Kat, I also clipped my dogs nails today. It's a long process to get the trust with doing nail clipping. Try starting by laying the dog on its side. Just lay there while you comfort it until it relaxes. This may be as far as you get for several sessions depending on the dog. Once the dog relaxes take their paws one at a time and just rub your fingers thru their toes. Then let the dog relax again. Then take the clippers and just rub the foot with the clippers. Don't try to clip any nails at this point yet. You're trying to de-sensitize the dogs fears on the feet. Gradually the dog will let you snip a nail. Do it swiftly. Then let the dog relax again. Positive reinforcement works wonders here. You may only get to trim one nail for the first time. Let it be and reward the dog for getting that far. The next time repeat, lay the dog on its side, relax it, rub the toes, clip a nail. As this process continues the dog will realize you're not going to hurt it. Eventually you'll be able to just lay it down and clip all the toenails one right after the other. TIME is what's required here for these lessons, NOT drugs. Don't give up & don't loose your cool with the dog. You'll get there.Pizza here. Too hot to cook, but not nearly as hot as Dale has it right now. We have a decent breeze here, but still too tired to cook. That's my second and final excuse.....
Gracie, bummer about your leak. Especially when our liquids are so precious to us now!!
Tried to help my BFF clip her dog's nails. Now, this is a 15lb. dog with very muscular legs. The techs couldn't do it, so we studied a youtube video that uses treats and went with that. Got all prepared. Barb held her, I was the clipper. Followed the video EXACTLY and still that tiny little dog managed to beat us. She bit Barb twice (nips, really) and scared the hell out of me. We gave up and the pup was happy as can be. Dogs rule the world, I tell ya! Next trick is to sedate her with benedryl, which NEVER worked on Puggers, and see if she gets calm enough. If THAT doesn't work, they have a stronger sedative to try, and if THAT doesn't work, they'll have to knock that little bugger completely out. She also HATES shots and getting blood taken. Last time that happened, the techs took her in the back and she came out limping for 3 or 4 days. Barb is distraught about having to go through that again. Other than that, this little baby is a sweet as can be. LOVES people. Go figure. ANYWAY, that's ALSO why I am tired and we had pizza. So, I lied....this is my THIRD and truly FINAL excuse.....![]()
BTW placing a fabric mesh muzzle on the dog for the first few times is not cruel if it bites. Every time you give up on doing this you are reinforcing this bad biting behavior. It knows now that if it throws a fit and acts like it wants to bite, you'll stop clipping. Let the dog whine, cry, and throw it's tantrums. Just keep going with the calming of the dog and gain the trust you need to care for its feet.
You're not just clipping their nails here, You're having a behavior training session


And cotton swells 