Nail Trimming Impossible

[mindy10]

Thanks for that tip. I will tell her to put it under his leg like a sling. I just got to do about 4 back nails well he was wrapped in a blanket. The front was impossible because he could see the clipper coming!!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by mindy10

Thanks for that tip. I will tell her to put it under his leg like a sling. I just got to do about 4 back nails well he was wrapped in a blanket. The front was impossible because he could see the clipper coming!!

I mentioned covering the dog's head completely in addition to wrapping him snugly in a towel for a secure feeling, as they seem much calmer when they are securely wrapped and can't see the clippers or nail grinder.

[mindy10]

Oh I didn't see that about covering the head. I am bringing him to the groomers tomorrow to do it. I was shaking and sweating like a pig and I just clipped 4 nails!! It is not worth the stress on him or me!! LOL

[yorkietalkjilly]

I'm right there with you! I cannot do nail clippers myself - just cannot abide them anymore and I used to clip toenails in my sleep when we had a lot of dogs running through here! But I turn to jelly when Tibbe's big brown eyes look at me so worried as I lay him down on my lap & think I might miss-clip & cut into the painful cuticle so I had to start using a Gentle Paws and started out with one nail a day! I still bind him up, cover his head, etc. and he seems to relax and go with it but still isn't fond of having his nails ground too short and near the sensitive cuticle so I just do them once a week now but I'm lots more at ease with that grinder than with a clipper/trimmer. If I could, I'd probably just let a groomer do them weekly but it's too much of a production and too hard for me to get him there weekly so I do them myself. Still, not a favorite thing to do! If only dogs nails wouldn't grow so fast!

[mindy10]

Oh god once a week. My last dog I only did once a month. Is it suppose to be once a week>

[valeriejsmyth]

I took Pips today to Pet smart for grinding nails. He screeched horribly broke my heart. I have been taking my older digs there for years and they don't mind it. I hope the next time goes better. I have been turning on the palm trimmer and rubbing it on his paws, ears back with the opposite end so he feels vibration to get him used to it.

[mindy10]

Oh no poor Pips. Sammie is going tomorrow, I hope he does not screech I will have to go outside.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by mindy10

Oh god once a week. My last dog I only did once a month. Is it suppose to be once a week>

I do it weekly 'cause it's easier on both of us. It's a shorter, quicker session if I do it once a week. A month of toenail growth takes quite a while to grind down all 16 nails at one session but once a week - we're done in under two minutes and he doesn't get stressed or tense.

[Bella1978]

I was very nervous when I decided to trim little Bella's nails for the first time (last week), but to my surprise (and hers) it was quick and easy. Good luck!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bella1978

I was very nervous when I decided to trim little Bella's nails for the first time (last week), but to my surprise (and hers) it was quick and easy. Good luck!

How old is Bella & how long have you had her?

[Bella1978]

Bella will be 4 months on 29/08 and I've had her from 6 weeks old. I just gave her a break and a treat in between paws in order for her not to get to nervous.

[Deb1]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Tell the groomer to put the grooming loop under one leg, like a sling.

Tatiana is horrible with nail trimming! I have someone feel her kibble as I trim the nails. It distracts her enough for me to get them done. some times if she is really acting up, I only do a few and go back later to finish.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bella1978

Bella will be 4 months on 29/08 and I've had her from 6 weeks old. I just gave her a break and a treat in between paws in order for her not to get to nervous.

That's key - keep it short and sweet when starting out.

[Graneet]

When i did BooBoo's i had to go at it slow. Talked to him in a baby voice reasuring him. He did real good and when he got sqirmy i would stop. Let him look at the clippers to. I did have a doxie tho who i had to catch her when she was asleep. One toe nail at a time. She would get so up set she would poo. So took her to vet didnt even flinch.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Graneet

When i did BooBoo's i had to go at it slow. Talked to him in a baby voice reasuring him. He did real good and when he got sqirmy i would stop. Let him look at the clippers to. I did have a doxie tho who i had to catch her when she was asleep. One toe nail at a time. She would get so up set she would poo. So took her to vet didnt even flinch.

Love it! You often have to take what the dog will give you and work with that if you don't want to stress the dog.

Our dogs definitely pick up on our stress and dread of hurting them whereas the vet tech's that do it are old hands at it, likely clip toenails often during the day every day, with no fears of hurting their own pet such as we have. And our dogs pick up on our fear and can get stressed out by it.