Some dogs genuinely dread having their nails trimmed, and this regular hygiene aspect can quickly become an ordeal after one or two negative experiences. Try some of these strategies to help make at-home nail trims easier for your dog and yourself to handle.
- Normalize handling. One of the parts of trims that are scary for pups is being touched and held in ways that differ from what they’re used to. They will immediately get nervous the second you reach for their paw. To help acclimate them to the motions of nail trims, make a point to handle their paws more often. Gently hold them for 20-30 seconds at a time while you’re just relaxing and hanging out together—don’t let them pull it away, though. Give them lots of treats for letting you handle their paws! This also works well if your dog doesn’t like having their ears or tail touched while they’re at the vet or groomer as well. It’ll take patience, but you’ll see them get more and more comfortable over time!
- Make sure your clippers are top-notch. Poor quality clippers lead to poor trims. You are much more likely to twist your dog’s toe, break the nail, or quick them (cut too short and snip the nerves in their nails, causing them to bleed). Avoid small clippers—even small dogs’ nails can be tough and are better handled by a bit bigger clipper. Using the wrong size is likely to do more harm than good.
- Try it after a bath. You’ve likely noticed that your nails get a bit softer after swimming or a shower. The same goes for your dog. Clipping while they are soft will make it exceptionally easier to get a clean cut.
- Tricks and treats. Sometimes, you and your dog need to GET THROUGH IT, no matter what it takes. Use their favorite food as both a temptation and distraction during nail trims. Have a partner feed them bits of chicken or cheese and keep them looking away from you as you quickly go through and snip their nails. Not watching you do it will help keep their anxiety down, and the treats may even turn it into a good experience for them. It’ll likely be over before they know it, and everyone will be happy.
- Try out a grinder. Grinding nails is often less traumatizing than clippers for dogs. A dremel will quickly grind down the nail and is much less likely to cause damage. They make a strange noise, and the sensation can be alarming at first, so take the time to introduce them to the tool properly.
- Avoid the quick at all costs! Quicking your pup is upsetting for both of you and can lead to infection if it isn’t treated. The quick can be easily seen in dogs with white nails; it’s more difficult if your pup has black nails. For white nails, shine a light behind the nail to find the quick if you’re having a hard time seeing it. With black nails, it is best to trim where you know it’s safe, then use a file or dremel to get the rest. Keep in mind that the quick grows and shrinks over time with the nails—if their nails are kept short, then the quick stays short and toward the base of the nail. When their nails are allowed to get long, though, the quick grows out as well, and it is more likely you will clip it.
Keeping your dog happy and healthy is your goal – and it is ours as well. Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training is committed to your dog’s wellbeing through training and playcare. Come visit our Bradenton training facility or check out our site for more information.
