Easy way to clip nails? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Jacsmama · 11-20-2005, 10:04 PM

Does anyone know of an easy way to clip nails?

I have the hardest time cutting the nails of my sqirmy wormy puppy. I'm also afraid to cut them too short, so I only clip the very ends, and am not always successful in cutting all of her nails at one time.

How do I cut them? I sit on the couch and lay her on her back on my lap. I scratch her tummy, she loves that, and kinda play with her while I try to get a clip here and a clip there. If I'm lucky I can get all of her nails...but she usually gets too squirmy and I have to let her go.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

spydergurl · 11-20-2005, 10:46 PM

I only cut the very ends, too, because I am afraid of going too far. I cut them right after their baths, this way they are a little softer, as they stand in the water and soak a little. Then, when I put them on my counter to blow dry them, brush, etc., I do the nails. I have been doing this since they were little (they are 6 yrs old now), so they stand pretty still. If you start out early, I think it's better. They learn that this is the way it's gonna' be. Also, if you cut a little each week or two, then I think the chances of cutting into their quick is pretty slim, from what I've learned. Good luck!

kewtee · 11-21-2005, 12:42 AM

I let the vet do it twice a year

That must be the easiest way

RABiel · 11-21-2005, 06:18 AM

i have found it a lot easier to just file my dogs nails down. we have one of those electric or motorized nail filing kits, the manicuring kind, and we just use one of those tools to quickly and easily file down the nails of our two pups. we have never been able to cut their nails easily so we have been doing this since about a month after we brought them home (at 8 weeks). its a lot easier and they are much less frightened, plus its a pretty quick way of taking care of those nails without worrying about cutting the cuticle

Ponyup · 11-21-2005, 06:24 AM

I get help. I so worried about making him bleed. so i take him over to my mom's and I hold him and she clips his nails. This way he doesn't squirm or get too upset. If you can't find a buddy I would stand him on a counter and put your arm around him and then pick up one paw and do his nails. He can't squirm a lot with only 3 legs. Just try to go quick and hopefully he'll get used to it.

Jacsmama · 11-21-2005, 03:30 PM

Thanks for the great ideas!

I will try them out and see which one works best for my pup. She is very squirmy @ 8 months old...I guess I should have started this sooner (i didn't get her until she was 4 months old). My groomer said that it took two people to hold her down to do her nails. I'm trying to make it a better experience for her because she scares VERY easily and I don't want to traumatize her.

She is a very delicate, yet stubborn baby. Thanks again for you help. Hope it works!

Brutus'mama · 11-22-2005, 02:37 AM

I started doing it while he's getting a bath. The nails get soft and he doesn't move as much.

AngeliFlad · 11-22-2005, 04:18 PM

What I do is clip them them right after the bath. I wrap him up in a towel and have my boyfriend hold him while I clip.

browniesmom622 · 11-22-2005, 04:41 PM

wrap them up like you would a baby and only stick out one paw at a time

Thorsmomma · 11-22-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kewtee

I let the vet do it twice a year

That must be the easiest way

Wow twice a year. Your making me think Thor has over active nails!! It is scary cutting them yourself. I am so scared to cute them. Doing it after a bath is a good idea!

red98vett · 11-22-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browniesmom622

wrap them up like you would a baby and only stick out one paw at a time

This is what I do too

I use human Toenail clippers(the big size) and I also use rough emery boards...

With Emery Boards be careful ...when they are puppies the nails are very thin ....and you can file alot off with 2 strokes ...as they get older the nail is harder to file but when my girls act like turds over the clippers - a nail file always does the trick

Jacsmama · 11-22-2005, 11:00 PM

GREAT ideas! "Wrap them up like a baby" hmmmm....I like that idea and I think they will too! I will try that the next time I give them a bath. I'm so glad I joined this site - it's SO imformative! THANKS!

kewtee · 11-22-2005, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorsmomma

Wow twice a year. Your making me think Thor has over active nails!!

No, but we have concrete sidewalks here - and that keeps them down. Grass doesn't do that...
We walk our dogs 4 times a day so they are in good shape and their nails are kept down - and they love it, sooo many smells to examine!

