Any way to teach a dog NOT to mind when your cutting his claws?
- Thread starter Hugo
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BarbV
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As Ontario Sheltie said, I switched from the Peticure Plus to the Dremel Stylus....great tool. It's quieter than the Peticure, and actually pulls less. Because it's so ergonomically designed, I find I can accomplish alot more in less time, and despite the claims that the Peticure guards against hair being pulled in, its actually better with the dremel without the guard.
Now back to getting him used to it. A couple of things to try:
- while you get him used to the sound and look of it (before you even touch him with it), make sure you treat him everytime he comes close or sniffs it. You want to "show it off" to him and make it seem like something he should be interested in. I would sit on the floor with the tool in front of me, behind me and make him curious.
- Once you've reached the stage where he'll approach you and it, then you are ready for next stage. Put him in the position that he is most comfortable in and feeling less vulnerable. Could be his back, but I usually sit on the floor, with may legs spread wide, pup's nose next to one knee, and butt next to the other. Pup is usually facing away from me. (Yes, its murder on the back!)
- Don't turn it on. Just take the tool and grasp his paw and extend the nail, and just touch the tool to each nail. If pup sits quiet, remember to treat and praise. Do this several times. If at any time, pup decides he has had enough, don't make it a battle of the wills. You'll lose. Put him into a sit, give him a treat for his nice sit and let him go. Try again a couple of days later.
- Once he's allowed you to touch him with it turned off reliably, put him in position, and turn it on. Don't touch him with it yet. See how he reacts first. Keep it humming, and calm him and treat him for being calm. If he stays calm, you a ready to touch him. As before, grasp the paw, extend the nails, and touch each nail only. When it looks like he's had enough, even if you haven't done all 4 paws, stop. Put him into a sit, and treat (you always want a session to end on a positive note).
- Gradually extend the length of time on each nail. Hopefully, he'll now be, if not comfortable, but at least resigned, that this is one of those things that he must do, and he will be rewarded in the end.
I know this sounds rather intensive, but it really was not so bad.
You can always go back to clippers, but for myself personally, I never got comfortable with them, so I went too long between clippings with my last pup. And when I did clip, I could never bring myself to clip short enough. As a result, he ended up with one nail that had grown so long (and the quick along with it), that it was hurting him to walk on hard surfaces. I could never get it short enough again. I was not going to make this mistake with Indy and Bacca.
Sorry for the long-winded response. I wish I had a video cam, and I would video the process with the dremmel for you. Please feel free to PM me if you want more info!
Now back to getting him used to it. A couple of things to try:
- while you get him used to the sound and look of it (before you even touch him with it), make sure you treat him everytime he comes close or sniffs it. You want to "show it off" to him and make it seem like something he should be interested in. I would sit on the floor with the tool in front of me, behind me and make him curious.
- Once you've reached the stage where he'll approach you and it, then you are ready for next stage. Put him in the position that he is most comfortable in and feeling less vulnerable. Could be his back, but I usually sit on the floor, with may legs spread wide, pup's nose next to one knee, and butt next to the other. Pup is usually facing away from me. (Yes, its murder on the back!)
- Don't turn it on. Just take the tool and grasp his paw and extend the nail, and just touch the tool to each nail. If pup sits quiet, remember to treat and praise. Do this several times. If at any time, pup decides he has had enough, don't make it a battle of the wills. You'll lose. Put him into a sit, give him a treat for his nice sit and let him go. Try again a couple of days later.
- Once he's allowed you to touch him with it turned off reliably, put him in position, and turn it on. Don't touch him with it yet. See how he reacts first. Keep it humming, and calm him and treat him for being calm. If he stays calm, you a ready to touch him. As before, grasp the paw, extend the nails, and touch each nail only. When it looks like he's had enough, even if you haven't done all 4 paws, stop. Put him into a sit, and treat (you always want a session to end on a positive note).
- Gradually extend the length of time on each nail. Hopefully, he'll now be, if not comfortable, but at least resigned, that this is one of those things that he must do, and he will be rewarded in the end.
I know this sounds rather intensive, but it really was not so bad.
You can always go back to clippers, but for myself personally, I never got comfortable with them, so I went too long between clippings with my last pup. And when I did clip, I could never bring myself to clip short enough. As a result, he ended up with one nail that had grown so long (and the quick along with it), that it was hurting him to walk on hard surfaces. I could never get it short enough again. I was not going to make this mistake with Indy and Bacca.
Sorry for the long-winded response. I wish I had a video cam, and I would video the process with the dremmel for you. Please feel free to PM me if you want more info!