Mom vs. Nails
 

so i'm looking for some advice from my Yt'ers


the battle of mom vs nails....:(

i get Brew's nails done at the groomers every month or two when he goes, but i was researching threads about how if you cut them more often the quick moves back and you can keep them shorter. so i went out and got some nice new nail clippers...

well...*ding* the battle is on!

i've tried on a few occasions (very calmly) to get a few nails done. i have never seen him sooo vicious in his life. his nose crinkled right up, and he tried to bite me and the clippers (and not a play bite either:eek:). I kept with it, giving him time and love, but he is like nothing i've ever seen before. he's wild.

normally when i do the regular mom things (poopy bums, teeth brushing, hair brushing, baths) i get a full submission. he doesn't growl or bite ever. he just sulks up and hangs his head until i'm done. This is the only time i've gotten any agression out of him.

i don't want to ruin our strong bond by having him be so obviously po'd at me for this. i'm happy with the job the groomer does. do you think i am better to just leave it with the professionals. i also don't want to back down really either, because once that starts...i know the rest of the drill.

i'd love to hear your thoughts!:animal-pa

I would watch the groomer do it the next time you take him to the groomer....out of sight of your baby....I would see if the groomer has the same effect/results. My first thought is did the groomer hurt him doing this, for him to react like this?

I agree watch the groomer do it. Ralph lets me do his all the time he loves it. So i agree has he been hurt while getting this done?

Yes, you are right, if you allow the nails to grow too long, the quick grows too long too, and you can't cut the nails without cutting the quick. I've been told if you cut them weekly, eventually the quick will be short again. I can't cut the nails either, I was doing it and one time it hurt him and he cried, and I haven't been able to do it since. If the groomer thinks the quick is too long, maybe you can take him back in between grooms for a quick nail session. Also, walking on concrete helps keeps the nails trim; it acts as a nail file. Some people recommend a nail dremel to file the nails in between grooming. The electric ones work better than the battery operated ones.

My Wally tries to bite the clipper too! I bought the scissor type, I guess for cats. It works great! Very fast. I pick up his back feet like you would to look at the bottom of a horses foot. I seems to be so much easier. I mean he still hates it but he tolerates it much better. I like the scissor type because it doesn't crush the nail it cuts it clean. I just take a little off each time.

that's kind of what i was thinking/fearing.


after his first appoinment with the groomers when he was about 5mnths; the groomer said "he doesn't like his nails to be clipped at all eh". the only time he had them done prior was at the vet and they just used human clippers because his nails were so tiny at that point...he didn't even notice they were being done (i was there), so i was suprised when he said that. i've asked if Brew tries to bite him and he said that he tries to but he just gives him a stern "HEY!" and he said that he stops after that.

urg. do you think this is a behavior i can turn around?

i should mention that whenever he does get his nails trimmed at the groomers they aren't even cut very short.

i did give the dremmel a half a go, i didn't feel comfortable with it really, so i quite when he fussed with that too.

Joey's breeder is really skilled at cutting his nails. She said the nail should never reach the floor. The first few years I was just going to local groomers to have his nails cut and when I saw her she said that they were leaving them way too long. If the nail touches the floor the feet will spread. She was able to lay him on his back in her lap and he didn't even make a noise when she cut his nails. She had to cut the quick too and he did not utter a sound. She says that it's not the actual quick that hurts, but the wiggling of the nail bed and she also added you must use a really sharp blade. She put a little septic to stop the bleeding and after that, she's never had to cut the quick again. Seriously, if I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believe it. So eventually I had the nerve to try it, and I was doing pretty good, only cutting the very tips off and then one day I hurt him and that was it. I could never make him relax the way she could. I believe that they know when you are nervous and it makes them nervous.

My little Princess that went to live with my GF is very mean about having her nails done. My daughter and I have learned that if we hold the nape of her neck she loses the battle. It does not hurt her and her nails get done.

so are they a good length as long as they don't touch the floor?

none of them touch right now, but when i look at some of the sticky notes about nail cutting they are like little nubs, so i feel like i'm way off on where they should be.

It is a battle at my house as well, Pnut wins that fight and I let the Groomer be the bad guy! :D Not worth the fight with me!! I take him in monthly to do his nails and anal's, then every 3 months he gets shaved!

You might want to check out this thread. There is a lot of good info there on both dremel and clippers. There is even a video on page 3 of Sugar getting her nails done and almost falling asleep :D:D


http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...emel-love.html

i did see sweet sugars video:)! you inspried me to give it a shot last week. :thumbup:

my hubby has a dremel Stylus tool which is even a smaller more presice tool. i did try it, but i know i didn't give it enough of a chance. i was too timid. and i really was worried he was going to bite that spinning top. i think i'm going to need some helping hands until he understands that the thing isn't to hurt him.

what speed did you use on yours?

ALWAYS ON LOW. And for short short bursts only. I actually had my vet advise me of the safest way to go about using the dremel on her nails. Her entire session lasts less than 2 minutes :)

My Shih Tzu was a bear about getting his nails done. Three of my kids would try to hold him while I tried to trim and that little dickens would still get a nip in here and there. They say once a dog has been hurt while having their nails done they never forget it. I would take him to the groomer and he would stand nicely on the table and let her do it. I was amazed. She only charged me a small amount to clip the nails. So I would stop by every couple of weeks to have it done. It was far better than wrestling with him.

The other thing you could try is to get a Dremel for dog's nails. You can get a decent one for about $25.00 at a grooming supply store. It files the nail down without having to cut the nail. My groomer uses one on Gracie. I really think it is a kinder safer way to do the nails. I would only use one intended for pets. I know they make them for other things but the ones made for pets are safer for that use.