Grooming
      Back to home
      1. Partners Dogs Knowledge Base
      2. Training
      3. Grooming

      Nails

      How to teach your dog to remain calm during trimming of nails.

      Introduction

      Trimming a dog's nails is an important part of their grooming routine. Long nails can cause discomfort for the dog, and they can also scratch furniture and other objects. However, many dogs are not happy about having their nails trimmed. They may squirm, bark, or even bite. This can make it difficult and even dangerous to trim their nails.

      Common Misconceptions

      • Some people believe that you need to trim a dog's nails every week. This is not true. The frequency with which you need to trim your dog's nails will depend on their breed, activity level, and the type of surface they walk on.
      • Others believe that you can use human nail clippers to trim a dog's nails. This is not a good idea. Human nail clippers are not designed for dog nails and can cause pain and injury.

      Nails - Video Walkthrough

      Steps to Address

      Teaching Phase:

      • Desensitization: Start by desensitizing the dog to having its paws touched.
        • If the dog is food motivated, feed them high value treats while gently touching their upper, front legs.
          • If the dog flinched, ignored the food, or became uneasy with you touching the legs, then continue using encouragement and food to get them used to touching the legs before you progress.
          • If the dog didn't seem to care about you touching the upper legs, then continue down the leg until the dog becomes uncomfortable (if at all). Then desensitize the part of the leg/foot that made the dog uneasy.
        • If the dog is not food motivated, restrain the dog as gently as possible. Some dogs do really well with minimal restraint while some require you to use your entire body. Escalate as you see fit, keeping all involved safe.
      • Introduction of the clippers/dremel: Once the dog is comfortable with having its paws touched, introduce the clippers/dremel.
        • If the dog is food motivated, continue with positive food association with the tool.
        • If the dog is not food motivated, restrain the dog as gently as possible while another trainer slowly introduces the nail tool. When the dog is calm and not fighting restraint, relax your restraint slightly. When the dog fights or resists, tighten your restraint. This counter conditions the dog that being calm during trimming causes the handler to relax and fighting it causes the grip to tighten.

      Reinforcing Phase:

      • For the dogs that required food during the teaching phase:
        • You will begin variably rewarding the dog during the trimming to start phasing out the food.
      • For dogs that needed restraint during teaching phase:
        • Try and use a less invasive restraint method to see if the calmness during trimming is able to transfer to an easier hold or restraint.
      • For dogs that may have needed a muzzle during teaching phase:
        • If and only if the dog has been behaving appropriately, then you can use your judgement and try to trim nails without a muzzle. Some dogs need a muzzle with every nail trim and that's okay.

      Proofing Phase:

      • Have other people trim the nails (or pretend to trim) to ensure the dog can handle all types of people handling, restraining and trimming.

      Maintenance Phase:

      • Keep up on trimming throughout the dog's camp, even if it's pretending and going through the motions to keep the dog's progress.
      • Trim the dog's nails each time they come in for boarding or daycare to maintain.

      Case Studies

      • Case Study 1: Charlie is a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever who hates having his nails trimmed. His owners started by getting him used to the clippers by letting him sniff them and touch them with his paws. They also gave him treats while he was interacting with the clippers. Once Charlie was comfortable with the clippers, his owners started trimming his nails one at a time. Charlie still gets a little upset, but he is much better about having his nails trimmed now.
      • Case Study 2: Sadie is a 10-year-old Beagle who is also afraid of having her nails trimmed. Her owners tried using a dremel, but Sadie was still too stressed out. They decided to hire a professional dog groomer to trim Sadie's nails. The groomer was able to trim Sadie's nails without any problems.

      Pet Parent Coaching Tips

      • Be patient and consistent. It is important to be patient and consistent with nail trimming. If you are patient and consistent, your dog will eventually learn to tolerate having their nails trimmed.
      • Make it a positive experience. Try to make nail trimming a positive experience for your dog. Give them treats and praise while you are trimming their nails.
      • Start slow. If your dog is not used to having their nails trimmed, start by trimming one nail at a time.
      • Take breaks. If your dog starts to get upset, stop and take a break. Come back to it later when they are calmer.
      • Get professional help if needed. If you are struggling to trim your dog's nails, you may want to hire a professional dog groomer to help you.

      Conclusion

      Trimming a dog's nails can be a challenge, but it is important for their health and comfort. By following the tips in this article, you can help your dog learn to tolerate having their nails trimmed.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      • Q: What if my dog is still afraid of having their nails trimmed?
        A: If your dog is still afraid of having their nails trimmed, you may want to consult with a certified dog behaviorist. There may be an underlying issue that is causing the fear of nail trimming.
      • Q: What if my dog bites me when I try to trim their nails?
        A: If your dog bites you when you try to trim their nails, you should stop immediately. Do not try to trim their nails again until you have consulted with a certified dog behaviorist.