Fear of Nail Cutting

Swimming, particularly in warm water, can help your dog relax and also drain her energy. If you have a small dog, you don’t even need a pool. You can use a small tub of water. Simply hold the dog by the sides and let her paddle. If your dog is uncertain about the water, start by holding her on an incline, just let her bottom half touch the water. Wait until your dog begins to paddle with his front legs, and then you can slowly lower her front half into the water. If the dog begins to splash around and panic, calmly return the dog to the inclined position again – with the back half of the dog touching the water. Then once the dog relaxes and begins paddling with the front legs again, send her back in! Continue this until she becomes comfortable with the water.

Once your dog has reached the lowest level of energy, begin by holding a paw and presenting the nail clipper to it without cutting anything. Then send her right back into the water to drain even more energy. At the same time, you are softening her nails, so they will actually be easier to trim. Then, after another round of swimming, you present the nail clippers again. This time cut a little bit, just to let her experience it and see her reaction. If she panics, send her right back in for more water therapy, but if the dog remains calm, do the whole foot – and then send her back into the water! This way, you’re not giving the dog time to focus on the nail clipping, instead she is focusing on the water. We are exchanging one challenge for another! Your dog can learn to associate the nail trimmings with the time in between swims that she gets to relax and collect herself.

Keep repeating this process – allow your dog to swim, trim the nails, and put her right back in – until you’ve trimmed all four paws.

I encourage you to visualize the scenario going well before attempting it. Don’t panic or feel sorry if your dog is stressed. Instead, make your dog feel safe by maintaining the calm and assertive energy of a pack leader.

Why Do Dogs Chew Their Nails?

Nail chewing and biting is not standard dog behavior and could be a cause for concern, according to Dr. Page Wages at the Oberlin Animal Hospital. Boredom, anxiety, poor grooming, allergies and infections are common causes for the chewing habit, and should be addressed quickly to ease the dog’s distress. Some causes can easily be resolved by a trip to the pet store for allergy sensitive food and toys, while other conditions will require a prescription by a veterinarian.

Allergies

• Food and outdoor allergies can lead to nail biting in dogs. Allergies to grass, pollen and other outdoor items may be irritating the dogs paws and nails. Additives to the dog’s diet may also be causing discomfort, including corn. Chewing the nails is a way dogs relieve their itchy sensation. Allergy sensitive foods, including those without corn, are available at large pet retailers. Veterinarians can provide a prescription to ease the symptoms of outdoor allergies.

Infection

• If a nail is injured, and the wound is exposed, infection may result. If the area around the dog’s nails appears red, swollen, tender to the touch or is seeping, it may be infected. Dogs will chew the area to relieve the pressure and itchy feeling. An antibiotic is required to cure the infection, so a trip to the vet is necessary

Anxiety

• Leaving dogs alone can cause anxiety behaviors for some. Chewing nails, defecating in the house and destructive behavior are common signs of anxiety. Crate or kennel the dog when he will be left alone in the home. Dogs are den animals by nature, and need to feel secure. Consider leaving a radio or TV on so the dog can hear human interaction, and supply him with a few chew toys to ease his need to gnaw.

Boredom

• Stimulating a dog’s senses is essential. Exercise, playtime, talking and training are all essential. A bored dog will become destructive to himself and his surroundings. Nail biting is a common sign of boredom. Supply the pet with interactive play toys when dog or human interaction isn’t possible.

Poor Grooming

• Some dogs chew on their nails simply because they need to be trimmed. Visit the vet’s office, a grooming salon or invest in a dog nail clippers. The nails should be kept trimmed to just above the quick. Have a vet or grooming salon show you how to do this task if you wish to maintain the dog’s nails at home. Overgrown nails lead to cracks, chips and more nail chewing from your dog.

GOOD BYE TO MISS ABBY ROSE

Well I don’t know where to start, we started boot camp ten days ago with a very unbalanced Abby Rose. I have to tell you what a good news, bad news situation this was for me, Abby is just over 5 months old and I can honestly say that I haven’t in a very long time seen a dog with this many issues at such a young age. Good news was she is so young that she is very workable, bad news was it was going to take a lot of specialized work. I am so very proud to say that all our hard work as paid off, Abby is now a very charming, fun-loving, happy, balanced dog who no longer barks her head off, but more importantly does not bite any more. Abby would bite her owners at every turn, move her from a spot, bite. Clip her nails, bite. Tell her to come, pee than bite. Abby now lets us do anything to her and does not even attempt to bite anymore. Abby still pee’s a little bit when she is excited to see us but this will subside as she gets older. I have to say Abby has taken a lot of work but the rewards, well lets just say we will miss her cute little face when she is gone. Abby who once didn’t like to be in our pack of dogs, now never want to leave them. She has plenty of new friends that will surely miss her energy when she goes home tomorrow.

 

QUICK UPDATE ON ABBY-ROSE

Abby and her new friends

Just a quick little update on Abby-Rose, when she arrived she was a very shy and unstable little girl who would bite you rather than be your friend. Abby didn’t like to be near other dogs (she would bite) didn’t want to be brushed (she would bite) could not touch her feet (she would bite) absolutely could not cut her nails (she would bite) do you see a pattern? Well Abby has been here now four days and I am very proud to say we can touch her feet, got the back nails cut, not the front yet, she loves to be in with all the dogs, and she now likes to be brushed! We still need to work on a few things and still attempt to cut her front nails (she does not like that) we will try later today. I am very proud of little miss Abby she has come such a long way in a short time, still has some hills to climb but we will get there!

WELCOME TO BOOT CAMP

Abby Rose

I would like to introduce little Abby Rose to rrruffhouse boot camp, Abby is a five month old Jack Russell cross that has some territory issues. Little Miss Abby likes to own her home and her owners and also bites when you try and touch her paws to either wipe dirty feet or have her nails clipped, Abby also does not seem to like other dogs and when she meets dogs she tends to show teeth  and snarl. Abby has been here for about 20 minutes and has met so far two of the dogs and has not shown teeth or snarled, good so far. Abby has found her new safe spot in front of my couch and is curled up having a little nap, also a good first sign. I think with a little help and lots of manners little Miss Abby Rose will be a wonderful dog, she is very cute, people friendly and now well on her way to being dog friendly.

Oliver

Oliver

This is our newest inductee to our boot camp, His name is Oliver, and he is four years old and adopted from the humane society about four months ago! Oliver is in a great home but is having some issues on who is ” the boss ” Oliver has some aggression towards anyone who tries to make him do something he does not want to do such as walk, trim nails, come when called, the usual stuff as far as I am concerned. Oliver has three days of boot camp and this is day one! So far he has tried to bite when cutting his nails but because I didn’t stop the assignment he eventually just gave in with no real hassle. He did not want his nails cut but they got done anyway, now that he realizes that things are going to happen whether he wants them too or not we have a lot less growling and snarling. Oliver is actually a very delightful little dog who I feel is a little misunderstood and a bit socially awkward but doing very well in this environment so far. Looking forward to the adventure with him tomorrow! Thanks Oliver I love a good challenge, and that you are!!