trimming maggies nails

Doglover1988 · 12-02-2006, 07:35 AM

Maggie doesn't like having her feet touched. So much so that when I try to clip her nails she wiggles all over (violently if I try to hold her still), bites me (hard once drawing blood), and even pees all over herself. Because of this I dread trimming her nails and it doesn't get done as often as it should. What should I do? Towelling doesn't work because she still pees all over herself and violently tries to bite me through the towel, she also wiggles so much in the towel that I am unable to trim her nails.

rottielover · 12-02-2006, 08:15 AM

you have to very slowly desensitize her, try with a reg emory board, slow, when she does not move reward with a cookie. A very long process, but in time you should be able to work your way to a trimmer.
Alot of people use a dremmel.

mrsgrubby · 12-02-2006, 03:01 PM

When i got violet she hated her feet touched and her nails trimmed. here is what I did, and Carrie did the similar thing as well with her son's pit bull.

Start slow.

The first day have her lay down and get treats that you never normally feed her, like cheese cubes, liver, ice cream, tuna, chicken, something really yummy like that. Then just touch her feet, no trimming at all. Just touching her feet. handle her foot, giver her a treat, touch her toe, give her a treat.

Day two, do the same thing but just touch the clippers to her foot or leg, NO CUTTING. Show her the clippers and give her a treat, touch it to her foot, no cutting and give her a treat. Touch her toe with it and give her a treat. Do this for 5-10 minutes.

Day three.
touch her foot, give a treat. If she is getting more comfortable with this then Cut a toenail and give her a treat. Then just touch her nails and give treats. Let her go with only cutting one nail.

Day four
If you cut a nail yesterday, then begin by just touching her feet and treating her, then Cut one more nail or two more nails and give her a treat each time you cut one. Give her four or five treats when you are all done before you release her.

Each day cut a nail or two and give a treat. Some days just touch her feet and give her a treat. Touch her toes every day, handle her toes every day,

Eventually you will be able to cut all her nails in one setting with her laying still.

Be sure to always use a really special treat that she ONLY gets when she is getting her nails cut.

I use liver with Violet. After having her for a year. I now get out the liver and the clippers and she lays right down on her back for her nails to be clipped.

dogma · 12-06-2006, 07:25 PM

I would add to the good advice so far that when you attempt this do it after food and a tiring walk or play session so that mood is balanced and the dog has less energy, and hopefully an empty bladder. I grind nails down with a dremel on their backs, sometimes they fall asleep. Sometimes dogs feel like their front paws are hands, back ones are feet. Start with back paws as they seem to mind less on the feet paws (in your case, it is further from a bite). If all else fails and you need to sedate, try a calmative like melatonin or Rescue Remedy found in pet stores. Lavender scents also help calm.

12-02-2006, 07:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
Doglover1988 3 mutts 1 boston terrier Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dallas, Georgia Posts: 2,480 Rep Power: 118	trimming maggies nails Maggie doesn't like having her feet touched. So much so that when I try to clip her nails she wiggles all over (violently if I try to hold her still), bites me (hard once drawing blood), and even pees all over herself. Because of this I dread trimming her nails and it doesn't get done as often as it should. What should I do? Towelling doesn't work because she still pees all over herself and violently tries to bite me through the towel, she also wiggles so much in the towel that I am unable to trim her nails.
	__________________ And-2 cats -1 cockatiel-1 budgie -2 Zebra finches -1 campbells dwarf hamster-2 roborovski dwarf hamsters -3 mice -2 rabbits-some fish "If you want the best seat in the house ... move the dog"-- Unknown Lindsey

12-02-2006, 08:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
rottielover rottweiler true believer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: montreal, qc Posts: 656 Rep Power: 55	you have to very slowly desensitize her, try with a reg emory board, slow, when she does not move reward with a cookie. A very long process, but in time you should be able to work your way to a trimmer. Alot of people use a dremmel.
	__________________ Man should not fear a rottweiler, but a rottweiler has alot to fear of man. Loved by Harley ( M ) Oct, 1, 2004 And tigger july 2004 approx

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12-02-2006, 03:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
mrsgrubby Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,476 Rep Power: 146	When i got violet she hated her feet touched and her nails trimmed. here is what I did, and Carrie did the similar thing as well with her son's pit bull. Start slow. The first day have her lay down and get treats that you never normally feed her, like cheese cubes, liver, ice cream, tuna, chicken, something really yummy like that. Then just touch her feet, no trimming at all. Just touching her feet. handle her foot, giver her a treat, touch her toe, give her a treat. Day two, do the same thing but just touch the clippers to her foot or leg, NO CUTTING. Show her the clippers and give her a treat, touch it to her foot, no cutting and give her a treat. Touch her toe with it and give her a treat. Do this for 5-10 minutes. Day three. touch her foot, give a treat. If she is getting more comfortable with this then Cut a toenail and give her a treat. Then just touch her nails and give treats. Let her go with only cutting one nail. Day four If you cut a nail yesterday, then begin by just touching her feet and treating her, then Cut one more nail or two more nails and give her a treat each time you cut one. Give her four or five treats when you are all done before you release her. Each day cut a nail or two and give a treat. Some days just touch her feet and give her a treat. Touch her toes every day, handle her toes every day, Eventually you will be able to cut all her nails in one setting with her laying still. Be sure to always use a really special treat that she ONLY gets when she is getting her nails cut. I use liver with Violet. After having her for a year. I now get out the liver and the clippers and she lays right down on her back for her nails to be clipped.

12-06-2006, 07:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
dogma Join Date: May 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 122 Rep Power: 51	I would add to the good advice so far that when you attempt this do it after food and a tiring walk or play session so that mood is balanced and the dog has less energy, and hopefully an empty bladder. I grind nails down with a dremel on their backs, sometimes they fall asleep. Sometimes dogs feel like their front paws are hands, back ones are feet. Start with back paws as they seem to mind less on the feet paws (in your case, it is further from a bite). If all else fails and you need to sedate, try a calmative like melatonin or Rescue Remedy found in pet stores. Lavender scents also help calm.

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