How to Get your Dog to Allow you to Cut their Nails?

Q: How do you get your dog to allow you to cut their nails?
My dog who is a mini dachshund won't let me cut her nails no matter what I do... I tried the treat trick and I didn't get anywhere closer. As soon as I get the nail trimmer near her paw she would cry or bite... I had to have my brother hold her while I cut her nails and now she won't let me go anywhere near her nails... They are getting way too long and they need to be cut badly.
Photo Credit: OH Snap! Julie McGraw Photography/Flickr CC

Answers and Views:

Answer by Chin T
Get someone to hold her for you and don't take any if and or buts about it from her. Eventually, she may not need to be held, and she will put up less of a fight if you do no give into to her. But many dogs never get to the stage of holding out their paws for you to cut their nails without some help.

Answer by Alexa
Mine is a total nightmare about having her nails done so I feel for you, I really do. Because my dog's nails are black and I cant see the quick she has to get them done at the vets and they muzzle her to cut them while I hold her. I hold and stroke her paws when I cuddle her in the evenings so that she won't get paw shy but there's not much else you can do for a dog that hates it that much. When you do her back paws kneel on the ground in front of her, hold her under your arm and pull the paw under her belly to cut it so she cant see what you are doing, it seems to be easier that way. You could also try blindfolding her when you do it so that she can't see it happening. Sometimes that calms mine down.

Answer by Felidire
Just make a scratchboard for it, grab a block of wood and nail durable sandpaper to it, then teach it to scratch it for a reward…. Or better yet, just buy one that is good quality.
You can take him for long walks on the pavement to file down his nails, if you walk enough then his nails will get smaller, the quick will recede.

I don't know if that dog has had bad (painful) nail-clipping experiences in the past, but you need to teach it that "the nail clipper is a good thing" and get it comfortable with you handling its paws.
If all you've been trying to do is hold the paw, clip a nail, give a food treat – then that's WRONG WRONG WRONG – and it's most likely the reason why you haven't made any progress.

You place the clipper on the floor and reward the dog for taking an interest in it or sniffing it, then looking away.
Then you ask for their paw and reward them for putting their paw in your hand.
Then you get them used to the feeling of you moving their paw around (your thumb moving their toes.) and reward them for behaving.
Then you can tap their nails with the end of the clipper and reward them for not panicking.
THEN, you can attempt clipping their nails.
Every dog is different, so you really need to figure out how your dog works, and then come up with a method molded specifically for that dog.

• What is the Best Way to Trim Great Dane's Nails?

Answer by julie rieger
My pit bull goes crazy also. The vet says he is the WORST she has ever seen. He screams and fights. The first three times, he came back with only two paws clipped, and the other two feet had to wait because they couldn't control him. That is when I started taking him to the vet instead of the groomer. Now the vet sedates him first. it helps a lot! He still cries and tries to get away, but the vet, an assistant, myself, and my 290lb boyfriend hold him as still as possible. I sing to him and distract him by snapping my fingers. It helps A LOT because the snapping noise from the clippers seems to really set him off. When I snap, he sort of gets used to the sound, and then the vet just clips quickly and tries to get the job done as efficiently as possible.

Sort of crazy, but whatever works!
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