How to Clip a Dog's Claws if She Goes Crazy
Clipping a dog's nails is vital for its health and your own well being. Long dewclaws can curl and begin growing into the dog's skin, while other long nails are likely to scratch other people and pets in the home. Puppies can usually be trained from a young age to tolerate nail clipping, but one bad experience can make any dog dread the clippers. Time, understanding and patience help to get the dog under control. Reassure your pet that there is nothing to fear.
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Instructions
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Start slow. If the dog doesn't even like its paws touched, getting it used to having its paws being held is the first step. Touch the paws casually, without any sign of clippers being near. Continue this casual contact until the dog realizes that there is nothing to be afraid of, then graduate to holding or playing with its paws. Do this with all its paws, and work slowly; only advance once your pet is completely comfortable.
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Introduce the clippers. Start by having the clippers in sight, but not in hand. Let your dog investigate them, and allow it to understand that they are nothing to be afraid of. Slowly progress to handling the paws with the clippers in hand, and let your dog sniff them while its paws are being held. Bring them closer to the paw -- even touch the paw with them. Continue doing this until there is no anxiety left; this could take days, depending on how deep your dog's fear of the clippers is.
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Tire your dog out. Before introducing its nails to the clippers, take the dog for a walk, a run through the park, a swim or play a game of fetch. A tired dog is much less likely to put up a fight, and is more accepting of the clippers once it is desensitized to their presence.
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Distract your dog. Have a favorite toy at the ready, or a rawhide chew. In the event your dog becomes nervous, a quick treat or toy can quickly bring it back to reality.
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Put the clippers over its nails. If the dog still struggles, leave it at that. Continue to introduce the clippers to its nails until your dog accepts it; this process may also take some time.
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Clip the nails. If the dog begins to get upset, leave it at one nail. Reward your dog with a treat, and be sure to offer praise. Make it as rewarding an experience as possible. Go back and do the next nail later or the next day, as long as your dog will still allow the clippers near. If not, repeat the desensitizing steps.
If your dog allows you to clip its nails, continue with the next nail. After every clip, feed it a piece of kibble or present part of a treat. Once your dog learns that getting its nails clipped is not a frightening experience, it becomes progressively easier to do.
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Tips & Warnings
If there is another dog in the house that is not bothered by nail trims, cut this dog's nails in front of the difficult dog. Dogs are pack animals, and can often be taught by example. If the difficult dog sees a close friend not making a fuss, it may begin to accept there is nothing to be troubled about.
Enlist the help of a groomer or vet. If the dog's nails are in dire need of a trim and it refuses to accept the desensitization, a professional may not only be able to help, but also to tell if there is an underlying cause for the discomfort.
Do not cut the dog's nails too short. Cutting into the quick is extremely painful, and a lesson that allowing someone to touch its nails will result in pain.
Be sure the clippers are sharp, as dull clippers can pinch and cause pain.
Some dogs require restraints and forced must be used to cut the nails. This is often difficult on large or strong dogs and could result in injury to the dog or person.
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