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The doghouse

Nail clipping hell- what's best?

15 replies

TheRobbingBastards · 26/06/2015 08:56

I have had loads of dogs during my life, as well as working with rescue dogs. Up till now I have always been able to clip all of my dogs nails with no hassle. Then we rescued DDog3 Hmm
She regards any form of personal hygiene as Deeply Suspicious. Grooming results in the stink eye, along with much biting of brushes and general twathattery. Bathing we've only done once is deeply frowned upon and any attempt to look at teeth or ears is met with outraged scepticism. Thankfully she is very low maintenance :o
The big problem is her nails. They really do need clipping but even the mere site of the clippers puts her on high alert. In 8 months I have managed to trim about 1mm off one nail, the result of this being that she now refuses to even countenance the clippers being on the side, let alone near her precious trotters.

DH suggested sending her to the groomers and letting them deal with her TBH I would do it but I fear it's a sink or swim situation, where she will either give in meekly OR we will be blacklisted and she will spend the rest of her life growing gnarled old lady nails in blissful victory.
Any suggestions would be VERY gratefully received :)

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tabulahrasa · 26/06/2015 09:02

I file them with a dremel... you've got to get them used to it first, but I find it's accepted better than clippers.

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TheRobbingBastards · 26/06/2015 09:20

She's just chucked a hissy fit as I was using the clippers to trim the boys ears. I'm not sure a Dremel wouldn't send her completely unhinged but I may get that desperate!

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PeriPathetic · 26/06/2015 09:26

In the same boat. No idea what to do, she will not countenance me (or anyone) going near her feet let alone with clippers in hand. Vet said she would have to be anaesthetised for it to be done. I walk her on pavements to try and keep them in check, but something needs to be done soon.

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CalebWomble · 26/06/2015 09:30

We use a three person approach. One to hold the dog (he is just about small enough to sit up on a lap), one to feed him treats constantly, and one to do the clipping. (And yes, you have to get the clippers out of the drawer without him seeing or he'll retreat to his crate.) Do you think she could be distracted?

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tabulahrasa · 26/06/2015 10:09

If you have access to a dremel, try getting her used to it and then using it, you might be pleasantly surprised...it doesn't have that pinching sensation that clippers do, so some dogs find it less objectionable.

Mine won't go near the Hoover btw, but he'll let me grind his nails, lol.

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DunelmDoris · 26/06/2015 10:29


I'd recommend taking more time over it than 4 minutes - Sophia Yin was a remarkably skilled behaviourist, for the rest of us it will probably take a few sessions - but this technique will mean a lifetime of calm behaviour. Methods using heavy restraint lead to dogs becoming more and more frightened and resistant each time.

The same technique can be applied to any handling. You do need to use high value foods such as cheese or sausage. Chorizo works well :)
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SmartAlecMetalGit · 26/06/2015 12:47

You could try using a scratch board. It's basically sandpaper stuck to a piece of board and you train the dog to scratch it with their nails.

I use it as well as clipping with my whippets as they're very touch sensitive and only allow a few nails to be clipped in any one session. It really helps keep them down and also smooths off the nails when they have just been clipped.

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TheRobbingBastards · 26/06/2015 13:57

That's interesting smart as DDog3 is a staffieXwhippet. Perhaps the whippet in her is really sensitive while the staffie makes her into a canine cannonball
I will hold off of taking her to the groomers just yet while I formulate a new attack plan- listen carefully and you can hear groomers the length and breadth of the southwest breathing a collective sigh of relief :o

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SmartAlecMetalGit · 26/06/2015 17:38
is quite a good video for showing the scratch board and how to train them to use it.
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LimeJellyHead · 26/06/2015 18:05

That Sophia Yin video is great. I was about to try to explain all that in words when I saw that post. It is almost exactly how we did it with our Darcey but after those first 4-5 mins of training we still didn't feel she was confident enough to let us clip her nails without fuss ensuing, and that is the last thing you want to happen as it will undo all your hard work. So we stopped and did exactly the same thing again the next day and the next. On try 4 she was totally enjoying the whole scenario of sitting on Paul's lap and getting treats just for having her claws and the clippers meet. I would line it all up but not squeeze. She was fine. She was ready for the cutting to begin. We did a clip of a nail and she actually looked at me as if to say hey... did you just do that... it wasn't so bad, lol.

So yeah, to add to that video I would do that but don't progress to the clipping stage until you feel the dog is 100% ready, even if it means leaving it for that day or session.

Also, make sure your clippers are nice and sharp so it is one clean clip. And of course, don't clip that dew claw as that will set your dog back cos it hurts.

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LimeJellyHead · 26/06/2015 18:55

Apologies, above I meant quick, not dew claw, lol. It should have read:

Also, make sure your clippers are nice and sharp so it is one clean clip. And of course, don't cut the quick as that will set your dog back cos it hurts.

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JohnCusacksWife · 26/06/2015 19:30

Do only certain breeds need their claws clipped? My dog's 15 and has never had his clipped in his life!

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LimeJellyHead · 27/06/2015 14:28

Mostly it depends on where the dog walks (what surfaces), how much and long they walk for, how much the claws pull or drag and wear down on harder surfaces etc...

My terrier never used to need his doing but now he is 15 they do get long and need clipping. Never used to though. Our other dog has always walked slowly and carefully. Walks never wore hers down so we have always clipped hers for her.

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Lorialet · 28/06/2015 22:56

Mine hates the clippers too so I file them with a diamond file. It's a never ending job ~ I do a bit each day, but it beats taking her to the vets, where it takes three people to hold her down and she has to be muzzled.

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DeliberatelyDreaming · 01/07/2015 00:10

I have a friend with exactly the same problem. She arranges with her vet for her boy to have a mild sedative pill, then the vet does his nails. It's worked out really well. My boys have their nails clipped at the groomers

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