Any helpful advice? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

TOY · 08-15-2009, 01:53 PM

I have read various books but I still haven't gotten the courage to trim Taffy's nails myself.

Does anyone have any tips?

I'm so afraid I will cause bleeding or hurt her and I certainly don't want that...

She doesn't need grooming and doesn't need a vet appointment just the nails. I feel silly not doing it but I've never even cut a child's nails so I have zero experience.

I have the equipment (including the powder to stop bleeding) but I keep talking myself out of even trying. I have the scissors, the Pedipaws for tiny dogs, the powder, etc. Where and how should I start?

jrousseau66 · 08-15-2009, 02:10 PM

How about if you filed them instead? Might be easier for both of you, and a nice little part of her grooming routine ~

bjh · 08-15-2009, 02:29 PM

Nail trimming is real easy as long as you have a puppy or dog that will be somewhat still. Just look closely at the nail. You will see where the nail starts to curve downward. Cut off the part of the nail that is curving downward. To begin with it will be easier for you if you don't try to go to short. Also, no matter how experienced a person is, nearly all of us sometimes cut one a little to short and the nail bleeds. Just apologize like crazy to your baby and continue on. If you have a squirmy pup then it is better to get someone to help you. Let us know how it goes.

kalina82 · 08-15-2009, 02:37 PM

just go for it. Start by cutting off a little at a time. if you've read about it then i'm sure you've seen pictures of where to cut and where to stop cutting. just take off a little at a time and look at the inner nail each time to see if you see the beginnings of the quick yet. that's when you stop. its not a big deal if you cut the quick a little. everyone does it. even the vet and the groomer. the difference is they don't make a big deal about it and quickly put quick stop on it. the dog won't make a big deal about it if you don't. tho some are just screamers and ridiculous about it regardless.

TOY · 08-15-2009, 05:33 PM

Thanks so much for your responses.

I'm going to play like Scarlett O'Hara and think about this tomorrow.

I think I am going to try though. Last time she was at the vet she actually threw up on the way home. (My creative imagination convinced me that the dogs in there yelping were telling her all kinds of horror stories...LOL She had never been nervous or scared there before.)

She's also never been car sick before so I do think it was nerves or something from going to the vet. Our vet is wonderful and so sweet with her but she still seemed a tad distressed about the whole experience. Of course, she did get shots then, too.

I love our groomer, too, but I don't want her there again until she's spayed since our groomer does not do the kennel cages. I actually prefer how she does it but since our little girl is getting spayed in late September, I'd rather not risk any "exposure" to the male gender....especially since Taffy's mother is too inexperienced to recognize the minor symptoms of her being in heat.

Mardelin · 08-15-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOY

Thanks so much for your responses.

I'm going to play like Scarlett O'Hara and think about this tomorrow.

I think I am going to try though. Last time she was at the vet she actually threw up on the way home. (My creative imagination convinced me that the dogs in there yelping were telling her all kinds of horror stories...LOL She had never been nervous or scared there before.)

She's also never been car sick before so I do think it was nerves or something from going to the vet. Our vet is wonderful and so sweet with her but she still seemed a tad distressed about the whole experience. Of course, she did get shots then, too.

I love our groomer, too, but I don't want her there again until she's spayed since our groomer does not do the kennel cages. I actually prefer how she does it but since our little girl is getting spayed in late September, I'd rather not risk any "exposure" to the male gender....especially since Taffy's mother is too inexperienced to recognize the minor symptoms of her being in heat.

You've got some good tips there. But, keep in mind very few yorkies like their nails clipped. I find that doing it while they're in the tub is easier.

Today I had a yorkie that I bred come in for a groom. I forgot to clip his nails in the tub. So, I had my husband come in and rub his head, while I clipped them while he was in my lap. He didn't make a sound, didn't pull or fight me. I turned and said to my husband, I think his mom switched him, cause he's not one of my breeding, none of my dogs behave this well.

kalina82 · 08-15-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mardelin

You've got some good tips there. But, keep in mind very few yorkies like their nails clipped. I find that doing it while they're in the tub is easier.

Today I had a yorkie that I bred come in for a groom. I forgot to clip his nails in the tub. So, I had my husband come in and rub his head, while I clipped them while he was in my lap. He didn't make a sound, didn't pull or fight me. I turned and said to my husband, I think his mom switched him, cause he's not one of my breeding, none of my dogs behave this well.

LOL its true. yorkies are such a pain in the butt for nails. Mine behaves by standing there and letting me do it but she whimpers after almost every nail. its pathetic.

Mardelin · 08-15-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

LOL its true. yorkies are such a pain in the butt for nails. Mine behaves by standing there and letting me do it but she whimpers after almost every nail. its pathetic.

