Doberman Is Scared of Nails Being Trimmed?

[fatiguedsuki]

Hey everyone! I have a Dobie who's five months old and she's *veerryy* resistant to having her nails cut. To provide a backstory, she had her ears cropped when she was 9 weeks old and the vet/vet help trimmed her nails to the point where they ALL bled (you can imagine my fury, and it goes without saying that I will never be taking her back there).

I am left wondering if she was awake for that, because when I touch her nails with the nail clipper, she will flinch and oftentimes actually physically pull her paw away. I have cut her nails since 9 weeks old, but with her size recently becoming unable to fit on my lap as easily, it has gotten harder to encourage her to sit or lay down for long enough to actually make progress on the nails. I feel guilty about her being traumatized while in someone's care that I trusted with her, and obviously, the last thing I want to do is traumatize her more. I've been desensitizing her to the dremel since I brought her home, but the vibrations against her nails scare her just as badly (if not more) as the normal nail clipper against her nails.

Of course, when she outright refuses to hold still, it makes getting a precise cut all the more difficult. If I accidentally cut her nail to the quick as she squirms, it reinforces that nail clipping is painful in her mind. I, in hindsight, should have been working on this everyday with her.

(Btw, I have made a conscious effort to be cheerful about any signs of progress and had a lick mat + treats while working with the nails.)

Do I just continue with desensitization everyday, multiple times a day?

 

[jazzies mum]

Hey everyone! I have a Dobie who's five months old and she's *veerryy* resistant to having her nails cut. To provide a backstory, she had her ears cropped when she was 9 weeks old and the vet/vet help trimmed her nails to the point where they ALL bled (you can imagine my fury, and it goes without saying that I will never be taking her back there).

I am left wondering if she was awake for that, because when I touch her nails with the nail clipper, she will flinch and oftentimes actually physically pull her paw away. I have cut her nails since 9 weeks old, but with her size recently becoming unable to fit on my lap as easily, it has gotten harder to encourage her to sit or lay down for long enough to actually make progress on the nails. I feel guilty about her being traumatized while in someone's care that I trusted with her, and obviously, the last thing I want to do is traumatize her more. I've been desensitizing her to the dremel since I brought her home, but the vibrations against her nails scare her just as badly (if not more) as the normal nail clipper against her nails.

Of course, when she outright refuses to hold still, it makes getting a precise cut all the more difficult. If I accidentally cut her nail to the quick as she squirms, it reinforces that nail clipping is painful in her mind. I, in hindsight, should have been working on this everyday with her.,

(Btw, I have made a conscious effort to be cheerful about any signs of progress and had a lick mat + treats while working with the nails.)

Do I just continue with desensitization everyday, multiple times a day?

I have accidentally quicked my girl occasionally and she gets twitchy afterwards. Doing only one nail per session seems to work for me. The reward is praise, a treat, but more importantly an end to stress. Gradually I do more until she accepts them all being done.

 

[fatiguedsuki]

I have accidentally quicked my girl occasionally and she gets twitchy afterwards. Doing only one nail per session seems to work for me. The reward is praise, a treat, but more importantly an end to stress. Gradually I do more until she accepts them all being done.

Yeah, you know, now that you mention it, she doesn't normally get wide eyes until I make it to the second or third nail on a trim. I will try that. Fingers crossed that this method works with her!

 

[Rits]

It isn't uncommon for the vet to shorten the nails while they are already under for the crop. Just keep working at it. You may have to do one nail or paw at a time then try again later in the day or the next day. My girl has never really liked her nails being done but she tolerates it where my boy doesn't mind at all. Sometimes it's just their personality but at the end of the day, it must be done so we do the above and it works out.

 

[JanS]

I agree that many vets take the nails way down during crops and it's while they're under so it doesn't hurt them a bit and I doubt she's traumatized by that.

 

[Firestar Dobe]

Have you tried using a dremel? That is all we ever use. It takes a couple/few weeks to get them used to it, but it is worth it in the long run!

 

[fatiguedsuki]

Have you tried using a dremel? That is all we ever use. It takes a couple/few weeks to get them used to it, but it is worth it in the long run!

I'd desensitized her to the sound of the dremel running since she was 8 or 9 weeks old because I was planning on always using it to trim her nails. However, fast forward to now, the vibration against her nails freaks her out.

I think that with enough use and positive association, I could get her to the point where she would be moderately still for it once I got going.

Oh, yeah, the dremel is so different from any usual nail clipper I've used! I think we both have to get comfortable with it lol

 

[fatiguedsuki]

I have accidentally quicked my girl occasionally and she gets twitchy afterwards. Doing only one nail per session seems to work for me. The reward is praise, a treat, but more importantly an end to stress. Gradually I do more until she accepts them all being done.

Update: I tried this with my girl and she let me trim two nails yesterday (one in the morning & one in the evening). This morning, she gave in and let me trim two more as she demolished her lick pad.

The progress is real!

