I know this seems simple but...

[sheltielove]

ello everyone,
I have a question about nails. Most dogs that I have groomed absolute hate nail trims. There have been quite a few that I have just left their nails alone. These haven't been absurdly long nails, but it really frustrates me when I cannot do a complete groom on a dog. When I was a vet tech we cut the nails until they bled each time. We had two and sometime three people assisting. When I groom I am alone and am not able to hold a dog securely enough to always get the nail trim as short as I would like. Also, I do not want to cut them until they bleed, if it is a mistake that is one thing, but I will not do it on purpose. So sometimes the nails don't look too much shorter than when the dog came in.

What are your experiences with nail trims on fidgity dogs?

If you groom alone what devise do you use to keep the dog still?

Thank you!!

[borzoimom]

If I get a fidgity dog, I use my Groomer's Helper for the front of the dog and a hip support strap with the LIPS system for the back end. If the dog is still too fidgity, it's off to the vet he goes for his nail trim.

[Beanermom]

I use a belly band and a grooming loop around the neck. (muzzle if necessary). Then, making sure I am well out of bite range, I just go for it. I sweet talk and pause if they freak, but DO NOT let go of the foot (unless I do it in a way that makes it look like it was my idea anyway :-) The restraints do the restraining, but when they calm down no one is 'muckled onto' them. Praise like crazy every time they hold still, even if it's just to draw a breath. And the more excited they get, the more calm and zen I am. Lots of praise when you are done. When I used to work as a tech and the groomer at a vet hospital they used to send all the crazy dogs to me and I managed this way. Most dogs, if put on a regular schedule, will calm down considerably as n/t becomes a routine thing. I hope that helps. It can be done! :0)

[RudyRoo]

How are you holding the dog while triming the nails? I was taught to stand sideways with my back to the dogs head while it is attached to a grooming arm. With my left arm I secure the body while using my left hand to flip the foot up so I am looking at the bottom of the foot, one - this prevents any possible joint damage and two- you can see the nails as you cut, so you know when to quit before you hit the quick. Like Beanermom said,, once you get ahold of that foot, don't let go!!! Just wait till they figure out no amount of wiggling is gonna help,,,just keep a firm hold, not pulling or jerking. Works like a charm. I have also learned that in some dogs , the more you try to restrain them, the more they fight, just be firm, calm and gentle.

[sittingpretty]

Nail trims

You know, if the poor dog has always had 2-3 nails trimmed so short that they were bleeding it is no wonder they do not want to have it done by you or anyone else! It has hurt in the past and they assume it will hurt again.

Try the methods already suggested. Also try dremeling them, some dogs will allow the dremel with no problems. If you do use a nail trimmer just do the tips for awhile, don't try to get alot off of the nails. This might help to retrain the dogs and get them to trust you.
Also suggest the owners play with the dogs feet as much as they can to get them used to the touching.

If they are truly wild and too much to handle I would also send them to the vet. I am not about to get bit nor do I want to injure my back by wrestling a dog! I'd rather have a good day with the dogs and let them know I do not intend to hurt them.


sittingpretty

[Jenneversage64]

I just have to put my 2 cents in.

Just cutting the tips is not so easy with a struggeling, fighting, trying- to- bite dog. If it were easy to see a moving target, we could trim the tips. I agree with the advice to use maybe a dremel, or GH anything that keeps those teeth off my fingers. My poor ol' ring finger is still bumpy and slightly numb and the heal site. That bite was Feb 10th. Now, I see I could have done things in a better way. I should have checked to see the muzzle fit, and used the GH. Even tho' the GH doesn't work for me on the wall side of the dog, I now see where it could help me with nail trims. DUH.

[psykoreo]

pressure

just lay the dog down... front and clip away.. same thing as just holding.. IE when you do the back legs you hold the bottom half and leave the mouth away from you and is facing the wall or somewhere else in the opposite direction..

one question though..

why are you cutting it til they bleed??

[Parapara]

I think at the vet's they might cut the nails until they bleed because the vet's want shorter nails- people often will take their dog to the vet's to get nails clipped AFTER the salon's have deemed them misbehaving and unruly. So the vet's have a get them in, get them out mindset.