I groomed another one of my breeding on Wed. Everytime I clipped one of his nails he'd look at me a growl.

kalina82 · 08-15-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I groomed another one of my breeding on Wed. Everytime I clipped one of his nails he'd look at me a growl.

yeah i get that a lot too from a lot of dogs. I tell puppy owners to play with their feet a lot to try to get them used to it but most people don't bother. heck its not their problem, its mine LOL

Mardelin · 08-15-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

yeah i get that a lot too from a lot of dogs. I tell puppy owners to play with their feet a lot to try to get them used to it but most people don't bother. heck its not their problem, its mine LOL

Ya know it really doesn't work. My pups have their nails clipped starting when they're a week old and every week after....I play with their feet constantly.....

kalina82 · 08-15-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Ya know it really doesn't work. My pups have their nails clipped starting when they're a week old and every week after....I play with their feet constantly.....

i guess it doesn't work on all dogs. its what i did with mine tho and she'll let me do it, but she's not happy about it. you'd think i was quicking every one but i don't even come close.

bjh · 08-15-2009, 06:29 PM

With some of mine that don't like having their nails cut, I will walk around holding them and cut their nails as I walk around with them. It distracts them so they are not so worried. Most of mine are pretty good about it though. My husband keeps wanting to buy one of those nail grinders and I keep telling him I just don't think I would have the patience to use one of those.

Wend · 08-15-2009, 06:32 PM

Sometimes I will cut nails (and hair) on the front porch. There is lots out there to distract them from what I am doing. But yeah, nails are a pain.

kalina82 · 08-15-2009, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjh

With some of mine that don't like having their nails cut, I will walk around holding them and cut their nails as I walk around with them. It distracts them so they are not so worried. Most of mine are pretty good about it though. My husband keeps wanting to buy one of those nail grinders and I keep telling him I just don't think I would have the patience to use one of those.

the peticure/pedipaw, is very slow and annoying. a regular dremmel tool works much better and is faster but you need to worry more about their hair getting caught.

Mardelin · 08-15-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalina82

the peticure/pedipaw, is very slow and annoying. a regular dremmel tool works much better and is faster but you need to worry more about their hair getting caught.

I use the dremmel too. But, if a show dog, even if it's in wraps, the foot is is trimmed a bit longer and you have to be a bit more careful.

08-15-2009, 01:53 PM	#1
TOY Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 4	Any helpful advice? I have read various books but I still haven't gotten the courage to trim Taffy's nails myself. Does anyone have any tips? I'm so afraid I will cause bleeding or hurt her and I certainly don't want that... She doesn't need grooming and doesn't need a vet appointment just the nails. I feel silly not doing it but I've never even cut a child's nails so I have zero experience. I have the equipment (including the powder to stop bleeding) but I keep talking myself out of even trying. I have the scissors, the Pedipaws for tiny dogs, the powder, etc. Where and how should I start?

08-15-2009, 02:37 PM	#4
kalina82 Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: with my yorkie baby Posts: 10,141 Blog Entries: 1	just go for it. Start by cutting off a little at a time. if you've read about it then i'm sure you've seen pictures of where to cut and where to stop cutting. just take off a little at a time and look at the inner nail each time to see if you see the beginnings of the quick yet. that's when you stop. its not a big deal if you cut the quick a little. everyone does it. even the vet and the groomer. the difference is they don't make a big deal about it and quickly put quick stop on it. the dog won't make a big deal about it if you don't. tho some are just screamers and ridiculous about it regardless. __________________ Kellie and Morgan

08-15-2009, 06:32 PM	#13
Wend YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Lehi Posts: 403	Sometimes I will cut nails (and hair) on the front porch. There is lots out there to distract them from what I am doing. But yeah, nails are a pain. __________________ Wend

08-15-2009, 02:10 PM	#2
jrousseau66 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 57	How about if you filed them instead? Might be easier for both of you, and a nice little part of her grooming routine ~

08-15-2009, 02:29 PM	#3
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	Nail trimming is real easy as long as you have a puppy or dog that will be somewhat still. Just look closely at the nail. You will see where the nail starts to curve downward. Cut off the part of the nail that is curving downward. To begin with it will be easier for you if you don't try to go to short. Also, no matter how experienced a person is, nearly all of us sometimes cut one a little to short and the nail bleeds. Just apologize like crazy to your baby and continue on. If you have a squirmy pup then it is better to get someone to help you. Let us know how it goes.

08-15-2009, 05:33 PM	#5
TOY Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,094 Blog Entries: 4	Thanks so much for your responses. I'm going to play like Scarlett O'Hara and think about this tomorrow. I think I am going to try though. Last time she was at the vet she actually threw up on the way home. (My creative imagination convinced me that the dogs in there yelping were telling her all kinds of horror stories...LOL She had never been nervous or scared there before.) She's also never been car sick before so I do think it was nerves or something from going to the vet. Our vet is wonderful and so sweet with her but she still seemed a tad distressed about the whole experience. Of course, she did get shots then, too. I love our groomer, too, but I don't want her there again until she's spayed since our groomer does not do the kennel cages. I actually prefer how she does it but since our little girl is getting spayed in late September, I'd rather not risk any "exposure" to the male gender....especially since Taffy's mother is too inexperienced to recognize the minor symptoms of her being in heat.

08-15-2009, 06:29 PM	#12
bjh Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 7,959	With some of mine that don't like having their nails cut, I will walk around holding them and cut their nails as I walk around with them. It distracts them so they are not so worried. Most of mine are pretty good about it though. My husband keeps wanting to buy one of those nail grinders and I keep telling him I just don't think I would have the patience to use one of those.