Maybe we'll even graduate to the dremel at some point this year

 

[Two Dobes]

Dremel is great because you can use the slowest setting and just touch the tips...remember, they get hot fast, and then the whole ordeal backfires on you.....take your time, and as others said; one nail at a time LOTS of treats 'after' she gets one done. Everyday is ideal for her to understand it is something you will be doing forever

 

[Doberman Gang]

I use a diamond groove on a dremel. They are designed for less vibration and so they stay cool and don’t get hot like the barrel sander.

 

[Junkonli]

Hey everyone! I have a Dobie who's five months old and she's *veerryy* resistant to having her nails cut. To provide a backstory, she had her ears cropped when she was 9 weeks old and the vet/vet help trimmed her nails to the point where they ALL bled (you can imagine my fury, and it goes without saying that I will never be taking her back there).

I am left wondering if she was awake for that, because when I touch her nails with the nail clipper, she will flinch and oftentimes actually physically pull her paw away. I have cut her nails since 9 weeks old, but with her size recently becoming unable to fit on my lap as easily, it has gotten harder to encourage her to sit or lay down for long enough to actually make progress on the nails. I feel guilty about her being traumatized while in someone's care that I trusted with her, and obviously, the last thing I want to do is traumatize her more. I've been desensitizing her to the dremel since I brought her home, but the vibrations against her nails scare her just as badly (if not more) as the normal nail clipper against her nails.

Of course, when she outright refuses to hold still, it makes getting a precise cut all the more difficult. If I accidentally cut her nail to the quick as she squirms, it reinforces that nail clipping is painful in her mind. I, in hindsight, should have been working on this everyday with her.

(Btw, I have made a conscious effort to be cheerful about any signs of progress and had a lick mat + treats while working with the nails.)

Do I just continue with desensitization everyday, multiple times a day?

Hello. My guy is 10 months old. My 3rd Dobie. I don't think any dog likes their nails cut. Like the other people have said, I'm also a big fan of one every few days. No reason at all to do all of them at once. When tired, target the longest and without stressing him out, go for it slowly. Praise & treats [Before & after}. When he was really young, I let him sleep with the cutter leaning up against him & touch his nails multiple times during the day to show it's not a terrible tool. Doing anything sudden or blasting it out is going to make her freak anytime she SEES it. Make it a good experience. Control YOUR stress too. We all know these dogs can sense our emotions. Do it regularly in this manner and there will be no use to go so deep as to hit the quick. Good Luck.

 

[JanS]

Hello. My guy is 10 months old. My 3rd Dobie.

You should start a thread in the introduction section so we can properly welcome you.

 

[Tizpear]

Have you tried using a dremel? That is all we ever use. It takes a couple/few weeks to get them used to it, but it is worth it in the long run!

I second this!!! I am terrified of using clippers and cutting my girls nails too far back. ) I nipping my 5 month old baby’s nail once and I think I cried more than he did!)

The dremmel rocks! Jolene hates it, but with lots of high value treats (cheese, leftover hamburgers, bites of chicken) she will let me do it. Does she love it? Nope. But, she does love those treats!

Start slowly by letting her sniff it, then treat. Turn it on- treat. Touch one nail with it-treat. That’s it. Start again tomorrow and repeat. She currently gets a high value treat per nail…then lots of love afterwards. (And of course kisses on her head while I’m doing her front paws!)

 

[Kaiser2016]

However, fast forward to now, the vibration against her nails freaks her out.

Try holding the nail so as to stabilize it against the vibration. We were forced to Dremel nails ourselves when the pandemic started and we amazed ourselves at how quickly we got it done. I do think having a second person around helps. My hb hand feeds Kaiser his fave scrambled eggs while I quickly grind down the nails. I use top speed and press down to get a faster grind. And yes, the more calm you are, the more confident the dog will be that nothing bad is going to happen. You will know when the quick will appear when you see little flaps appear like fabric - or look for a faint white circle against the blackness of the nail.

 

[JanS]

A diamond head for your Dremel also helps since it vibrates less, doesn't heat the nail up and they last forever. They're a little pricey but a good investment.

 

[BG1]

Good info here, TY!

 

[AresMyDobie]

I’ve only ever used a dremel on all my dogs. My Dobermans are hilarious when it’s comes to nail trimming day as they absolutely love it. I remember working Ares my first doberman with nail trimming and like posting his ears always made it a fun and positive experience. I taught him (along with my female doberman and my adopted GSD) to know “side”. In learning side they will lay on their side and give me their paws to do their nails. Ares literally snores and sleeps while I do his nails. Athena will down right get very upset if she doesn’t go first, apparently like me she loves getting her nails done haha my gsd also relaxes while I trim. I think if you make it positive and quiet without getting anxious or putting to much emotion in a routine thing they become more relaxed as it’s just a part of the week. Of course after all nails are done they get a “yummy” aka a favorite chew treat like a bulky stick or a meaty bone and on we go about day