Getting Your Dog Used to Nail Trims
Dogs need certain types of grooming to make them healthy and happy. One of the most challenging types of grooming that our clients do with their dogs are nail trims. If you have a new puppy that has never gotten a nail trim before, using the techniques below will help them (and you) have a positive experience while getting their nails trimmed in the future.
If you have or are planning on adopting an older dog who doesn’t like nail trims, you can use the same techniques to make the experience of getting regular nail trims an easy and positive experience. Getting your dog used to nail trims isn’t hard; all it takes is patience, treats, and positivity!
Trimming a dog’s nails is extremely challenging because, like most animals, they have an aversion to having their feet touched. Combine that with the feeling of the nail clippers and a simple five-minute trim turns into an hour-long process. Some dogs are so afraid of getting their nails trimmed that they have to be sedated to do it.
Start by training your dog to get its feet touched.
In order for your dog to get used to regular nail trims, you should associate them with something positive. When your dog is laying down in a relaxed position, keep their favorite treats nearby. Briefly touch and squeeze their paws and always follow up with a treat.
Start the process of getting your dog used to having their nails touched.
After they have gotten used to you touching their feet, it’s time to move on to the nails. Because they are more sensitive, start by touching the nail for a brief moment and then praise and reward your dog. Work up to applying pressure slowly to imitate the pressure applied by clippers.
Introduce your dog to the tools you’ll be using to cut their nails.
Next, you’ll want to introduce your dog to the tools you will use to cut their nails. The tool you use should depend on the size of your dog. The most common tools used to trim a dog’s nails are a file, clippers, or a Dremel tool. Whichever one you decide to use, touch your dog’s nail briefly with it and then give them a treat with praise. Repeat this exercise until your dog is not worried about the tool being near them or their feet.
Start the process of trimming the nails.
After your dog is completely comfortable with the nail trim process, you can start getting them used to filing or clipping. Start by only clipping one nail at a time. After you finish that nail, be sure to praise and treat your dog. If your dog does start to become agitated, you may need to repeat the steps above until they are comfortable with the actual trimming process. If your dog is comfortable with the first nail trim, you can start working your way up to two, three, and then all mails. Don’t forget to do front and back feet in both practice and trimming.