Nail-clipping woes

2happybassets · 01-22-2007, 03:56 PM

I'm sure you all have your own horror stories about trying to clip your basset's nails. It takes 2 of us to get Hilda's nails trimmed and we both wind up sweaty and crabby afterward. When we got Thor (D.O.B. 10/07/06), we had lofty ideas about training him to tolerate nail clippings by frequently handling his feet and nails, clipping them frequently from the start, giving him treats afterward, etc. Our plan is already going out the window. He whines and tries to pull his feet away. At this rate, he'll be worse than Hilda. I didn't think that was possible. Does any one have any good advice we can use while he's still young?

Thanks

Maggie's Mommy · 01-22-2007, 04:03 PM

We groom our dogs on a grooming table. I can't take credit for their good behavior as far as tolerating grooming. The breeder started that with them. I think it helps having them on a table. You can reach them better and they seem to be more submissive. Maybe that's why the Vet always lifts them on her table

Seriously, that might help and if maybe your Husband can pet them and try to soothe them while you do the dirty work, they'll associate nail clipping with affection and end with a big praise and a treat! Maybe that way the whole experience will take on a positive feeling for them. Also, I always play with my dogs toes, tail, touch their mouths, ears, everything almost daily. This way they're kind of immuned to almost any touch. Good Luck!

Lightning&Stomps · 01-22-2007, 04:05 PM

I do Lightning's when he's asleep. You could take out his spleen without anesthesia if he's asleep. Stomps, on the other hand, won't let me touch his feet. I very happily pay a professional $5 to take care of it for me. He doesn't even bat an eye at her.

Rubydoo · 01-22-2007, 05:46 PM

Pay $10 and let the groomer do it! :P

Aruuuu · 01-23-2007, 09:46 AM

I dremel my dogs' nails, and I too use a grooming table. Edith is good, but Charlie never has been and never will be. I wind up in a lather by the time I'm finished with him because it's a battle of wills that neither of us is willing to lose! I just brought home my third basset, and her breeder assures me she's fine with having nails done. I just hope that's true!

01-23-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

I dremel my dogs' nails, and I too use a grooming table. Edith is good, but Charlie never has been and never will be. I wind up in a lather by the time I'm finished with him because it's a battle of wills that neither of us is willing to lose! I just brought home my third basset, and her breeder assures me she's fine with having nails done. I just hope that's true![/b]

Yes, I agree that the grooming table works best. And also, starting with the hind feet, for some reason works better, too.
By the time they get to real objection, you are already half done. By the way, what does "dremel" mean? What frustrates me the most in cutting nails, is that not only are they so thick, but I can never be sure where the vein starts. Because one of my bassets yelps at the very site of the clippers, I can never be sure if I really am in the danger zone.

Elmer-n-Button · 01-24-2007, 10:27 AM

You need the services of my daughter's friend, who works for us part time and for a dog groomers the other days. She is great. She comes to our house, does both dogs' toenails and I happily pay her a bit more than the going rate for not having to drag them to the vet's or to a groomers. Elmer is extremely touchy about this feet, ever since he had a bad experience with toenail cutting that we won't discuss here because it makes me angry

Over time, Cari has gotten him so he doesn't put up much of a fuss, even though we are both sweating and covered in fur when we are done.

I think that a lot of people just cut them too short and that's where the dogs become afraid. Don't try to cut too much at once. Really watch for the vein. Get a flashlight and hold it up to the nail and mark it with a marker, then cut off small amounts just to that point. Easier said than done, I know.

Good luck!

Aruuuu · 01-24-2007, 01:01 PM

A Dremel is a tool:

Dremel Info

And here is a good tutorial:

How To Dremel Nails

Emma and Doris · 01-24-2007, 01:27 PM

Emma wasn't too pleased first time I tried clipping her nails,
but I didn't gave up. I hold her in my armpit and succeded
in clipping them, being careful not taking too much.
I think she realised it wasn't a way to murder her, and most
important - that I wouldn't give up no matter how she protested.
No she just stands still on the floor while I do them, and Doris
has accepted it too after she looked at Emma. As a matter,
she came running and laid down on her back reaching me her
paws.

José · 01-24-2007, 02:23 PM

My method is now to to make many small cuts, not cut one big chunk. Cut a little from the top, then a little from the side, other side... until I kind of cut so little I shave across it making it straight. I still have to hold him & talk to him nicely and I tell him "just a little bit..." as we go. Kinda like if you cut your fingernails using maybe 10-20 little cuts rather than a big chop.

If they're long to begin with you need to start only cutting a small amount total. You just can't go from long to short right away, gotta do it in stages. Wait a week and cut again until you eventually get to a good nail length. This will build trust too, so they know they may not like it but at least it's not painful.

I took José to Petsmart twice but truthfully he was so terrified of that place, I just don't think they used any TLC or even cared. Never again!

