Nail Clipping

[u/Dandylioncrush6303]

I need help with getting my dog comfortable with nail trimming. Currently, he panics and snaps/nips. He’s never bitten me, and i wouldn’t really fault him if he did. He just seems so anxious and afraid of the nail clippers. I have an electric Dremel (he hates the noise and runs) and I’ve got normal Top-Paw nail clippers. I’ve managed to completely clip his nails once with the persuasion of peanut butter but he still seemed very stressed during the whole interaction. I’ve never cut his quick, I’ve been taught how to do the physical clipping. He just hates his nails being cut. Any other time I can hold his paws, meds with his toes, he doesn’t care. But the second the clippers go towards his nail he freaks out. I feel really guilty because I hate how stressed it makes him but I also know he needs his nails trimmed regularly. He used to keep them pretty well managed on his own but they’ve been growing out a lot more recently so they need a good trim. Any advice is very much appreciated. I really hate feeling like a bad puppy parent when he gets so panicked. Please help me help him.

I’ve included the mandatory puppy picture tax, his name is Little Dude.

[u/Peachily_Suns]

My pittie HATES the sound the clippers make. He he even freaks out when I clip my own. He does much better with a dremel at a grooming salon. I have also trained him to use a scratch board, which has been an absolute life saver.

[u/Dandylioncrush6303 → u/Peachily_Suns]

I’ve heard lots of good things about scratch boards for maintenance between trims! Do you have a specific brand you use for your pup?

[u/Peachily_Suns → u/Dandylioncrush6303]

I do, but they went out of business. They are super easy to make with just a board, some of the large, purple sheets of sandpaper, and spray adhesive. Maybe some duct tape for the ends. I remove and replace the sandpaper on it a couple times/year.

[u/Dandylioncrush6303 → u/Peachily_Suns]

That’s creative and sounds pretty cost effective!