How to trim your dog's nails

​Long nails on dogs not only look bad but are also bad for their health. A lot of my clients tell me that they would love to be able to trim their dog's nails but are often met with resistance in the form of snatching the foot away, trying to run away, even biting. 

Creating a positive association

​It's important to start with baby steps and keep yourself calm when working through your dog's discomfort. Pairing high-value food with the nail trimming process can help in the beginning. One thing that is very effective while trimming a resistant dog's nails is to touch the feet while you give a little light verbal praise, followed by food, then a repetition of the process. If your dog tries to pull their foot away, say "No" firmly but calmly while squeezing the dog's foot. The squeezing isn't to hurt the dog but lets them know that resistance won't get them what they want. Once the dog stops trying to pull away, immediately release the pressure of the foot. With enough practice, you should be ready to reintroduce the clippers. 

Moving forward

​Depending on how the dog reacts, you can either touch the nails to the foot or go straight into clipping. You may not get all of the nails done at one time, but it's important to not get stuck in the prepping stage forever. If you accidentally cut the blood vessel in the nail, don't make a big deal out of it, and don't stop the session. Doing so often times confirms the idea that nail trimming is bad in the dog's mind.

In closing

Besides the techniques of teaching your dog how to be more accepting of nail trimming, the most important thing is to remain calm. If you feel yourself getting frustrated put your dog away and try again later!

Alex Harris
Reliable K9 Training
Board And Train Programs for dogs