My dogs HATE haveing their nails trimed! Any tips?

Question

They snap and won't even let us touch their feet. How often are dogs supposed to get their nails trimed? And roughly how much is it to have a groomer or vets office trim them for me?

I've done muzzles in the past. Even fed them while in a muzzel. We even have a chain hanging in our bathroom to "try" to keep them still...

Keep up the good work! This is great!

Answer 1

This is not uncommon. Even puppies who have their feet handled and nails cut at a very young age may completely HATE having their feet handled as an adult.

The frequency of nail trimming is dependent on how much your dog walks around on hard surfaces (that act like files!). The more your dog walks around on pavement and cerment the less often their nails will need to be trimmed (sometimes they won't at all). The more your dog's nails are trimmed, the further back the quick will receed (which is good because they can be cut shorter). They need to be trimmed when they start making constant contact with the floor. You will hear the clicking on the floor or pavement. This will be different for every dog.

To make things easier I suggest investing in a muzzle and working with your dog by touching their feet a few times a day. Reward them for not snapping at you. You could also put a smudge of peanut butter (organic cugar free) on the refridgerator and do the same thing. Some dog's will cry when they have their nails trimmed even if nothing is wrong.

With your dog's reaction, I wouldn't recommend trimming them yourself at first, especially if your dogs have black nails. It's quicker and less painful (for everyone!) to just take the dog to a groomer (who also has all the supplies in case a quick gets cut). If you want to learn how, ask the groomer to watch how to do it correctly and ask them what you would need. This would only be the first step to the process. You will then have to get your dogs used to it by letting them smell them (reward!), then touching the metal to the nails (reward!), putting the nail in (reward!), and eventually cutting the nail (reward!). This might take several days, weeks or even months. The peanut butter trick works for this too.

It's not expensive to have nails trimmed, but I've never had that the sole reason I went to the groomer so I cannot give you an accurate price. I would imagine it being under $20, possibly under $15. My grooming for my Lhasa usually costs around $35 (this includes scissor cut, nails, feet, ears and removing hair in the ears). Make sure you tell them that they do snap at the person handling their feet so that they can take the proper precautions (they may need to muzzle your dog to avoid injury). If your dog does cry or whine, it is MOST LIKELY that they are uncomfortable, not in pain. This is not an uncommong thing and many groomers get scolded for "hurting" a dog when it's something 80% of dogs do.

Answer 2

I have the same problem even though I've played with my dog's paws since she was 8 weeks old. She hates it anyway and she turns into Cujo as soon as she sees the nails clippers in my hand. Even with two 2-,mile walks a day, it did nothing to help wear her nails down.

As a couple of others of mentioned, take her to Petsmart, Petoco, or the vet. It's $8 where I live and I have it done every other month. Surprisingly she's like a completely different dog when she's there and she's an absolute angel.

The groomer always lets me stay wither and they cut her nails while I'm there. If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would think that had drugged her to get her to stay still ... lol. I think it must have something to do with being on a raised table.

Answer 3

We had four dogs and we used to dread cutting their nails. Three of us had to hold one dog down to get it done and it was such a nerve wracking experience. Besides its not just one nail - more like twenty. I would do the trimming while the others struggled with holding the dog and I would say one down and nineteen to go and everybody would groan! Muzzling is a must. The sweetest dog turns into a fiend as soon as you touch the nails. If I were you I would take it to a groomer and get it done. We lived way in the countryside and so couldnt go to town on a regular basis. Hence had to do it ourselves.

Answer 4

Slowly get them use to touching there feet. Once in a wile (without clippers) touch there feet and just liek give them alittle shake. THen when they get use to you touching there feet let them sniff and check out the clippers then when there ok with that try to clip there nails but if they show any aggression back off and try again later but do it slowly. So that it wont happen again with any other dog u get wile there puppies play with there feet on a regular basis. They also might be snapping at u becasue u could be clipping the quick of their nails but just not noticing. If you live soemwhere where there r rocks (not small sharp ones but large rough ones) walk them regularly there and the rocks will act as a natural nail filer. I live on Lake Champlain in VT and the lake shore is all rocks so between that and once in a wile the vet will take care of it we never have to clip there nails. And our puppy Charlie he bites his nails for soemreason and he takes care of it himself. So remember slowly introduce your dog to the idea of lipping there nails. And whenever you go to the vet ask them to it's not like it has to be done like every 2 weeks or something. I just thought of something do u use person nail clippers or dog nail clippers (u can get these at a pet store). If u use person nail clippers buy a pare of dog clippers they'll be alot easier and quicker. Also there bigger so that your dog can see what your doing.
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Answer 5

If you need to, take the dog to a groomer or a vet. Groomer's are generally cheaper and are a little more experienced with cutting. I've seen vets charge around $14. Also try to walk your dogs on pavement or other rough surfaces, it wears down the nails naturally.

Answer 6

Its normal for pets to have reactions to nail trimming. Its all because they are not use to it or they're afraid its going to hurt them. So next time carefully trim the nails or hold them still and quickly trim before you lose a grip, but make sure your dog is safe.Good luck!!

Answer 7

Well, first get the dog to lie down and stroke its fur.. than once its calm, get a pillow case or a light, thin blanket and put it over its eyes ( the whole head better) IM NOT SAYING TIE IT AROUND ITS NECK AND CHOKE IT! Just lightly over it. and trim the nails.
Btw: Works with cats too.

Answer 8

My dogs hate it too. I cut them everytime I hear them clicking on the kitchen floor. They need trim every couple of weeks just like human nails.

Answer 9

what i did with my older dog was get a muzzle and someone to help me. while one person holds the dog, they would stroke and say good dog. and then slowly clip the nails.

if the dog gets regular exercise, you wouldnt have to do it to often. but if it doesnt, then i'd say everytime you start to hear clicks on the floor.

i've heard it's based on the dog type. maybe $14 to $20?

Answer 10

My dogs hate it too so I just take them to the vet its relatively inexpensive and you don't need to take them in more than every 3 months or so.