Faiths Dog Information Blog

Nail Clipping Methods

Have you always had trouble with clipping your dog’s nails? Many of us try to find the method that works best for clipping our pets nails. For larger dogs it can be a little harder to hold them during the process if you are doing the nail clipping yourself. It shouldn’t surprise you to learn that there are methods you can use to help the nail clipping process run smoothly, but before we get into that let’s look at a few other things first.

Dogs can be very stressed out when you go to clip their nails. They tend to hate the fact that you are getting near them with something sharp and touching their sensitive paws. This stress that they go through can be very upsetting and cause other behaviours to occur. They may try to bite, hide, or just generally give you grief. There of course is the option of having a second person to help you and hold them down, but this is a rough and unnecessary method.

When you are talking about nail clipping for your dog you should first realize that starting at an early age is going to be the best option. Few dogs like the nail clipping process, but those who are exposed as puppies and receive nail clippings on a regular basis tend to do a little better with the entire process. You should also be concerned with their mood. Have you ever tried to clip a dog’s nails because it was convenient for you? This could mean that you have someone in your home to help you or you are in a hurry to get it done, but the dog is not in the proper frame of mind. When you consider clipping your dog’s nails you should catch them during a nap or when they are about to take a nap. Most dogs wake up energetic from a nap and are extremely energetic when you have just gotten home or when they need exercise. These are definitely not times to try nail clipping. You should make sure the dog has been exercised and that they are ready to relax before you start trying to clip there nails.

When you clip their nails you do want to have another person to help. They can assist you in calming the dog as you do each one of his or her paws. You will also want to have plenty of dog treats with you. You probably should offer a treat after each foot or some type of reward such as a head and ear rub or something they particularly like.

Going back for a moment to starting as a puppy is one of the best methods you can have. When the dog is used to the clipping or that young you can usually train them for the behavior you desire. It is best to work with the dog and talk with the dog. Have your dog give you a foot. Then you can take and massage the foot, showing them that it is not all bad for you to touch their feet. Once they are used to the massage and the touch you can add the clippers. If they begin to become stressed you can stop, ask them to sit or give them another command and help them to relax. Most often once a dog has been trained for the nail clipping they will be a bit more relaxed and willing to go through the process. The second person can assist you in helping them relax by offering head rubs and other treats they may enjoy.

Dog Accessories