Has Anyone ever used one of these?
 

I have got to find something to make trimming my two's nails easier and Alaskayorkie's groomer suggested something like this:

Dog Grooming Grooming Hammocks & Tables by PSDG

Anyone have any experience with something similar? We've tried everything and now my pups nails are so long I feel like I have to do something! I can't keep holding Finnigan down he gets so worked up. :(

Wow, I've never seen those, but it looks like a great idea if they are safe and hold up.
AprilLove is a challenge to do, I have to do hers while she is standing in the tub with the water running to distract her, lol Wish the pictures on that link was not a gif, it is hard to see it very well in those pics.

I've never seen those. I can't imagine that it would feel very secure for the dog to be dangling, though.

Just have someone hold them, their back up against the person's chest. ;) Works great!

*SIGH* not for us...Dex fights like a raging bull, so hard to get him to settle...:cool:

Lucky you:D

I don't think it would work for every dog. Some don't like to be held that way

I've never seen those either. I would be interested to see if it really works.

It's a great idea though. It seems like it would work if you think about it. I could see the dog struggling at first but then calming down and relaxing because of the way it holds them. Don't most people carry or hold their dogs in a similar fashion with their feet dangling?

I've tried every hold imaginable. Laying pup on their back, one person holding and one clipping, clipping while their distracted in tub, bending leg back out of line of sight, holding against chest, praise and treats, tried the nail files.... I'm just so frustrated and feel like I'm hurting them.

I don't want to take them to the groomers just for nails either. If they're not cooperative with me, I can't even imagine how they'd be with a stranger.

My vet tried to help me last time... that was an ordeal... yikes!

I'm torn with trying that because I am worried about stability/safety. Hopefully someone will have some experience with it.

Have you tried wrapping the dog in a towel with just one leg at a time exposed? I used to have to do that with my cat but haven't tried it with a dog.

Actually no! I haven't.... Ooooh, I hope it helps!

Jenni, have you ever seen these?

Amazon.com: Cat Grooming Bag - Medium: Kitchen &...

I have an old rescued Siamese cat who has always been terrible about getting her claws clipped, but has gotten impossible in her old age. Like you, I don't want to stress her out more by taking her the the vet for nail clipping. She was abused before I adopted her and freaks out. I am thinking about trying one.

lol! No, I have never seen those. Sorry to laugh, but it almost looks like a torture device. Some things they make look so funny. Are you getting one? If you do and it works I'll get one. It has to be better for Finni than having two people holding him down.

I'm thinking something had to have happened at one of his grooming appointments along the way because he wasn't always so terrified of nail clipping.

I'm also curious to hear if anyone has tried this. I saw this post just after we were in a battle with our own "raging bull" while trying to clip his nails. He is insane sometimes. I have taken him to the vet recently for nails and it takes two adults to hold him and do it there...and even that doesn't seem to be enough!:eek:
They sure are feisty...

I tried wrapping my dog in a towel to put his ear drops in when we were treating a recent infection. I felt like it was safer, like I would be less likely to hurt him when he was held like that. He was still pretty bad though...

I think this would work just from the reaction from my dogs when being pulled out of the water by their life preservers, which puts them in a similar position.

You may be able to experiment if you have any winter weight coats (or a life jacket) for pups that close at the top. I think it may be a mind trick too as there is no person actually holding them to fight with.

I'm going to try hooking a life jacket to the grooming arm on my table just to prevent them sitting down when I'm working on them, definitely not to fully suspend them or anything.

One more suggestion: Have you tried using a rotary grinder to grind down their nails instead of clippers?

And make sure your clippers are extremely sharp. Dull nail clippers smash and pinch the toenail and can make the pup or kitty uncomfortable or be painful.

When I worked at the ER Animal Clinic, we used 'cat bags' only occasionally for very bad actors, small dogs included. At least with the bag, you only have to worry about getting sliced and diced by one foot at a time! They are a Godsend.... Sometimes covering their eyes/head with a lightweight towel to prevent them from seeing (dogs and cats) helps, too.

Last but not least.... pets can be injured when restrained improperly. Even I (who, in my time, could safely restrain any cat or small dog at the hospital for any procedure) choose to take my Tinkerbell to the vet to have her nails done. With some pets, the fact that they are away from home (out of their element) is alone enough to make them compliant. Maybe try going to a place where you 'bathe you own' to see if they will react differently with you there.

Others may need a little chemical restraint (always a last resort), and do take advantage when they are scheduled for other procedures like dentals and ask to get their nails trimmed while they are under, also a good time to get their ears thoroughly cleaned. These procedures can be done as the animal is coming out of being sedated, there is no need to keep them under longer to get these procedures done.

Someone may have cut a nail too short or something could have happened to another dog while his nails were being done that now makes him uneasy about having it done. Just like potty training, you may just have to start all over with him to rebuild his confidence and trust.

When I do my Peek a Boo's nails, starting out I was thrilled to get 2 nails on one foot done. I worked on them everyday to every three days, just doing what I could get done before I stressed him out too much. Also, finishing on a 'good note' allows me to reward him. Then I gradually increased the time spend and the number of nails done, so now I can do all of his nails in one sitting, and sometimes he even falls asleep while I work on them. He lays on his back in my lap or on the kitchen table. Sometimes when we start he still tries to tug a foot away, just to let me know who is really the boss... haha, but then he gives up and just lays there for me. A long walk before the nail job helps too.

Also, I have found out that on Peek a Boo, if his nails get too long, the quick will recede in about 3-4 days allowing me to take off another 1/16 - 1/8. Different dogs will have different growth rates, so check often to see how frequently you can do his to get them shortened up, and use each session to teach him. Sometimes I even did Peek's twice a day... different nails... This frequency really helped when acclimating him to the rotary grinder.

If you don't let him get to the point where he's really fighting you, he will learn not to fight it. Even if you can only do one nail at a time to begin with, he'll learn that you won't be doing it for long, and that may help to lessen his resistance. Also touch his feet throughout the day when you have no intention of working on the nails. I'll pick up a foot and go through and hold each nail for a second or 2, and reward afterward.