Does your dog hate those car rides to the grooming salon? Maybe its strangers the problem or maybe you want to save a few bucks. Whatever the situation, there are many reasons to trim your animal\u2019s claws yourself. Here are a few tips that will guide you through this care routine that is key to your dog\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four mistakes not to make:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the most common mistake. People wait until their animal\u2019s claws absolutely have to be trimmed before doing something. Imagine how you\u2019d feel with very long toenails in very tight shoes… and not being able to take them off! When dogs are uncomfortable or, even worse, in pain, they certainly won\u2019t enjoy the trimming session. That\u2019s reason enough to trim at the right time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs do wear out their claws on summertime strolls, of course, but this wear is often uneven. Not trimming their claws for a whole season can lead to serious problems. Ideally, you should check your animal\u2019s claws in both summer and winter to always keep them at the right length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, some dogs have dewclaws (the equivalent of our thumb). These don\u2019t wear out and can grow a lot over the summer, to the point of puncturing the animal\u2019s skin if not trimmed often enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A trimmer that is worn-out, too large or too small can make cutting more difficult. It can also break your animal\u2019s claws and increase your risk of accidentally cutting the nerve in their claw. Therefore, using the right tool will ensure you cut just the right amount and it will help you prevent accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some techniques that have gone viral on social media can stress your animal and even be dangerous for the person doing the claw trimming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you sense your dog really isn\u2019t enjoying the trimming or is showing signs of aggression, consult a dog trainer. They will help you develop a more harmonious relationship with your animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The collaborative approach<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 1: Associate the claw trimmer with a reward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, when your animal sees the claw trimmer, they should associate it with something nice. Take the tool out several times a day and always give your animal a treat afterwards. This way, instead of hiding behind the couch at the very sight of the tool, your dog will come to you for their favourite treat. Don\u2019t go on to the next step as long as they seem afraid or show signs of wanting to get away from the tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 2: Find the right position<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important your dog is comfortably positioned so they will be able to remain calm for a few minutes. If they can\u2019t keep still, it will be virtually impossible to trim their claws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 3: Practice paw handling<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To be able to trim your animal\u2019s claws, you must be able to touch their paws. Teaching your dog to \u201cshake\u201d is a good start, but you\u2019ll need to take it to the next step! Not only do you have to be able to handle each paw, you\u2019ll need to be able to apply light pressure. To be able to move on to the next step, practice with your dog to desensitizing their paws to your touch, and follow each session with a treat of course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog tries to remove their paw, you\u2019re going too fast and the touch is not yet a positive one for them. If this is the case, be gentler or go slower, moving forward very gradually, until you are able to press on each toe without the dog removing their paw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 4: Introduce the claw trimmer gradually<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you can handle your animal\u2019s paws without causing any signs of discomfort, gradually bring the claw trimmer closer until you can touch it to your dog and trim their claws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, if your dog removes their paw when you touch it with the tool, you\u2019re going too fast and it\u2019s still not pleasant for your dog. Take it easy so they come to enjoy this routine and it practically becomes a game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Step 5: Trim those claws… but not all at once!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first cut, we strongly recommend not trimming all the claws (that\u2019s why it\u2019s important not to wait until the claws are too long to begin this routine). Trim a few times a week, one or two claws at a time, gradually increasing the number of claws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, remember that your dog should never be forced to have their claws trimmed.<\/strong> This would create a very negative association with trimming, and increase the chances of the next trimming session turning into a battle with your animal. Although the approach I propose takes time, it is based on respect and collaboration with your animal. Developing this routine is an investment that will have positive repercussions throughout their life, since you will no longer have to catch or hold them down to get the job done. And all that thanks to a few weeks of training!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here are a few tips that will guide you through this care routine that is key to your dog\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31349,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[108,78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dogs","category-tips-and-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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