Trimming toenails is ever a HOT topic for all of us who live with dogs and want the best for them. I've blogged almost this previously. In "Cutting Your Dog's Nails: How Of import Is it Really?" my friend, Dr. Leslie Woodcock DVM, shared a video lecture of how short a dog'southward nails should be, and the best way to cut a dog'southward toenails. For dogs who are non in love with their nails beingness trimmed, I show you how to make a game of it in "Does Your Dog Training Need a Shot of Joy?".

Just what if your dog HATES having his nails cut? What if he is terrified? What if attempting to do so is a danger to him and to you?

This is something I've experienced first paw with Spud Salad, a rescue Bulldog mix nosotros adopted a bit over a year ago … and let me tell you, Tater let us know in no uncertain terms that nail trimming was SOMETHING BAD!

Recently in a coaching call for some of my mastermind dog training students, we shared footage of Tater's nail trimming "before" feel. So I did a alive demo of what it's like now … the "after". That prune is below for y'all. The "before" footage is non the worst of Potato's reactions … for my lecture I pulled out the video footage to arrange the topic of that section of the coaching call which was the apply of high value rewards and the transfer of value. What that short chip of film of Tater'due south "earlier" does give you, is a skilful indication of his dislike of the process, because what I desire yous to note is all I had in my hand was a spoon, not a nail clipper in sight.

Patience, Shaping and Transfer of Value

Every bit Lynda points out in the clip above, getting Murphy to LOVING his nails trimmed and so much that it is now one of the high value events in his life, took time and patience. And information technology was something we had to work at with frequent sessions. And by frequent, I mean daily, often several sessions. It was super important to help Murphy go confident and comfortable with blast trimming. I used "transfer of value" … that is using something the canis familiaris loves to grow the value for something he does not love.

Transferring value for something like blast trimming needs to be done advisedly, or you lot run the chance of the value transferring in a way you did non intend. An example is that if your dog loves to tug, and you used that for nail trimming, the association could go the other way and your dog ends up not liking tugging.

The KEY with using transfer of value for something like toe nail cutting is that the behaviour you are asking for initially MUST BE Doable for the domestic dog. That means breaking toenail trimming downwards into elements and shaping your dog in each of those elements so that he has value for each.

In fauna training lingo, we call this splitting the behaviour downwards. Information technology means non overfacing your dog and setting him up for success with each chemical element. Overfacing is when we inquire our dog for more than than our instruction has prepared him for … more than he is currently capable of giving us with the level of training we have given him.

Break the Elements of Smash Trimming Downward

Break down all the elements of trimming your dog's nails. Write them downwardly. Take your emotions out of it so you lot tin can clearly see what yous need to work on. What is your canis familiaris afraid of? For Spud, he clearly didn't like his paws being held or the Clippers or the Dremel being brought towards him. What actually put him over the edge and into orbit was the action of isolating i toe (and that is something I didn't need to do). You need to dissect what elements of cutting nails your dog needs aid with most.

Some of the elements of nail trimming I mention in the video are:

  • The sight or sound of the Nail Clippers or Smash Grinder (Dremel)
  • The vibration of the Dremel
  • Paw being held
  • Isolating a toe
  • Clippers or Dremel coming towards the dog
  • Blast being touched

What are the other elements y'all can call back of? Let me know in the comments!

Considering all the elements of a blast trim for your dog is going to assistance yous divide the behaviour down for shaping success, so that you can create a transfer of value for your dog and put the trauma of cut nails behind you forever.

Today I am grateful to my amazing squad who have given my web log a fresh look for going into 2020. I'm also grateful to be sharing 2020 with y'all. I've got a lot planned for this twelvemonth, and then nosotros tin all have dogs that are happy, healthy and lifelong members of our families.

Update: There are further videos on nail trimming that will help yous if your dog is not a fan of nails being clipped.

  • Proactive Conditioning for Dog Smash Trimming Success
  • This! One is About Conditioning the Dremel for Puppy Nails

And due to pop demand, nosotros now have "Your Domestic dog's Pedicure Delight Programme" at our store for you to start immediately online. Your Dog'south Pedicure Please Program will create a positive emotional response for your dog to grooming in general and nail trimming in particular.

Nosotros've had many questions virtually what I use for a nail grinder for my dogs, and it'south a *Casfuy Canis familiaris Smash Grinder with LED Light that I got on Amazon. I besides similar to utilize a Dremel with a *Diamond Nail Rotary Tool Bit.

[*Amazon Links Disclosure: Every bitan Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her ain. The link higher up is an  affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, nosotros may earn a pocket-sized commission if you make up one's mind to purchase from it. Thanks!]