"This guide will help your dog acclimatise to having their nails trimmed and paw fur trimmed to make for a more comfortable grooming experience. If the nails are left to grow too long this can affect the dog's paw structure leading to ligament issues long term"
Paw homework
- Nail clippers or scissors
- A 2 pence coin
- Loads of high value treats! such as diced chicken or ham.
The pick up and put down game.
Prep
Have the nail clippers or scissors in view about a metre away from the dog but do not let them see you handle them yet. Every session needs to end positively. If you need to go back a day, before you end the session, wait 5-10 seconds for the dog to calm, look around and then look back at you, sound the dog's name as you give them a fuss and a stroke before releasing them from the towel table.
Day 1
If your dog is small please find a towel covered table or place a towel on the kitchen side.
Settle the dog on there and give them treats once they relax into being there and are not actively trying to jump off.
If they are big, place a towel on the floor and coax them 12`over to it. You may want to use a command such as 'Towel' if they are wandering off/too big to boss around!
- They step on towel - say 'TOWEL' - and give treat
instantly. Keep doing this until the dog stays on the towel.
We are then going to stroke the dog gently and slowly and bring the strokes slowly to their leg.
Depending on the dog's reaction this may be where day 1 ends. If the dog is reacting in any way such as flinching, wide eyes, backing away, vocalising, shaking please stop and go to Day 2
If the dog is having no reaction at all then carry on to the next section.
Day/Section 2
Place dog on towel. You may have to engage them again by treat rewarding until relaxed.
Slowly bring the strokes to the paw and really slow down when the stokes are at the paw, almost to a stop.
Touch a front paw very lightly after the next stroke and give a treat and a 'Good ' (your praise word including their name. for example 'Good boy Davey!' but just praise once and not in a over excited way.
Repeat this touch 3 times.
If the dog is reacting in any way such as flinching, wide eyes, backing away, vocalising, shaking please stop and go to Day 1
If the dog is having no reaction at all then carry on to the next section.
Day 3 / Section 3
Place dog on towel. You may have to engage them again by treat rewarding until relaxed.
Slowly bring the strokes to the paw and really slow down when the stokes are at the paw, almost to a stop.
Touch a front paw very lightly after the next stroke and give a treat and a 'Good ' (your praise word including their name. for example 'Good boy Davey!' but just once and not in a over excited way.
I understand these steps are just a repeat but it is essential we take our time and repeat steps to the letter that the dog has already learnt, all the while giving treats as high reward.
Next as we stroke down the leg we are going to cup the paw. and lift it ever so slowly. If the dog does not react immediately drop the paw, give a command such as 'Nails' and give treat. Repeat this 3 times.
If the dog reacts in a negative way we say nothing and carry on stroking. But if the reaction is extreme such as growling or biting we go back to day 2.
Day 4/section 4
Place dog on towel. You may have to engage them again by treat rewarding until relaxed. Slowly bring the strokes to the paw and really slow down when the strokes are at the paw, almost to a stop.
Touch a front paw very lightly after the next stroke and give a treat and a 'Good ' (your praise word including their name. for example 'Good boy Davey!' but just once and not in a over excited way.
Next as we stroke down the leg we are going to cup the paw. and lift it ever so slowly. If the dog does not react immediately drop the paw, give a command such as 'Nails' and give treat. Repeat this 3 times.
If your dog has been sailing through stop here and continue tomorrow. See next section
Day 5
Place dog on towel. You may have to engage them again by treat rewarding until relaxed.
Slowly bring the strokes to the paw and really slow down when the strokes are at the paw, almost to a stop.
Touch a front paw very lightly after the next stroke and give a treat and a 'Good ' (your praise word including their name. for example 'Good boy Davey!' but just once and not in a over excited way.
Next as we stroke down the leg we are going to cup the paw. and lift it ever so slowly. If the dog does not react immediately drop the paw, give a command such as 'Nails' and give treat. repeat this 3 times.
We are now going to hold that cupped paw and reach to touch the paw with our other hand too while it's cupped. This other hand holds the 2 pence piece as well as a treat.
We are just reaching for the paw and, if they allow us, (with no negative reaction) touch the paw with the HIDDEN penny. Then immediate treat.
If negative reaction, no treat and go back a day.
We are then going to be sharing the towel with the nail clippers for the next 3 days!
Day 6
Repeat day 5, 3 times with the clippers in view on the towel from the top
Then repeat day 5 but this time after touching the paw with the penny you are going to be touching the nail clippers afterwards. just a brief touch then a praise and treat.
Day 7
Repeat day 5 from the top and try replacing the penny with the clippers.
Do not be afraid to linger on a particular day for as long as needed until the dog feels comfortable with what you are doing. Even if it's a fortnight!
Day 8
Repeat day 5 going back to the penny. This time when you take your hand from the paw you are going to pick up the clipper and cut in the air away from the dog. Treat immediately and praise. Do this and/or go back several steps for as long as needed until the dog no longer reacts negatively.
Day 9
Repeat day 5 but again pick up the clippers and not the penny and touch the dog's claw with them gently and treat at the exact same time as contact is made.
If the dog has no reaction, squeeze the paw ever so slightly as you cup it. before the clippers come and feel around it, like a massage. If the dog has a negative reaction, no treat and go back a day tomorrow.
Day 10
The big day! Come and see me and we will have a go!
