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Originally Posted by hallgirl  Thank you for your help. I finally did it last night, well almost finished. Out of 80 puppy nails (their dew claws are already removed, 5 x 16) I only have 24 left. The hind feet of one, all feet of the littlest little girl and 1 toenail left on the biggest male!
I tried to take your advice and have my husband hold them, but he had to leave the room. When they squirmed and looked at him, he felt so bad to be "hurting them" that he wouldn't even stay in the house! Grandpas are such wimps!
I only had blood on 2 nails, one on the biggest boy, and that's why I quit on him with one nail left, and I caught the 8th nail on the littlest boy and I quit without doing his back feet. BAD GRANDMA!
But, I had the septic stick (the coagulant) so not much blood!
I HATED IT, but Mommy is much happier. So, if Grandma suffered a little, I can take it for her! |
For the Sake of the puppies it is so much better to have 2 people. I just have my husband hold them back to his belly, he makes them feel secure that way, with his other hand on their bottom, then i am the one who takes one paw at a time, push all the hair back with my thumb with my left hand, have a firm grip, and you can see the white that way and know right where to clip, as I said before better to get to little than to cause blood, as then they will really give you a hard time because you have hurt them. So it is really important not to get the quick, and have them bleed. the back feet are really easy, as they have their little paws facing up and you can see better.
I think you did well for your first try. If my husband is not home I sit on the bed and hold them between my knee and clip their nails, if they wiggle out they fall on the bed not the floor. So hang in there, it is worth it to them and the mommy, as they can not walk without getting their nails caught in the bedding, and that is no fun for them. Also Mom will not mind spending more time with them, and will quit hiding her boobies. Also it is a good idea to trim them right after you bathe one as their nails are nice and soft. Keep up the good work, take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back, that you were able to do it without the help of your husband. Dad needs to get over not wanting to see, as it does hurt them when you do not have help to hold them still, and comfort them with soft soothing coos and baby talk, and kisses on the top of their heads, they will forget all about getting nails trimmed and eat up all the affection. The tighter you try to hold them the more afraid they are, so hubby just has to make sure they can not jump, and the only one that needs to hold tight is you when you take their paw to trim it. Have your husband give them a tiny liverwurst on his finger, they love it and that will keep them occupied while you clip. Or give it to them as a treat after you have done their nails, and tell them what good babies they are.