? About Nail T?rimming
 

How do you get your Yorkie to relax to do their nails. Our Girls love being bathed and groomed but something else when it comes to doing their nails. Appreciate how can I make it easier for them and ;) myself. Thanks.

I have a problem with Tinkerbell. Peek A Boo has fallen asleep on occassion WHILE I was filing his nails! (with the electric spinning thing)(rotary trimmer?) Sapphire argues with me alot, but I am more persistant so she tends to give up after 10 minutes or so. Then I had my DS feed her treats one after the other and I trimmed all four feet the other day.

My rules (for me, lol) are:
1. I never get upset. If I do, we quit and plan to try again in 30 minutes or another day.

2. If the dog is really getting stressed out, we take a break, usually about 10 minutes.

3. I give a treat after each nail is done. When we're good with this, it's a treat after two, then three then a foot and so on. Sometimes we go back to a treat for each nail.

4. Have sharp, or new nail snips. Dull clips hurt. Cut the nail front to back, not side to side, which can pinch the nail together and cause discomfort.

5. Sometimes I do the hind feet first, mine mind this less than doing the front feet.

6. Always end happy, and give a treat and a ton of praise. This is most important. Always make it fun for them and tell them they are a good dog, even if they weren't real good.

With Tink, who used to get highly stressed, I start by brushing her out, and brushing her legs and feet (her least favorite spots). She used to not even let me touch a foot without jerking it away. Now we've worked up to letting me hold the foot, I can touch each toe and the nail, and comb the hair on her feet. If I snag a knot, I apologize to her and promise to cut it out with scissors.

I've had the vet trim her nails till now. I cut one nail last week. Yay...I am alive to tell about it! I looked at the nail, I could see the quick through the nail, and in the middle of brushing I just picked up the clippers, placed them on the nail and snip, before she knew what I was doing. I really think the brushing felt good and relaxed her.

I got Tink when she was 2.5 years old, and basically ruined. She would bite first then ask questions. She'll be 6 next weekish and she's just now showing that she trusts me, and has become very good with bite inhibition, even when she's excited.

My plan is to try to cut one nail everyday, in 2 weeks she'll be done! Then I'll try for 2 nails a day... etc.

Thank you so much Kathy, I will try doing your methods. I have done the treat approach and also tried singing but LOL I can't carry a tune so forget that one:)

I always give the girls praise and talk to them calmly, and find myself saying please but that don't get me anyplace.Plan to do Prairie Bea last, she is the hardest to do. I will let you know how it goes.

Thank you for your posting, I really appreciate your help.
Hugs from us both, Patti and Jack

Sugar doesn't mind a bit! Curri is a little less patient but she still does a pretty good job for still being a baby :thumbup:

Gah! Stop showing off Lisa! No one other than your weirdo yorkie puts up with that scary torture device!

So not true! Curri does as well and she is a puppy :p

my 3 don't like it AT ALL! I usually do them while I am giving them a bath...they are still in the sink...sometimes they aren't too bad but most of the time...I have to have hubby hold them so I can cut them. I do talk softly and the entire time telling them how good they are...once they are all done they all sit by my feet waiting for their treat. I am going to giving them a treat while cutting their nails the next time...

Now that was impressive!!