Nail clipping

[Donna741]

davidj,
I have always done my pups when they were little at least once a week. However every now and then I get one dog that still freaks out. Like the Shar-Pei I posted about earlier.

I have bred and shown dogs all of my life and every now and then you get one or two who are resistant.

I started using the Dremmel on the advice of another breeder and when I saw how FAST it is and how much easier it is to not hit the quick I started using it all the time. As it says in the article that JulieM posted a link for, if you do get the quick it's usually a small nich instead of a cut and it only bleeds a tiny bit and isn't nearly as painful as if you cut the whole tip of the quick.

[JOURNEY]

I saw your cry for help and I had to respond. When we were faced with this dilemma, I thought of trying this as a last resort because I knew better than to think he would behave any differently for our vets staff or Petsmart. Also, I wanted it to be a pleasant experience not to be dreaded each week. So this is what I did: I got his Kong and put peanut butter inside just around the rim. My son or husband holds the Kong for him to lick while I am cutting his nails. He LOVES it!! And he doesnt mind me cutting at all and it allows just enough time to complete the task. He never took to his Kong greatly so I reserve it specially for this so when he sees it, he knows its PB time!!! It is really a funny sight too! If you havent found a solution yet, maybe this will help.

[Linda]

Originally posted by davidj
I just don,t understand what all the fuss is about didn,t you start early, when they where pups so they get use to it .I never had a problem with clippers i would with a dremel the noise would scare them? Alvin

I can see your point, but obviously you haven't had to deal with a dog who does not cooperate or does not like having his nails clipped. And some owners are apprehensive about doing it.
But you are right, it shouldn't be a big deal.

And, to answer you question: No, I didn't start early when he was a pup.
Remy was my first dog, ever. I admit I didn't have a clue what I should be doing with him. The first time I attempted to cut his nails, he was several months old and already big enough that holding him down was a challenge!
I consulted a couple of vets and a groomer and didn't get much help. I've learned more from this site and the people here than I ever got elsewhere.

[Austin's Mom]

Journey-Thanks for the advice! Eating is one of Austin's favorite things to do! I'll definately give it a try!

[RyNTysMom]

I agree with Donna's last post. I started early with our Pug, Mojo too, but he hated having his nails clipped from day one!! And no matter how "pleasant" I tried to make the experience, he still fought me on it. He's just not fond of having his feet messed with period. So with some dogs, they are just resistant no matter what, and I think the Dremmel is a great solution for them especially. Plus, the thing I like the best about it, is not constantly worrying about cutting too short. Mojo has black nails to boot, and I was always worried about how short to go.
And regarding the noise, they get used to it really quickly, and it's not all that loud (it's much quieter than a dentist's drill).