Clipping nails on my min pin

[an5gel99]

My min pin is scared of the clippers. What should i do?

[DarknessDivine]

I have my VET do my mini because she always screams..and I mean screams when I try to cut hers and I'm afraid I am hurting her..The VET says she just screams because she knows it will make me stop (which it does) so I just let them do it..lol..
None of my other dogs are scared or scream btw... Just her..

[an5gel99]

thank you

[Carrie]

You can condition her to the clippers. Never try to rush a dog into something they're afraid of. I helped my son's dog over come this fear and she would become down right vicious with the clippers. I acted like the dog was invited to a party and we were going to have fun. If the dog got up and walked off, I did not scold it or force it to do anything. I enticed it back with some ice cream. You must not do anything whatsoever negative in association with this kind of thing. It has to be ALL fun and games associated with it. So, let the games begin.

Day1:

First get out a very small bowl of ice cream....doesn't matter what flavor and put a spoon in it. Set it near where you are going to hold the dog.

Have the clippers in your hand and ask the dog to come sit on your lap. Set the clippers down beside the dog and give your dog a tiny bite. While she's licking, show her the clippers and say, "gooooooooooood dog." (in a happy, cheerful voice)

Then be silly and take your finger nail and go tap tap tap on her nail and squeel and say, "gooooooood dog." Then give another taste of ice cream.

Then take your clippers and go tap tap tap on one of her nails and give ice cream and say "yeeeeehhhhhhoooooo.....gooooooood girl." And give more ice cream.

Call it a day.

Day 2:

Get the ice cream out again. You can change flavors if you like. Get the clippers and go sit down on the couch. Call your dog over for a spoon of ice cream. Be sure she sees the clippers that you're holding in your hand.

Then do the tap tap tap with them on her nail and give a small taste of icecream. Say, "yeeeaaaahhhh.....goooood dog." Repeat 5 - 10 times.

Take one little toe and scrape the clippers on it and squeel and say "gooooood dog." Laugh, get excited, give bite of ice cream. Repeat about 5 times.

Then take the clippers and pinch off a teensy weensy piece of the nail and have a party again. Ice cream, yeah, good dog.

Then do one more nail. Repeat the party theme. Get up, dance and have fun.

Day 3:

Do everything you did on day 2, only try adding a few more nails....maybe even a whole paw. If she's fine with that, continue.

Do be careful not to go too short at first. Don't go past where it curves, if there's a curve. Just a tad off and do it twice a week....just a smiggen. You don't want to cut the quick.

[Carrie]

If at any stage your dog freaks out, don't push it. Go back to the stage where she was all right with it and do that for a while longer before proceeding.

[DarknessDivine]

Also, with my other dogs I always keep some styptic powder on hand..You can use Kwik-Stop, CutStop Styptic Pads or other product to stop bleeding if you nick the quick of the nail...

[fireworksinjuly]

my Min Pins are to Hyper to do it, so we dont. we let the vet.

[Rip's Girl]

I had a problem with Ripley for a while until I touughened up. I can't seem to find styptic powder anywhere, I have ordered some online but in a pinch, if you cut the quick, some corn starch can work. It's not nearly as good as the styptic powder, but it is great if you have nothing else.

[Carrie]

Don't worry about too hyper. My son's dog was hyper as well as extremely vicious. The vet wouldn't even do it unless they anesthetized her for a lot of $$$$. He had tried doing it with a bunch of his friends converging on her, holding her down, hollering at her.....she was a mess. If you go slowly, you should be able to bring your dog around to accepting it.

If you just do a smiggen at a time each time and work them back over weeks, doing it twice a week, you won't cut the quick. If you do, that is painful and will set your dog back in it's acceptance of this.

This is why I conditioned my dogs, my pup and my 3 adults to a Dremel. It's so much better than clippers. That can be done in the same, gradual way.....getting them to accept that.

[flyndog]

Drug stores usually care styptic powder, sticks, etc.