Help - dogs claws need cutting

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

We are new dog owners and have got a rescue dog, have had him for 6 months and his claws are getting really long. We thought we might be able to do it ourselves so bought some proper cutters. Hubby started off showing him the cutters and then snipping a bit off the fur on his paw (as pet shop suggested) to show him we werent going to hurt him. Then he moved on to actually cutting a claw and gave him a treat. First one was fine, now he wont let hubby near him!

The trouble is he is absolutely terrified of the vets, anyone got any advice? Would a groomer be cheaper? Would someone come and do it at home as this would be far less stressful for him. I can see this being a nightmare and possibly quite expensive too.

Any advice would be welcome.

Sagz_2

The rescue you got him from might be able to either clip his nails or help you train him so you can do them.

One of mine is a wimp so I use a nail grinder, or catch him a good mood and do one nail a week

_Andy_

I would try when he's really tired. One of you gently hold him, then just literally try and get the cutter round a claw - don't clip it.
Build up over time and obv a treat when it's done.
Does take practice!

Sally_A

We had this problem, and dog hated claws being cut.

Try walking them on pavements/roads for 1/2 - 1 mile per day, as this will grind down the claws.

Ironically, the perfect location for dogs, ie out the door and into fields for a 5 mile hike, does their claws no favours.

moggymutt

My Darcey needs her dew claws done as they otherwise curl around into her pad. Although brilliant at the vets, she has hysterics if they try to do her nails.

Only solution- extremely expensive clippers that open completely at the top, not ones that you have to slide the nail into. Extremely sharp to cut very quick. Then allow at least 15mins for each nail. With poorer quality clippers it would be totally impossible.

YORKSHIRELASS

moggymutt wrote: »

My Darcey needs her dew claws done as they otherwise curl around into her pad. Although brilliant at the vets, she has hysterics if they try to do her nails.

Only solution- extremely expensive clippers that open completely at the top, not ones that you have to slide the nail into. Extremely sharp to cut very quick. Then allow at least 15mins for each nail. With poorer quality clippers it would be totally impossible.

Thank you - do you have any recommendations for clippers? We have bought some cheap ones which I think was a mistake.

We dont do pavement walks which is why this is going to be an ongoing problem I think. If his claws are already long will they wear down by walking him on the road or do they need to be cut? Sorry, as I say I am a new dog owner so havent a clue!

Caroline_a

Why don't you see if a local groomer will do it for you? They will have all the correct equipment, and be more experienced than you, so won't be likely to cut the quick which is the best way to make a dog totally paranoid about nail cutting!

suki1964

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Thank you - do you have any recommendations for clippers? We have bought some cheap ones which I think was a mistake.

We dont do pavement walks which is why this is going to be an ongoing problem I think. If his claws are already long will they wear down by walking him on the road or do they need to be cut? Sorry, as I say I am a new dog owner so havent a clue!

Pavement walks will forever sort this out for you

We don't have pavements so for us it's road walks in the quieter lanes

However if the claws are so bad they are curling or making him hobble them pop into the vets get them done quickly and easily. My last vet in London it was the nurse that done the job, about £20 but worth not having the worry of diy when not confident

PudseyDB

I sympathise! My older dog makes such a racket when we have to cut her claws that my neighbour 4 houses down always knows when we're trying to trim them!

For years I only had to cut her dew claws as she walked regularly on pavements. But as she got older she walked less and her claws started to grow so had to trim all her claws for the first time when she was 11.

I've cut claws for years - guinea pigs, rabbits and even rats so I'm confident with clippers. I knew if I took her to the vet they'd want to sedate her - plus I thought it'd be more traumatic for her with strangers.

We found it a lot easier last time when I tried distracting her with treats while my partner did the cutting. She loves Schmackos so had a supply of those to take her mind of it :T

Person_one

One of mine has awful nails, they need doing about twice a month, even with pavement walks at least twice a day. He hates it when I try to clip them in one go, so I take my time and slice little slivers off until I'm near the quick. He'll lie still for that but as soon as he feels the pressure of the clippers further up the nail he protests!

How big is the dog? Mine are only small so I got a pair of clippers designed for rabbits/ferrets etc. You can get them from P@H, its much more comfortable for their toes if the nails are at all curly.

Oh, I'd suggest getting the dog used to having their feet handled when there are no clippers around too, so they don't make too strong a connection.

krlyr

I would definately go for a set of good quality nail scissors - I find the guillotine type better for larger dogs too, the regular scissor kind can get stuck with a large, thick nail. Might not be such an issue with a smaller dog, but too small or too blunt scissors may struggle too.
Youtube is a fab resource for doggy training videos - the channels Kikopup and pamelamarxsen are two of my favourite and between them they cover most dog training issues! Both actually have videos on nail clipping, both worth a watch IMO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=196rZAfECg0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHgBvnQ71ss

Or as someone else mentioned, a nail grinder is an alternative. I have a Wahl one which is like a Dremel, though it's not cordless. You have sanding pads that rotate like a drill head and you basically sand down the nail. You can use a Dremel too though - I just happened to find the Wahl grinder cheaper on Ebay.
One of my dogs prefers this to nail scissors (his nails are very thick so the scissors can be a pain to use on him anyway), and one prefers the scissors (she's not sure on the noise of the grinder), though whichever tools you use, it's best to introduce them slowly (I'm slowly getting both used to the grinder as I'd rather use this - less risk of cutting the quick, snapping the nail, etc. and you can eventually achieve a higher 'cut' which should hopefully stop that irritating clickclickclick of nails on laminate!)
http://www.doberdawn.com/doberdawn/dremel.html