scissor style trimmer because they are less intimidating and easier for you and your pup to handle all at once!
Getting The Dog Comfortable for a Nail Clipping
Make sure your dog is relaxed to begin with. Set the work area in a place the dog loves to rest on. If it starts to bark or growl, stop the process immediately! If you have never trimmed its nails before, start by just touching them first so your dog gets used to the idea of you messing with its paws.
Hold your pup’s paws often. Squeeze the fingers gently yet firmly. It helps your pet get more used to this type of touch from you. Play games such letting you have its paw at your hand to press to receive treats, which will increase familiarity with touching those claws in exchange for a reward.
The goal is to gain better control of your dog’s paws. The dog’s reaction should be to be relaxed and calm at your touch despite your solid grasp. After you have become comfortable with paw handling, it is time to station the dog and begin your stress-free dog nail trimming session.
What Makes Your Dog Nervous About Nail Trimming?
Putting scissors or clippers close to the dog’s face is a sure way to get a reaction. Try to keep your dog distracted by letting it enjoy a treat while you handle its paws. If you can get help, have the other person keep the dog occupied on some colorful object or movement or really delicious food while you clip away.
In some dogs, putting them in a “down” position or hugging them can cause more stress because they feel trapped and unable to escape from the situation. So, find a position that is comfortable with you both. Maybe standing the dog on a table will suit you both better.
If your dog is stressed, you’ll notice it almost immediately. Sometimes if the dog is tired, it will display a more peaceful behavior having been exhausted. Other times, it can be moody and snap or get jumpy, because of the sound of your dog nail clippers, even if you keep them out of sight. Each dog is different. This is why a stress-free dog nail trimming is a moving object.
In either case, start by using a small nail trimmer and cut only a little bit of a nail at a time so your dog does not get nervous or uncomfortable. If your pet starts complaining that means you are probably cutting too much of a piece off in a single clip, which can lead to bleeding or pain for the pup if you get to the quick.
A nosy dog’s fear can also stem from the smell of your nail clipper’s metal. An easy way to get rid of this issue is by putting a dab of peanut butter or liver paste on top and then waiting for the dog to eat it up and make friends with the clippers this way.
When You’re Afraid to Cut Your Dog’s Quick
If you happen to cut your dog’s quick enough to make your dog bleed, chances are your pet will remember the fear of having its paws handled when next time you bring out those nail clippers for what won’t be a stress-free dog nail trimming session! This creates an even bigger problem because now not only can the dog not keep still while getting the trims done…but on top of that, it makes it very difficult for YOU to do so as well. (Guilty conscience anyone?)
How exactly do we work around these issues?
Well, first off, make sure you get your pet once again used to having its paws gently but firmly handled. You’ll have to recondition your dog. You want all the dog’s nails cut without worrying about cutting them too short. So, leaving them a bit longer than you would have preferred may not be a bad trade-off while you get your dog re-accustomed to getting those nails trimmed. Just focus on getting it used to having its feet touched and manipulated by YOU again.
The easiest way to do so is by using treats and using massages for an incentive when your dog lets you touch any of its paws. Reward the trust. Now, if your pet starts protesting at any time, simply pull away from the situation immediately because there will be no reward for resistance.
The second step in training for a stress-free nail trim would include slowly getting the tool closer and closer to the dog while increasing pressure around each individual toe until finally clipping can be achieved again without any fuss. The precise steps of this process are further below.
Also, if you’d like to get a better idea of what this kind of training may look like, check out this video.
Steps to Stress-Free Nail Trims For Aggressive Dogs
A great way to eliminate stress is by doing your dog nail trimming during play time with your pet. It’s not only an excellent way for you and your canine friend to bond all over again while getting those pesky nails cut…but it also makes the process fun!
Things seem less intimidating or scary if done in between playing games or while having some good old-fashioned doggy food. All the better, right? Just grab onto one paw at a time nail clippers or doggy nail grinder in hand until eventually every single toe has been trimmed nicely. But not if you own an aggressive dog! So, for that it will take counter-conditioning your dog to get it groomed.
This is why using caresses and treats is so important to getting the dog into a congenial mental state. Then, counter condition its reaction to getting its paws handled by stopping instantly from handling its paws the moment it starts focusing on the paw rather than on savoring the treat that you’re feeding it.
Fundamentally, you want to keep the dog’s attention focused on the food not on the handling of the paw. This is how you reduce your likelihood of getting bitten. Distraction is the key. You want the dog not to pay attention to its paw being handled but rather on the treat (or toy) that it’s getting to enjoy whenever it stops paying attention to what’s going on with its paws.
This will take repetition and someone to help you. So, be patient and persistent. When the dog is finally able to remain distracted getting the treat and dismissing the touch on its paws, introduce the clippers. You do this by beginning to tap the paw with them. Don’t cut. Just tap and get that new feeling recognized. Pause long enough to have the dog realize that the treat is available only while the tapping is going on and no other time. Again, you’re conditioning the dog to realize that the food is better than whatever is going on simultaneously down at the paws.
Progress from tapping on the toes to fitting the nail inside the clipper. But don’t cut. Again, get the dog used to the feeling of getting its toes handled inside guillotine types. You want to continue encouraging a positive attitude.
Once the dog becomes adjusted to getting handled only while the yummy treat or the fun toy are available and is used to feeling the clipper on its toes and around its nails, choose to cut. And next, wait. See the reaction.
Then, go back to feeding the treat, distract, and then clip another nail. And wait. Feed the treat and handle the paw at the same time for another clip. Then, wait. See whether the dog is either enjoying the treat or the distraction and not minding the clipping or still paying attention to the paw and resisting.
If you meet resistance, then you’re not distracting the dog enough. Work on the treat or toy and the timing to introduce and remove the clippers. The whole process should move seamlessly until the dog is accustomed to getting one nail trimmed at a time without a care in the world other than the treats.
How to Sedate Your Dog to Deliver a Stress-Free Dog Nail Trimming at Home
In the worst of cases, a dog may not want to get its thick nails trimmed, treat or no treat, toy or no toy. If they’re also really long nails needing serious cutting, you may consider sedating the dog. Can you do this to calm your dog and get the job done at home stress-free?
Start by taking your dog to the vet for a health check, and then getting it used to nail clipping as explained above. Most dogs should be able to get their nails done without sedation after going through the above process. But even if not, a sedated dog is still a conscious dog, unless you knock him out for good.
Check the following PetMD article on Sedatives for Dogs: How and When to Use Them Safely and speak with your vet to determine the best way to practice home sedation if that will be the only and most stress-free way for you to do your dog’s nails.