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Clipping Your Dog's Nails
Dog training will make clipping your dog's nails a less stressful experience. Most dogs do not enjoy having their nails clipped. Your dog may run away or totally freak out when the nail clippers appear. There is a great way to clip your dog's nails through proper dog training. Instead of wrestling your dog to the ground and holding him down, exercise patience, love, understanding, and go one nail at a time. The following dog training tips will help make clipping your dog's nails easier.
- Take time to plan. Decide when, where, and what time is best to clip your dog's nails. Dog training will be easier when you have planned.
- Do not put your clippers or other supplies out in plain view of your dog until your dog is accustomed to you holding his paws and to the nail clipping spot. Dog training will be less stressful for you if the sight of the clippers does not stress your dog.
- If you need help, recruit your volunteer ahead of time. Dog training can be easier as a team sport.
When deciding where to clip your dog's nails, choose a room or location where your dog feels comfortable. Keep other dogs and distractions away. Once you have chosen your nail clipping spot, stick to it with your dog training. Always use the same location to clip your dog's nails. Your dog will learn to associate the space with nail clipping. If you make nail clipping a relaxing and fun experience for your dog during dog training, he will be excited when you call him to his nail clipping spot.
Before clipping your dog's nails, bring him to his nail clipping spot every day, a week or more before you plan to clip his nails. Talk to your dog sweetly and pet him, paying attention to his feet. Do not grab your dog's paws at first. Gently touch and rub his paws. Once your dog is relaxed with you touching all four of his paws in the nail clipping spot, reward him with a treat and let him go on his way.
Each day you visit the nail clipping spot, spend more and more time focusing on your dog's paws. Your dog may even enjoy this time so much, he voluntarily puts up his paws for you to rub during dog training sessions. When you feel he is comfortable, lift his paws one at a time and hold them in your hands. You want your dog to learn to feel good about you holding his paws in the nail clipping spot. When he is ready, gently put your fingers between his toes. If your dog pulls his paws back, do not force the issue. Just keep trying every day until your dog is comfortable. Reward your dog with treats for every milestone and go at his pace.
Introduce the nail clippers into the nail clipping spot slowly. Start by putting them nearby, but do not touch the clippers. Progressively move the clippers closer and closer to your dog during every training session until you have the clippers in your hand while touching your dog's paws. Show your dog the clippers. Let your dog smell the clippers. Open and close them so he can get used to the sound and always end any interaction with a treat.
Once you feel the time is right, clip one of your dog's nails. Praise your dog and give him a treat. Continue clipping the rest of your dog's nails, one per day. Work hard to keep nail clipping a slow, positive, fun experience your dog may even learn to enjoy.
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