Nail Trimming Without a Fight: A Step-by-Step Method
Overgrown nails change how a dog stands, and over time cause real joint pain. Most dogs that 'hate' nail trims were cut into the quick once and remember it.…
Overgrown nails change how a dog stands, and over time cause real joint pain. Most dogs that 'hate' nail trims were cut into the quick once and remember it.
Find the quick
On pale nails, the pink triangle inside is the quick — blood vessel and nerve. Cut just outside it. On black nails, take small slices and stop when a chalky white ring with a dark dot appears in the cut surface.
If you cut too far
Press styptic powder — or plain cornflour — firmly against the nail for 30 seconds. Stay calm; it bleeds more than it hurts.
Desensitising a fearful dog
Over a week: day one, touch a paw and treat. Day two, hold the paw and treat. Day three, touch the clipper to the nail without cutting, and treat. Then cut one nail per session. One nail a day is a complete success.
How often
If you can hear clicking on a hard floor, they are too long. Every 3–4 weeks suits most dogs; dogs walked on tarmac wear them down and need less.