Clipping Nails...

[Mel181]

Hello all, hope all is well. Does anyone know how often I should clip Cookies nails? I did take her a month and a half ago, and she flipped out. They tell me maybe she had a bad experiance before. So needless to say they said to give her a month and a half to recovery from being scared this time. I think they mostly said give it time for them, LOL !! The woman was pretty scared that Cookie was going to eat her! I could tell she was scared of Pit Bulls, she asked right off "is that a Pit Bull". I hope she don't stay scared of getting her nails cilpped. Does anyone know how to get her over this? I use to clip the little dogs nail myself but I don't want to do it on Cookie, I don't want to hurt her. Thanks.

[BeagleMum]

I do my two about ever 1.5 to 2 weeks but they let me do it. You should keep the clippers out and let her get used to seeing them. Also, touch and rub her feet as though you are going to cut the nail but don't actually do it. You want her used to having her feet played with. I have seen some places muzzle a dog when doing it. I have no idea if that is a good idea or not, mine have never had a problem with it.

[Kandy]

You should also click the clippers where Cookie can hear it to desensitize her to the noise. Once she doesn't flinch at the noise, or doesn't make a fuss about you messing with her feet, then you could try it. Since most dogs learn by association, if something happened to her at a groomer's - she may always harbor some fear of grooming shops, not just getting her nails done.

[Technodoll]

I clip the dogs' nails about 2 or 3 times per month, very short so there is no clicking on the hardwood floors. we did have to desensitize dakotah though, he haated it and screamed like he was being murdered, hubby had to hold him down, he was muzzled, it was a freaking nightmare. and he was only a puppy!

one day I had enough and said "no way am i physically fighting and traumatizing a dog who will someday weigh more than me" so i took out his favorite cookies and over the course of about two weeks, did one nail per day with lots of praise after, and lots of cookies. I let him smell the clippers, made him stay in a "down" position, played with his feet without trimming any nails, always praise and cookies. today he lays on his back with all four legs splayed out, i can trim his nails without any help and half the time he's falling asleep

the dogs can feel when you're nervous too, so if you're not comfortable clipping nails it can exaggerate the dog's fear and reaction to the whole process. how old is cookie?...

[Mel181]

7 months

[Technodoll]

good! that's young, plenty of time to "retrain" into not minding the nail clip... cookie doesn't need to LIKE it but since you are the alpha, she will need to learn to respect your wishes and comply nicely. cookies and patience can make a big difference but you have to work at it every day, too.

good luck!

[Mel181]

thanks.