Paw Targeting and Desensitization to Nail Trims
(...a continuation from my desensitization to handling post)
If your pet is uncomfortable with nail trims, you must first help him to be comfortable having his paws handled as well as with the sight of the trimmers themselves and all the behaviours that are associated with clipping nails.
If your dog has any potential health issues or you suspect handling issues could be due to physical pain, do not try desensitization and consult your veterinarian.
Touch their paws gently, often and for very short periods of time
While your pet is snuggling next to you on the couch, or you are petting them and they are very relaxed, very gently touch their paws very briefly. Do this frequently, multiple times per day if possible. If they flinch or pull their paw away when you do this, you can teach them to give you their paw instead of your hand coming towards them, making sure you reward them with a treat for doing so.
Teach "paw" (or shake, or a paw-to-object target)
Similar to my "touch" (or target) post, you can teach your pet to give you their paw on cue. KikoPup has a fantastic tutorial on YouTube teaching you how to do this:
Create a Positive Association with the Clippers (without doing any trimming yet!)
Similar to the desensitization to handling post, you present the clippers, then give a treat, then remove the clippers. Clippers = treat. No clippers = nothing exciting happens.
Kelly Duggan has a great video tutorial on this process.
Learn how to Trim Nails Properly
If you're new to trimming your pet's nails, consult with your veterinarian or a fear-free groomer to learn how to do so properly. Nails have what is called a quick, which is live tissue, that hurts a lot and will bleed if cut.
There are a lot of videos and tutorials online, some of them good, and some of them not so great. I'm neither a veterinarian nor a groomer, so I will share a video teaching owners how to trim their pet's nails from Washington Heights Veterinary Clinic that is well done.
If you are interested in our video consultations, please visit www.pawsitivepooch.ca/video-consultations.html to learn more.
If your dog has any potential health issues or you suspect handling issues could be due to physical pain, do not try desensitization and consult your veterinarian.
About The Author
Jillian is a fear-free certified and CPDT-KA certified animal behaviour specialist and has been working in the animal care and behaviour field since 2009.
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