My advise is -
1) Start doing it when they are just a little puppy.
2) Hold the puppy firmly - and do it quickly (don't make a big deal of it
and take a long time to do it).
3) Take only the very tip off. (You may need to do it more often - but it's
far less traumatic for the puppy - you're less likely to take too much
off, and it's less likely to hurt.)
4) If you're having a difficult time - do only one paw at a time.
Take a break - do another paw later. Before long you'll be doing them
all at one time.
It's really just experience that makes you good and fast at this. So - get going!
I started with my puppy when I first got him, and he hated it - and I was just learning. Now we're both used to it. I get a firm hold on him, do it quickly, and we're done. He still doesn't like it - but he has no choice. It's just something we do every couple of weeks. However, he is quieter now and stays more still - I think he knows that if he cooperates, we'll be done quicker, and he can get back to playing.
Really - a little Yorkie's nails are easy to trim. You ought to try a big dog.
Or -- as I have to do - you ought to try a bird!
Carol Jean |