Nail issues

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Annette4

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Jack has never been great with his feet being touched or held but has always worn his own nails down and let me trim them if I take my time. As hes got older (and hes having more not less road work so should be under control) hes getting worse to the point I have to muzzle him. I've just done them tonight and he was really stressed, went to bite so muzzle went on and hes wiggled so much I've cut one slightly too short by accident :(

I feel awful, and I doubt he'll let me do it again now but he is ten times worse for anyone else.

Has anyone else got a difficult to trim dog? All the others are fine. I rarely need to do any of them but I do it every now and again I do one just to make sure they're ok. Is vets and sedation the best bet. Its more holding his feet (he has a dust mite allergy and despite daily hoovering and natural remedies he is just not a happy bunny when they are held. Hes fine to touch, wipe etc so I think its in his head but with age he is getting to be a miserable git and I dont want to over stress him :(
 
Have you tried taking a nail file to them? I found H much prefers this when he snapped a nail and it grew back jagged and he did not like me cutting the bits off but was ok with the nail file. That's all I use now.
 
My older flatcoat was great as a puppy but as she has got older she hates her nails being done. A file is a good option as you cannot go too far. Wilkos sell one in their tool dept but if you go to a hardware shop as for a "flat *******" yes that is what they are called its the type of file big and heavy. Also try lying the dog on its side whilst you are sitting on the floor and place one of you legs over their body. It gives a sense of security and helps reduce wiggling. Good luck
 
It's a flat" b a s t a r d" hope this will come through this way but that genuinely is what they are called
 
My JRT was a nightmare -untill she got older her nails wore down with exercise, but not any more. I took her to the vets to be done under sedation because I was worried about the stress on her heart (she is nearly 18) but at £55 a time I decided to do something about it myself. I got some trimmers, some GoCat (yummy for dogs) and did some reinforcement training. Kind of clicker training without the clicker - my hands were plenty full of dog, trimmers and cat bikkies with no extra ones for a clicker and no-one to help.
Long story short I can now handle her feet easily with a relaxed old JRT but as her nails are black I take her to a professional to be properly trimmed. She gets a bit gobby (trimmers word, not mine lol) but gets done in a few minutes and for a few £££s.
Worth trying - start just touching a paw, reward and shape from there.
 
We have a JRTx who is terrible to have her nails done and they typically grow at a rate of knots ! I asked the vet to do them when she was vaccinated once, they muzzled her and asked me to hold her. She was an absolute nightmare. The next time I went and asked again they suggested I left the room and the vet nurse came in to hold. They managed to do it with a lot less fuss which they said is quite usual once 'mummy' leaves the room. It might be worth a go, my vet charges about £12 just to trim all without sedation.
 
One of mine is similar, as he's got older, he's more likely to growl at me. The way I do it is to insist on cuddling him in quite tightly on the floor then when he eventually relaxes, I can fiddle with the paws. Treats help loads and having the other dogs out of sight is useful.
 
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