My dog hates nail trims
Our dog hates nail trims. We have been massaging her paws since we brought her home as a puppy. She really seems to love her paw massages, yet as soon as I attempt to do a nail trim, she runs and hides. What are we doing wrong?
Handling puppies from a young age is an excellent idea. When people handle their dogs in a positive manner, dogs learn that human hands are good. Socializing a puppy toward human touch is never a waste of time.
However, a massage is not a nail trim. Dogs recognize that the presence of nail clippers means not a massage, but a nail trim. Two sets of behaviours emerge. When they see clippers, they expect nail trims and become fearful. When they do not see clippers, they expect a massage.
People do something similar. If you walked into a room and saw a massage table, you might expect a spa treatment. However, if you walked into a room and saw a dentist’s chair, you would expect dental services. If you feared going to the dentist, the presence of the chair would make you feel scared.
This does not mean that owners should start using sneak attacks, trying to cut a nail while the dog is unaware or dozing. Sneak attacks break trust. Dogs learn that unpleasant things can happen at any moment. They become wary.
Instead, teach the dog to enjoy nail trimming. Dogs that enjoy nail trims will run toward the clippers and offer their paws. This makes basic grooming a far more pleasant task for both human and animal.
The most basic exercise involves showing the clippers to the dog at a distance. When the dog notices the clippers, reach into your pocket and throw a high-value treat to the dog. High-value treats usually mean meat. Put the clippers away and repeat this several times each day. Give long breaks between repetitions.
Over time, the dog will realize that the clippers predict good food. Of their own accord, they will start to approach the nail clippers.
Many will start to paw or bite at them if food is withheld. The tool stops being a symbol of something to fear.
Once this point has been achieved, families can practise holding the dog’s paw in one hand while the clippers are in the other. In small steps, work toward touching the dog’s nails with the clippers and eventually cutting. Always keep it positive. Always pay.
For dogs with significant fear, it may be easier to simply start fresh with a new tool.
Many people use a Dremel to grind their dog’s nails. There are a few more steps to this process. Dogs need to learn to like the noise and the feel of the tool. New tools come with the benefit of being free from past negative baggage.
No matter which option you use, work carefully. Do not reconfirm the old negative association. Cultivate trust carefully.
Does it matter which words we use for obedience commands? Are there right and wrong words to use?
In obedience, there are commonly used commands — more correctly called cues. These are not essential. People are free to choose whatever words they like. The dog doesn’t mind.
While any word will do, there is one small thing to consider. The more similar two words sound, the harder it is for the dog to tell them apart. If you teach no and go, the dog requires more extensive drilling in order to tell them apart. For an easier time, pick words that sound different from one another. Yvette Van Veen is an animal behaviour consultant and Canada’s 1st Tested and Certified PCT-A. Write her at advice@awesomedogs.ca