This is just my idea~

[lilmamagrmr]

My new fave thing

Get slings. Seriously. We have these slings, varying sizes, they have holes for the dogs feet and legs to stick through. Then there's a metal clip thing that goes through 2 metal brackets, also snaps and a belt that goes around the dogs middle, it's really quite secure and safe for the dog. The sling is attached to a rope and pulley system that you have installed into one of the beams in your ceiling, you use the attached rope to hoist the dog into the air, above your table. the sling is long enough that they can't get their head out to bite you, and most of them just stop fighting once thery're in the air, they just sorta get this bewildered look in their eyes. Gives you WAY more control, they can't hop around and stuff. I've also used it to do poodle feet on one really stubborn dog, after I called and asked if the clean feet were neccasary. (Wonder why the dog is stubborn, right?) Look into it. I'll ask my boss where she ordered them from.

[DogChic]

I've found that moving the foot as little as possible - keeping it close to the table - is more comfortable for most dogs - I've seen groomers hike up back legs - pull front legs out sideways, etc. I would bite too.

Pay attention to how you are holding the foot - firm but gentle - not a death grip. I always do nails after the bath - they're softer & cut much easier.

Reward those naughty dogs for ANY good behavior. I have a scottie who was always an angel for nails .... vet did them & then he was a monster - now he gets a cookie after each foot & looks foward to it - took a little to get there but we did.

I do not have any dogs that I can't do nails on - trim & file - without my groomer's helper I'd probably have 5-10 that I would not/could not do by myself.

[PuppyFluffer]

Get slings. Seriously. We have these slings, varying sizes, they have holes for the dogs feet and legs to stick through. Then there's a metal clip thing that goes through 2 metal brackets, also snaps and a belt that goes around the dogs middle, it's really quite secure and safe for the dog. The sling is attached to a rope and pulley system that you have installed into one of the beams in your ceiling, you use the attached rope to hoist the dog into the air, above your table. the sling is long enough that they can't get their head out to bite you, and most of them just stop fighting once thery're in the air, they just sorta get this bewildered look in their eyes. Gives you WAY more control, they can't hop around and stuff.

Oh, HELL yeah! I love, love, love my new sling! I think mine's made by lips but I could be wrong. I've only been using it for about a month, but honestly it makes the job sooo much easier and safe. Plus, it makes an otherwise unpleasant part of the job just plain funny! If you haven't seen a trussed-up pug dangling from the ceiling of a grooming van, baby, you just haven't lived!

[lilmamagrmr]

Hee hee

! If you haven't seen a trussed-up pug dangling from the ceiling of a grooming van, baby, you just haven't lived!

I used mine on this dog today... heh, I had to turn to grab scissors k, turned back around and it was trying to run. LMBO It was trying so hard that it was spinning. I have to say I did just stand there and watch, just for a second.

[brownlikewoah]

get a groomers helper if you don't already have one. The less mobile the dog is, the easier it will be. Then, start with the back feet. Reach over the dog, going for the back leg farthest from you, sort of pulling the dog into your body, so it is not able to go farther that direction. Then, on the oposite side of the dog, move your elbow along side the dog's body, so it is also trapped that direction. If the dog tries to squirm away, you can push your elbow and arm into the dog, to trap it against your body. Also, be aware of how you are lifting the legs to trim the nails. Only hold their legs in natural positions, and don't lift them too high or it will be more uncomfortable. Good luck!

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

Slings, too much work!

I have a Groomers Helper and I can do the nails on almost any dog. If you are having trouble with that many dogs, I think your approach may be wrong (for grooming). The Vet Tech manner of doing nails in my opinion traumatizes dogs. The vet techs at my work now come in to my salon and use my table and Groomers Helper for difficult dogs. I wish they would quit laying dogs down all together to do their nails, this really freaks 'em out.

We had a dog in recently that they spent 30 min. explaining to the owner about the need for sedation, yada yada yada. Well, I knew the owner and said "Go ahead and bring the dog back here, at least let us give it a shot, sedation should be a LAST resort." ('Course, the owner was really the one to blame about the dog's attitude, her last dog was like this too), but anyway, I got it done, and the vet techs nearly died! So now they use my groomers helper.

https://www.groomershelper.com

Tammy in Utah

[JoyceVallee]

Before I did grooming my groomer would just ask me to hold the dog at the start of the session and then quickly do them. I do that as well. Nobody has ever said anything about it and they seem to like doing it.