Right, I don't know if this is a common thing with dogs but my little terrier is the first dog I've ever had. We've had him for about 9 years now and sicne then he's never liked his paws being touched. A week ago, my girlfriend was visiting and we attempted to groom him (basically gave him a fur-cut as the weather's been so warm and he's got long thick fur), and as I held his paw to cut the fur around it, he snapped at me as usual and yelped as though either in protest or pain. My girlfriend persuaded me to check it out as she didn't like the sound of his yelp and so I carefully felt around his pads and couldn't find anything but he yelped again. I then made her hold him firmly away from me so I could really look at his paw and noticed a big clump of fur lodged between the main big pad and the toe pads. I checked the opposite paw and it was exactly the same, yet his two hide paws are fine. We tried our hardest to get carefully cut the fur from between the pads but he was still yelping when I pressed the scissors together though I was not going through his pads.

I'd like to know if there is anything I could do to help him relax while I touch his paws so I can cut the fur out because its only his front paws that he doesn't like being touched and they're the ones with the clumps of fur. I don't want an expensive trip to the vets because I don't have the money.

If anyone is familiar with anything like this and how you dealt with it yourself then I'd be so thankful.

Sorry can't help, I groom my dogs regularly so things like that don't happen.

Personally, I would possibly take him either to a groomer, would will probably be used to seeing problems like these, or take him to the vet to make sure there's nothing else wrong with his paws.

If you don't want to do this, you could try muzzling him, cut the mats out, and then in future, to make sure no more matts appear, groom in between his pads regularly, maybe whilst someone feeds him some little bits of chicken (or whatever his favourtie food is). He'll soon learn to assosiate getting paws groomed, equals tasty morsals!

Good luck!

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My name is Sarah, and I am Mum to: 2 greyhounds (Breagha & Todd), 2 cats (Lucky and Rigsy), 1 rabbit (Rosie), 2 guinea pigs (Gizmo and Steve) and a Syrian hamster (Jasper George). I also dogwalk a black Lab puppy (Piper) and a collie X terrier (Oscar).

Do you have a spare moment? VOTE FOR TODD!

I don't need to groom Duke being a Staffie but I do massage him and I have a glove with bobbles that I use, he just loves being pampered.

He has very sensative paws and will jump when you first touch them. I tend to be firm and hold his ankle area while I clean or touch his paw to inspect them.

Right or wrong I touch every part of him regularly to ensure he is comfortable being handled and touched.

I would suggest if you don't handle him regularly as a rule start now even if you don't have to groom him make a point every day to touch his paws, not for long and build on the length of time. I could be wrong here but I would reward him for good behaviour.

Good luck

Sue

I brush him thoroughly every day thank you, its just these parts between the pads on his front paws that are the problem as they are obviously very sensitive and whenever I go to touch them he snaps at me.

So your own dog is trying to bite you? Is this the same dog you'd be happy to leave with a child?

A lot of dogs have sensitive areas they don't like to be touched. How many children would stick their fingers in between a dogs pads?

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My name is Sarah, and I am Mum to: 2 greyhounds (Breagha & Todd), 2 cats (Lucky and Rigsy), 1 rabbit (Rosie), 2 guinea pigs (Gizmo and Steve) and a Syrian hamster (Jasper George). I also dogwalk a black Lab puppy (Piper) and a collie X terrier (Oscar).

Do you have a spare moment? VOTE FOR TODD!

My girlfriend and I tried the whole food thing, he wasn't really convinced by that but we did only try it on one occation so persistance is needed there I suppose.

He does have a groomer but they tend not to look around his paws much because of them being so sensitive to him but I believe this must be the cause of them being so sensitive. A muzzle is a good idea but upsetting that I may have to resort to something like that. Thanks for the ideas!

I never once said I would be happy leaving MY dog with a child, and he only snaps, not bites, because his paws are sensitive and he's telling me to basically stop. He never bites hard, its just a nip, pressure on the skin.

I know muzzles are horrible things, but its in his best interests, and won't last too long. You can use soft muzzles, they look more comfortable and he may feel more relaxed wearing that than the other type. And persistance would be the key for trying the titbits, just need to keep hunting for the perfect favourite food!

Strange that a groomer would avoid the problem area, what methods have they tried? You see, once the mats are out, the problem will be pretty much sorted, just by making sure they are groomed regularly so the matts can't come back. Poor lad, can't be comfortable at all.

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My name is Sarah, and I am Mum to: 2 greyhounds (Breagha & Todd), 2 cats (Lucky and Rigsy), 1 rabbit (Rosie), 2 guinea pigs (Gizmo and Steve) and a Syrian hamster (Jasper George). I also dogwalk a black Lab puppy (Piper) and a collie X terrier (Oscar).

Do you have a spare moment? VOTE FOR TODD!