How does that children’s song go??? The leg bones connected to the knee bone, the knee bones connected to the foot bone. For your favorite fur buddy, the foot bone is connected to their claws or nails… and frankly, those nails can get pretty gnarly if not attended to on a regular basis. Ah, but there’s the rub, not all dogs are created equal when it comes to the ease and comfort they feel in having their feet and claws fiddled with!

When it comes to nail trimming, your pet will likely fit into one of two common categories;

– Joe or Jane Cool, who isn’t bothered by the paw play, noise and sudden uptick of attention to their feet. These easy going hero’s just go along to get along, often wagging tail/leaning in because they actually enjoy the attention and love their star power during the clip and cut process. We all wish our pet pals were THAT chill at toe trim time.

and/or

– The “All the World is a stage, and dogs with unruly claws merely disgruntled players” types. These Thespians of the canine theater will act out the death scene in Hamlet if you glance at a toe, pick up a claw or approach then with a rogue clipper. The Oscar winning performances come out when the curtain of the claw cut goes up.

I’ve seen mild manner dogs turned into skilled assassins at first sight of a grinder, clipper or sneak attack guillotine trim attempt. Paws are hidden, teeth shown, vocal displeasure registered and Houdini like escapes made from death grips and tight corners. In these cases, Home Dog don’t play that nail cutting nonsense!! Its often funny to watch, until its not, because there is an automatic stress built in with these personality types.

What some fur parents/owners don’t always recognize is their role in the dogs anxiety and tense feelings. Often the human fear of the pets reaction, or potentially injuring a jumpy buddy, is so great that your favorite friend can feel it radiating from you and they react to that negative vibe. Another key factor is that we often make spur of the moment decisions to trim and groom, then find ourselves without all the needed equipment or items to do or complete the job… so we stop and start, adding time and unnecessary steps which our pet is not willing or able to endure, which ups the stress level on both side. This is not a winning formula, so you need a well a laid plan for success.

Dog getting nails clipped

If you are going to be your dogs personal nail stylist here are some sure fire tips to follow and items you’ll need to assure a positive outcome;

Take the Boy Scout Oath and Be Prepared!!

Before you invite your poochy partner to the paw party, make sure you have all the tools, towels, ointments and the space ready.  Having no surprises will make the show go off without a hitch

Google Map It!!

Have a plan mapped out of how the routine should play out, think it through and follow it till the end. Make sure you have a space, the time allotted,  helpers lined up if you need them, and no distractions or interruptions. Focus should be on the task, your pet and the process should be quick, upbeat and easy!!

Adulting is Hard!!

Always know who is in charge of the situation and if it’s not you, you’ve already lost the battle of the claw. You have to be the adult in the room, regardless how old or big, bossy or potentially frightened your fur baby might be. Let them feel your confidence and loving touch and it will help them to feel the same. They rely on you to keep them safe, this builds trust and trust is key… but that trust is always fragile. If you’re not prepared you can lose that trust in an instant by delay or accidental missteps that cause pain.

To assure you are outfitted and prepared for anything, here are needed tools for nail trimming mastery;

Make it a Pity Pawdy and bring Treats or a Favorite Snack.

Make a big deal out of the simple wins and they will want to follow through (wouldn’t you?) Having favorite treats on hand allows you to snack your way to success by rewarding good behavior and positive outcomes.

If I knew you were bleeding I'd a baked a cake!!

Have Styptic powder or cornstarch/flour on hand. Accidental clips too close to the quick can happen… but they cause pain and bleeding. If it happens these are quick stop methods and they are easy to use. Act fast and apply the power to stop the bleeding.

Nail Clippers or a Dremal Grinder, that is the question

This might be trial and error until you find what is the least intrusive for your fur friend.  Dremal tools aren’t for everyone, the noise is often scary or distracting to those with sensitive ears. Others don’t like the feel on the nails as they are grinding down. Traditional clippers come in different styles. The Guillotine style wraps completely around the nail to give a swift and universal cut. Not all dogs love the feel of this tool. Scissor style clippers are just what they sound like. They are more traditional but may take multiple whacks to achieve an even trim. Let your pet see the tool, sniff it out, hear the noise and become familiar with it before you start the process. How would you feel if someone starting a procedure on you without letting you know anything about it and you had to WATCH and FEEL the entire thing?

Cobra Clutch or the Powerbomb??

What hold do you use on your furry friend to assure maximum comfort for them but total control for you? The jury is out on this but many top vets prefer and suggest approaching the dog from the back and sitting them butt to the floor against your body, as it gives more control and a better overall view of the legs, torso and feet. Your pet has a big say in what they can tolerate,  so listen/watch and consider how they will react.

Paws up!!

Don’t be a Grabby Gus!! Massage their pads, check out the feet, isolate a single claw, trim or move excess hair. Be soft spoken but vocal with loving and gentle tones. Create a sense of ease and normal. They are always good and brave and doing a fantastic job (don’t forget the treats for a job well done)

Sam Spade those claws.

Be a detective and investigate where you’re going to cut before you commit to the clip. For white nails, try to get them as short as possible before you see the pink quick line. Black nails are tricky and require multiple short trims, as you cant see where the quick starts. Stake out the scene before you just hack away  like a first case gumshoe. The clues are there, take your time and follow the leads!

Geometrically Speaking,

cut nails at a 45 degree angle and that should allow them to run parallel to the floor as they grow. This removes unwanted pressure as the claw grows out.

Dewy Defeats Toeman!!

Don’t forget the dew claws. They are often forgotten and can grow into tight spirals, making them harder to trim and then they potential snag problems. Being further up the leg, they are harder to isolate and trim in some cases.

Good Cop, Better Cop.

If you think the job is too big, if you’re anxious, if you want a second opinion on a nail or cut point, if your partner is the voice of discipline and you are the pushover in the home… work as a team, but define and know you roles before you start. Sometimes two or four hands are better but its imperative you are working together and there is no added tension. Everyone is happy and everybody win!

I know, it seems like a huge laundry list of items just to trim a nail. However, think of who and what is at stake for the process to flow correctly! Once you’ve mastered a routine that works for everyone, it’s nothing more than trust and repetition from a loving parent to their trusting fur companion. You have to walk a mile in the right shoes to properly learn to trim a few feet… or something like that!

The best thing is, if you cant or don’t want to trim nails yourself, if you feel uneasy or uncertain performing nail care, or your pet is absolutely refusing your attempts to care for their gnarly toes (and it happens, don’t feel defeated, or like the worst Parent on the Block, some furry friends are just NOT HAVING IT)  the fine staff at Freddie’s Place Animal Hospital can help you get them back on their feet, so to say, with a Wellness Care appointment to trim the offending nails in one quick trip.

For more information on nail care or any other of our services, call ahead for information or walk on into Freddie’s Place, you’re always welcome. Plan on an experience where we  treat you like family…cause you already are!

We want to help you “keep the ball rolling” for your pets health needs