Advice Pleeeeeease

[TillynPip]

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Gracie, 19 months and Milo, 7 months were both fine having their nails clipped until they were both about 6 months and then they became monsters, only having to see the clippers to become leaping kangaroos. I have never hurt them or cut too low and there have never been any yelps. I can still pin Gracie down and clip but I HATE doing this (and so does she) because one day I know I'm going to catch her quick because of her struggling. Milo is much bigger than Gracie and much, much stronger ie. unable to pinned down by anyone. Milo's claws especially need clipping and I just don't know what to do short of the vets or a dog groomer but they will still have the same trouble as I do.

Any ideas very gratefully received.

NB Have thought about a grinder but presume that the noise and the vibrating will still have them leaping like loons.

 

[Juley]

I use a dremel for mine ( well the dogs <G>). They HATE the clippers but sit calmly for the dremel. Mark grinds and I sit and gently stoke the head of the one being dremelled.

 

[Suerose]

I bought a grinder for Grace but she is very very wary of it. I might try again to get her used to it by switching it on and leaving it closer and closer to her, it was a horribly slow process before! Good luck :luck:

 

[meddling]

I use a dremel for mine ( well the dogs <G>). They HATE the clippers but sit calmly for the dremel. Mark grinds and I sit and gently stoke the head of the one being dremelled.

Ditto here with Bluebell

she hated clippers from day one, but hops on to the chair and holds her paw up for me to dremmel them!

 

[TTT]

I found my bitches nails wore down when she was big enough to go for walks on the pavement. When she was very little, I filed the points off with an emery board (w00t)

 

[FeeFee]

I clicker-trained Taz to let me clip his nails, he's good as glold now (so long as I have sausage and her gets rewarded for every single nail). I was inspired by this video (sorry about all the chat at the beginning) and it really did work for him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgEwiH8CeUE

I've tried with Sophie too, but she's such a nervy girl I haven't got very far with her yet but I shall take it slowly and persist!

Little old Benji is a lost cause, he seriously tries to remove my fingers if I clip his nails. It's definitely a two-person job with him, one to hold him and the other to clip!

 

[teachtrinity]

mine were exactly the same, fine up till 6 months then total pains afterwards, I take them to Pets at home now to get them done, takes them about 2 mins/ dogs for £6 each, bargain in my eyes, and they are good as gold for the groomer.... I did try a dremel but they were just as bad with that :wacko:

 

[Nicola]

Dremel works for me...after years of struggling with clippers (and I meean serious struggling with one person having to restrain). They key is to reward them when they calm down for a second and then they start to learn that being calm earns them a reward. It takes a while but it's worth it in the end.

 

[TillynPip]

Thanks all, I'll go back to bribery and give it another shot.

 

[eve]

I had months of nightmare nail clipping with Lilly. Her absolute panic scared the others too. I used to feel so cruel as she was just petrified and ran a mile as soon as the clippers appeared. I tried sedation and Bach remedy, neither worked.

Dremel no chance, they were not having it.

Things have improved since I got Bella. She is a trooper and just stands quietly while I cut her nails. Hers always get done first.

I did not know that Pets at Home trim nails. I don't think the one in Edinburgh does. £6 sounds a bargain if it is something you cannot do yourself. My vets charge £15 and I think most grooming parlours are about the same. I think dogs are like children and behave better for other people sometimes. It may be easier and less stressful for the dogs to have the nails done by someone else.

I have persevered along the treats line. It first I had someone hold the treat where they could see it and give a treat after each nail. Now, I do not need a helper and each dog gets a treat when all the nails are done. Some are still nervy about the whole proceedure but it is getting better.

I would recommend that you persevere along the treats line and be firm but reasssuring.

 

[jayp]

I have found the trick is to reward for staying still while feet are examined.......and here dont take no for an answer, no matter how long it takes you must be determined on that day you will stroke feet while the dog is in nail cutting position. DONT be tempted to do a nail until the dog understands that panic does not mean escape

Once you give up the dog has learnt that struggle means escape, I had one so panicked he would bite me trying to get away

The reward should be something very special and you are rewarding acceptance that they stay still until you allow them to get up

Dont expect the dog to like it, they wont but they have to accept it

 

[littlenell]

Ozzy was so bad i used to take him to the groomers to be done - i use the dremmel on him now. With Vinnie i clip the ends then dremmel, Dante i just dremmel. :thumbsup: the only problem i have is that Dante tries to lick the dremmel whilst im using it :wacko: (w00t)

 

[Janimal]

Ive probably asked this question before...but could I ask what type of Dremmels you have please? and how much

you paid for them.

I really would like to try one. :thumbsup:

 

[hopkirk]

Hops gets his done at the groomers where our spaniel gets a hair cut. Last time he had them clipped it was quiet funny as he was stretching his legs out as if to show off his new feet all day

 

[~Annie~]

So far I have had no problems with nails (long may it continue) ... well not since I started standing them in the kitchen sink to do it :thumbsup: I have their heads under my arm and pick feet up one at a time and clip ... wouldn't work for everyone I know but they stand their quite happily raised to my height as it were and unable to step away without making an issue of it (Should point out we have a big sink!)