UK Pet Forums Forum banner

Claw clipping...

1K views 19 replies 11 participants last post by  tealover 
#1 ·
In all my many years of owning dogs, I have always clipped their claws myself. The exercise has ranged from the dog not being bothered at all, to, no, you're not coming anywhere near me with those torture instruments. :rolleyes:

Now I have Arwin, he's almost 10 months old, I can "sometimes" get one clipped before he wakes up and charges off around the house, never to come near me again. His claws are really too long for my liking, I've tried a scratch board, nail file, snipping a bit off at a time, but they grow so quickly and they're just too long. I've joined a group on FB for tips but to be honest, the people there appear to be fanatical about the length of the nails, some even trying to get right down to the dog's quick. :eek:

I will just add, I have never cut any of their claws too short, in fact, I just really take the tips off, so, anyone here have the same problem and has another suggestion they can throw at me? :Arghh

We're off to Cornwall on Sunday so I need them shortish for the rocks on the beach! Anyone help?
 
#2 ·
In all my many years of owning dogs, I have always clipped their claws myself. The exercise has ranged from the dog not being bothered at all, to, no, you're not coming anywhere near me with those torture instruments. :rolleyes:

Now I have Arwin, he's almost 10 months old, I can "sometimes" get one clipped before he wakes up and charges off around the house, never to come near me again. His claws are really too long for my liking, I've tried a scratch board, nail file, snipping a bit off at a time, but they grow so quickly and they're just too long. I've joined a group on FB for tips but to be honest, the people there appear to be fanatical about the length of the nails, some even trying to get right down to the dog's quick. :eek:

I will just add, I have never cut any of their claws too short, in fact, I just really take the tips off, so, anyone here have the same problem and has another suggestion they can throw at me? :Arghh

We're off to Cornwall on Sunday so I need them shortish for the rocks on the beach! Anyone help?[/QU.
For dogs who are wriggley and don't like their paw held, I find smearing the back of my hand with cream chees/Pate/peanut butter, the hand that is holding the paw up then clipping, re-smearing when necessary. This wont work for dogs who are fearful though, they just wont eat. Also make sure the feet are wet so nails are softer and less traumatic. Good luck with it hope you get some success
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8tansox
#3 ·
If it's the Nail Maintenance for Dogs group have had a look through their 'Files' section? The Counter Conditioning/Desensitisation file has got loads of great information and guides to getting a dog to the point where they're happy to have their nails done.

I used to information in that file to get my whippets from running away at the sight of the clippers to falling over themselves to be first to have their nails done on our weekly Dremel day. It took a while, about eighteen months from starting out to genuinely enjoying the experience, but it's now completely stress free for everyone involved and their nails are infinitely better.
 
#4 ·
If the nails are long due to long quicks - then you do need to get close to it in order to make them recede.
To get Lily's quicks to recede I was trimming her nails every couple of days using the alternative cut line, taking her nails right back to the soft centre just before the quick.

Her nails don't touch the floor while she's standing and I don't hear them tapping on the floor - she can still use them when she needs to like when she's running.

First step is to get a dog used to general foot handling, all feet and in between pads - takes time but completely worth it. Comes in handy for any foot injuries too! :D Then work on getting them happy with the tool, eventually one nail and then another. Makes life much easier in the long run, Lily comes running when she sees her clippers :Hilarious

Oh if you use clippers - get good sharp ones! I find these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Millers-Fo...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=NBXEWQAX8EGF0DZR34XP the best - absolutely love them! They won't pinch their nail and make it uncomfortable because you just take little slithers off. I'm no good with a dremel so stick to clipping.
 
#7 ·
I use a dremmel and cheese crackers( I should say used to lol) I started out with a cheese cracker per nail and as they got used to it, it would be a cracker per paw.At first it was just touching the claw with the dremmel and slowly working to a full on grind.This always worked for me.
 
#10 ·
I have done them! Woo hoo! They weren't that long that they touched the floor, I'd never let them get that long, they're working dogs, their feet / paws are important.

I waited until he was on his back and clipped those I could before he wriggled and fidgeted, then I put him on the agility table and got him to lie down with his paws over the edge, used cream cheese after each snip and voila, job done! Not perfect, not the alternative cut either, but they're a good length and practical AND safe for rocks and sand now. ;)

The others hardly wake up when I need to do theirs after hydro. Lovely and soft nails, but Arwin doesn't like hydro either... strange dog indeed hahaha....:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:o_O

Thank you for all your suggestions, I really do need to stop putting it off and do them like everyone elses, once a week. :p
 
#11 ·
I just either hold the dog myself or get someone else to hold it and clip the nails. Do you have anyone to help you. I have one with very long quicks. Her nails do not touch the ground and so even if she does 30 miles of road work they are not altered.
 
#14 ·
Have a look at this thread, it's got a good picture on of what you're looking for in terms of avoiding going too short when trimming black nails.

I much prefer using a Dremel over clippers as I find it very fiddly trying to get tiny slivers of nail off (which is what you want to be doing) with clippers. Plus with four dogs to do clippers tend to go blunt (and so squeeze the nail before cutting into it) really quickly.
 
#18 ·
I have the same issue with Sol. I play the bucket game (Chirag Patel) . Though saw something interesting today. Animal Training Academy showed a video of a dog stood, obviously taught chin targets and they were clipping his nails that way. Similar method I guess, just different ways of rewarding.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top