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Touchy toe nails

   
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Tucker

343289		 
 
Barked: Sat Jan 27, '07 2:54pm PST 
Tucker is so grouchy about having his toes clipped. Is this a Chow thing? Oddly enough, as soon as I finish clipping his nails he is perfectly fine. I do not want to muzzle him, but I would like him to not be so snarly during the process. Any suggestions?
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Osa

aka Moody Cuss
 
 
Barked: Tue Feb 6, '07 3:07pm PST 
Yes, grouchiness IS a Chow trait. Notice my "nick-name". My owners have NEVER clipped my nails. Luckily I wear them down by running around. Have you tried a special treat as a distraction? It's worth a try.... Good Luck!
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Osa

aka Moody Cuss
 
 
Barked: Mon Feb 12, '07 11:48am PST 
There is a product called the "calming cap". It covers the dogs eyes and is supposed to have a calming effect. We saw an article about it in our local paper. Maybe you can find it online.snoopy
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Grizzley- Ralph

Griz-Ralph: the- ADD Wonder Dog!		 
 
Barked: Mon Mar 12, '07 2:13pm PST 
my humans take me to dog park & let me runrunrun & daddy still has to give me a teensey doggie downer & mommy has to hold me while daddy files my nails.
if he tries to use clippers he cant catch me! i dont like clippers at all.
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Molly

Beautiful Girl		 
 
Barked: Thu May 3, '07 6:13pm PST 
Our part - chow named Bear HATED having his nails clipped. Even when he was a puppy he didn't like you to touch his paws. When he was young he wore them down and we didn't really have to do anything. When he got old, though, we had to have them clipped. I would try to do it quickly when he was sleeping, but he always woke up. Finally, I had to just take him to the vet and have them deal with him!smile
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Grizzley- Ralph

Griz-Ralph: the- ADD Wonder Dog!		 
 
Barked: Mon May 7, '07 12:38pm PST 
while its still not my favorite thing, dad's been using a dremel & got me used to it easily. the best part i think is the treat that comes afterwards.
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Boomer

It's hard work- being this cute		 
 
Barked: Mon May 7, '07 7:54pm PST 
I HATE having my nails clipped. I am the only doggie in my pack that has to be held down against her will when Mommy gets the clippers out. Luckily, I'm small enough where Daddy just holds me tight while Mommy clips. I try to jerk my paw back at every chance, though!!!!

I have really long quicks and black toenails....I know Mommy would have a hard enough time trimming my nails even if I wasn't jumpy, but I can't help myself! Also, the Corgi in me causes my front feet to bow outward and my paws curl up slightly, so even though I go on two long walks on the cement every day, my nails don't wear down. I can't make it easy!!!! puppy
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Wilbrodog (my internet name)

Wags to all! - Gotta go back to- work now!		 
 
Barked: Tue May 15, '07 8:45pm PST 
Some dog trainers and owners think dogs hate nails being clipped because they PINCH the nail and probably hurt it.

I think chows are more prone to being grouchy because they have more stiff joints and thus are more uncomfortable with legs being held wrong. Also, if they're shy and not crazy about strangers, you'll see that come out at the vet's. Generally, a dog should accept you handling his feet when NOT doing his nails. If he won't even without the nail thing, you need to work on this more before doing nails again.

Communicating to your dog what you are doing and letting him know which paw you are going to next, and giving him some treats on the floor also can make it a lot easier for the dog to accept the nail clipping.... but again, technique is so important to be sure the dog isn't hurt.

I have heard a dremel really works with dogs that don't like the squeeze. Another suggestion is to get an emery board, same as you will find on some stairs, from the local drugstore and train the dog to claw it like a scratching post, only on the floor. It will keep the nails shorter, and then you may only need to trim the dewclaws. I did hear that you should not leave it out for causal use, because some dogs are so addicted to it they will make themselves bleed, like nailbiting in people, I guess.

Myself, I get a pro to do Wilbrodog's nail-- the local vet. He's only been grumpy once, and he had a sore leg that day. I'm just so nervous about doing nails, that I know I'd make him anxious too. So I watch it done and learn instead.

Short nails are so worth it-- it seems to be less uncomfortable for the dog when clipped, and they're less likely to cause toe injuries too.
One day I had let them get a little too long due to lack of exercise on hard surfaces. So I took him in to the vet for a nail clipping, and he was very happy when we left, and he was not lagging behind anymore on walks!
Sid Lazarus- Cash

Where's my- COOKIE???		 
 
Barked: Sat Apr 26, '08 8:33pm PST 
My Momma takes me to a groomer. I love my groomer and she clips my nails without any fuss or muss. I don't like it when SOME people touch my toes though.

Sid's Momma here - I just got an EXCELLENT tip from a dog behaviorist regarding this issue!!
OK.. this is the tip. Every day, twice a day, have your Chow baby lay on the floor on one side. Take an emery board and "file" the nails, then, have him/her lay on the other side and "file" the other nails. This will get them used to someone holding their paws and touching their nails.
I actually LIKE this tip. The behaviorist said "They don't HAVE to like it, they just have to tolerate it".. LOL.
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Sugar

Mama		 
 
Barked: Mon May 12, '08 6:05am PST 
What my parents do is my sister will sit on one side of me and my mom will be cutting my nails while my sister is coaxing me through everything with treats and goodies! The I don't mind getting them cut quite as much!
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