YorkyMommy · 11-22-2005, 11:52 PM

I confuse, I take the easy way out and pay someone else to do it.

i_love_my_yorki · 11-23-2005, 11:28 AM

I was to scared to do it myself

so i took Scamp to the Vet never again....it took 3 people to hold him down,& they muzzeled him.....he was sick throwing up for 2 weeks

Scamp was very Traumatised

Hes only a little Yorkie for goodness sake

I took him back to the Vets office as he had Diharrea caused by being tramatised.....& even he said that should not have happened

11-20-2005, 10:04 PM	#1
Jacsmama Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 121	Easy way to clip nails? Does anyone know of an easy way to clip nails? I have the hardest time cutting the nails of my sqirmy wormy puppy. I'm also afraid to cut them too short, so I only clip the very ends, and am not always successful in cutting all of her nails at one time. How do I cut them? I sit on the couch and lay her on her back on my lap. I scratch her tummy, she loves that, and kinda play with her while I try to get a clip here and a clip there. If I'm lucky I can get all of her nails...but she usually gets too squirmy and I have to let her go. Any suggestions would be appreciated! __________________ Jac & Beanie's Mama http://www.dogster.com/?328747 http://www.dogster.com/?328752

11-21-2005, 12:42 AM	#3
kewtee Donating YT Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Skagen, Denmark Posts: 769	I let the vet do it twice a year That must be the easiest way __________________ Mette - proud mother of Kali - 6 lbs, born on March 18th 2004 Mare - 4 lbs, born on January 28th 2005

11-21-2005, 06:24 AM	#5
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	I get help. I so worried about making him bleed. so i take him over to my mom's and I hold him and she clips his nails. This way he doesn't squirm or get too upset. If you can't find a buddy I would stand him on a counter and put your arm around him and then pick up one paw and do his nails. He can't squirm a lot with only 3 legs. Just try to go quick and hopefully he'll get used to it. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

11-21-2005, 03:30 PM	#6
Jacsmama Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 121	Thanks for the great ideas! I will try them out and see which one works best for my pup. She is very squirmy @ 8 months old...I guess I should have started this sooner (i didn't get her until she was 4 months old). My groomer said that it took two people to hold her down to do her nails. I'm trying to make it a better experience for her because she scares VERY easily and I don't want to traumatize her. She is a very delicate, yet stubborn baby. Thanks again for you help. Hope it works! __________________ Jac & Beanie's Mama http://www.dogster.com/?328747 http://www.dogster.com/?328752

11-22-2005, 02:37 AM	#7
Brutus'mama YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 1,767	I started doing it while he's getting a bath. The nails get soft and he doesn't move as much. __________________ ~Carolyn~ Brutus' Video Montage

11-20-2005, 10:46 PM	#2
spydergurl YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 516	I only cut the very ends, too, because I am afraid of going too far. I cut them right after their baths, this way they are a little softer, as they stand in the water and soak a little. Then, when I put them on my counter to blow dry them, brush, etc., I do the nails. I have been doing this since they were little (they are 6 yrs old now), so they stand pretty still. If you start out early, I think it's better. They learn that this is the way it's gonna' be. Also, if you cut a little each week or two, then I think the chances of cutting into their quick is pretty slim, from what I've learned. Good luck!

11-21-2005, 06:18 AM	#4
RABiel Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 19	i have found it a lot easier to just file my dogs nails down. we have one of those electric or motorized nail filing kits, the manicuring kind, and we just use one of those tools to quickly and easily file down the nails of our two pups. we have never been able to cut their nails easily so we have been doing this since about a month after we brought them home (at 8 weeks). its a lot easier and they are much less frightened, plus its a pretty quick way of taking care of those nails without worrying about cutting the cuticle

11-22-2005, 04:18 PM	#8
AngeliFlad Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 170	What I do is clip them them right after the bath. I wrap him up in a towel and have my boyfriend hold him while I clip.

11-22-2005, 04:41 PM	#9
browniesmom622 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: ny Posts: 11,253 Blog Entries: 5	wrap them up like you would a baby and only stick out one paw at a time __________________ We Love our Yt Angel! My Website< > FB page

11-22-2005, 11:00 PM	#12
Jacsmama Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 121	GREAT ideas! "Wrap them up like a baby" hmmmm....I like that idea and I think they will too! I will try that the next time I give them a bath. I'm so glad I joined this site - it's SO imformative! THANKS! __________________ Jac & Beanie's Mama http://www.dogster.com/?328747 http://www.dogster.com/?328752

11-22-2005, 11:52 PM	#14
YorkyMommy Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 337	I confuse, I take the easy way out and pay someone else to do it. __________________ Tracy and my S "If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience."- Woodrow Wilson

11-23-2005, 11:28 AM	#15
i_love_my_yorki YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 705	I was to scared to do it myself so i took Scamp to the Vet never again....it took 3 people to hold him down,& they muzzeled him.....he was sick throwing up for 2 weeks Scamp was very Traumatised Hes only a little Yorkie for goodness sake I took him back to the Vets office as he had Diharrea caused by being tramatised.....& even he said that should not have happened