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Author
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Topic: Speaking of nails?
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Karen
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Member # 645
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posted February 22, 2004 08:13 AM
What is the safest way to clip nails on a terrified pup. How do I calm her down?
Or should I just let the vet do it? I hate that they muzzle and restrain her...only exacerbating her fear.
Posts: 66 | From: Massachusettes USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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MissBandit
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posted February 22, 2004 10:30 PM
Go buy a pair of nail trimmers and just work on desensitizing her from them. Do it with her laying on the floor, or laying in your lap. Spend time handling her toes and nails. Grab them and wiggle them and get her used to that first. After she gets used to her paws being roughed up a bit without trying to pull them away, you can start pretending to clip her nails. Just put her nail in the trimmers and gently squeeze, but don't cut the nail. Don't rush it, and don't spend TOO much time with every session. Give her lots of love and treats after the session too. Try to teach her that when her nails are handled and cut, she gets treats. You want to change her perspective. Eventually you will be able to snip one nail.
Have you ever trimmed a dogs nails before? If you haven't, ask your vet or a groomer to show you EXACTLY how it's done with another dog. You don't want to cut too short and have a bleeder. It will be a bad experience for you and the dog. You really only need to cut the tips off, but have someone show you in person.
Not sure if anybody else has better ideas, but I did this with my boxer and it worked great. He now lays on his side while I trim his nails.
Posts: 36 | From: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Feb 2004
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ms533
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posted February 23, 2004 07:36 AM
Some people might not agree with me but it's worked every time for me ( with new puppies). This is if you already know how to clip nails. Whenever I got a new puppy I would always wait until he was asleep to mess with him. Once I would start clipping the nails the pup would wake up but would still be groggy from sleeping so he really didnt know what was going on. I continued to do that for the first couple times I had to trim the nails. And now I have no problem clipping my 3yr olds nails or my 4 month olds nails.
Posts: 48 | From: va | Registered: Dec 2003
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ellierat
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Member # 612
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posted February 23, 2004 02:14 PM
Karen, check your pm.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Karen
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Member # 645
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posted February 23, 2004 03:23 PM
Thank you all......I will try it slowly and even while she is groggy. I have no trouble with Sam's nails but I will be careful anyway.
Thanks again.
Posts: 66 | From: Massachusettes USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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