BTW, I cut Josés nail since he was a two months old. He didn't mind when he was a puppy but he sure doesn't like it now.

01-22-2007, 05:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rubydoo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,681	Pay $10 and let the groomer do it! :P __________________ http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...w/IMG_1340.jpg Take a basset hound to lunch today! --Bassets rule....and drool!

01-23-2007, 09:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
Aruuuu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central MA, USA Posts: 773	I dremel my dogs' nails, and I too use a grooming table. Edith is good, but Charlie never has been and never will be. I wind up in a lather by the time I'm finished with him because it's a battle of wills that neither of us is willing to lose! I just brought home my third basset, and her breeder assures me she's fine with having nails done. I just hope that's true! __________________ If stress were exercise, I'd be in great shape!

01-24-2007, 10:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
Elmer-n-Button Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 465	You need the services of my daughter's friend, who works for us part time and for a dog groomers the other days. She is great. She comes to our house, does both dogs' toenails and I happily pay her a bit more than the going rate for not having to drag them to the vet's or to a groomers. Elmer is extremely touchy about this feet, ever since he had a bad experience with toenail cutting that we won't discuss here because it makes me angry Over time, Cari has gotten him so he doesn't put up much of a fuss, even though we are both sweating and covered in fur when we are done. I think that a lot of people just cut them too short and that's where the dogs become afraid. Don't try to cut too much at once. Really watch for the vein. Get a flashlight and hold it up to the nail and mark it with a marker, then cut off small amounts just to that point. Easier said than done, I know. Good luck! __________________ Arrrooooos from Bubby Boo, Dee Dee and Elmee Too!

01-24-2007, 01:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Aruuuu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central MA, USA Posts: 773	A Dremel is a tool: Dremel Info And here is a good tutorial: How To Dremel Nails __________________ If stress were exercise, I'd be in great shape!

01-24-2007, 02:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
José Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 118	My method is now to to make many small cuts, not cut one big chunk. Cut a little from the top, then a little from the side, other side... until I kind of cut so little I shave across it making it straight. I still have to hold him & talk to him nicely and I tell him "just a little bit..." as we go. Kinda like if you cut your fingernails using maybe 10-20 little cuts rather than a big chop. If they're long to begin with you need to start only cutting a small amount total. You just can't go from long to short right away, gotta do it in stages. Wait a week and cut again until you eventually get to a good nail length. This will build trust too, so they know they may not like it but at least it's not painful. I took José to Petsmart twice but truthfully he was so terrified of that place, I just don't think they used any TLC or even cared. Never again! BTW, I cut Josés nail since he was a two months old. He didn't mind when he was a puppy but he sure doesn't like it now. __________________ Lisa Remembering José 2001-2007

01-22-2007, 03:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
2happybassets Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: minneapolis, mn Posts: 22	I'm sure you all have your own horror stories about trying to clip your basset's nails. It takes 2 of us to get Hilda's nails trimmed and we both wind up sweaty and crabby afterward. When we got Thor (D.O.B. 10/07/06), we had lofty ideas about training him to tolerate nail clippings by frequently handling his feet and nails, clipping them frequently from the start, giving him treats afterward, etc. Our plan is already going out the window. He whines and tries to pull his feet away. At this rate, he'll be worse than Hilda. I didn't think that was possible. Does any one have any good advice we can use while he's still young? Thanks

01-22-2007, 04:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Maggie's Mommy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 775	We groom our dogs on a grooming table. I can't take credit for their good behavior as far as tolerating grooming. The breeder started that with them. I think it helps having them on a table. You can reach them better and they seem to be more submissive. Maybe that's why the Vet always lifts them on her table Seriously, that might help and if maybe your Husband can pet them and try to soothe them while you do the dirty work, they'll associate nail clipping with affection and end with a big praise and a treat! Maybe that way the whole experience will take on a positive feeling for them. Also, I always play with my dogs toes, tail, touch their mouths, ears, everything almost daily. This way they're kind of immuned to almost any touch. Good Luck!

01-22-2007, 04:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lightning&Stomps Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Versailles, Ky. Posts: 1,203	I do Lightning's when he's asleep. You could take out his spleen without anesthesia if he's asleep. Stomps, on the other hand, won't let me touch his feet. I very happily pay a professional $5 to take care of it for me. He doesn't even bat an eye at her.

01-24-2007, 01:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
Emma and Doris Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oslo, Lørenskog, Norway Posts: 3,124	Emma wasn't too pleased first time I tried clipping her nails, but I didn't gave up. I hold her in my armpit and succeded in clipping them, being careful not taking too much. I think she realised it wasn't a way to murder her, and most important - that I wouldn't give up no matter how she protested. No she just stands still on the floor while I do them, and Doris has accepted it too after she looked at Emma. As a matter, she came running and laid down on her back reaching me her paws.

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