Nail issues.. Again

[Missy]

I got my Harbor Freight grinder 2 weeks ago and have been using it daily on the dogs. I touch a nail or two(barely grind off anything at all) and give them lots of treats. Penny doesn't *like* it but she will tolerate it. Lion, on the other hand, is a nightmare. He screams, thrashes, and bites me. I have my BF hold them while I grind their nails. I can barely get Lion's nails safely because he is constantly trying to bite me, and it has come close to catching his hair/face.

I don't know what to do. I don't let him down when he throws a fit-I continue to hold his paw/touch his nails with the grinder on or off until he stops trying to bite me and then he gets a treat. I have been doing this for two weeks and he has yet to improve.. I think he has actually gotten worse. Someone I know suggested using a dog appeasing pheromone to calm him down but I honestly don't think it is for this type of situation. I want to get his nails shortened soon because they are growing out almost to the ground, but the quick hasn't grown yet so I would be able to grind them back nice and short.

Does anyone have some new ideas I can try?

He isn't really afraid of the grinder. I turned it on and off for a few days before touching their nails with it, and he will voluntarily eat treats off of it. I don't think the problem is that he is terrified of it- he will come right up to me for treats while I am doing Penny's nails.

[Sarah]

I think he's being a bratt!!! Put a sock on his head that's what Kristi does and be v matter of fact about it aim to do one paw a day when he pulls and whatever tell him no v firmly. It use to tale me 20 mins to do one of lotus' paws!

[Missy]

Nov 29, 2011 8:26:12 GMT Sarah said:

I think he's being a bratt!!! Put a sock on his head that's what Kristi does and be v matter of fact about it aim to do one paw a day when he pulls and whatever tell him no v firmly. It use to tale me 20 mins to do one of lotus' paws!

20 minutes! Wow! Well that gives me some hope then. I think he is being a little brat too. He is nervous of the grinder but not enough that I think I am traumatizing him. He begs for treats while I am doing Penny's nails. My BF thinks I am being cruel but I keep telling him if I at least turn the grinder on every day and touch one of his nails with it, he will eventually get over it.

[Kristi]

I PM'd you over on CP. LOL couldn't comment on the thread as some people are not worth talking to or even in the same thread as.

[Kristi]

If you've ever had false nails put on it is the same sensation I think for a dog as when they grind over the top surface of your natural nail to make it rougher and give the acrylic something to adhere to. Doesn't hurt one bit and doesn't get 'hot' either. I'm sure if they kept going and going it would get hot and start to hurt but the 1-2 seconds it takes per nail w/ a grinder is not really problematic.

[mchis]

I agree...he's being a turd. I'd honestly skip the treats too--he's definitely not deserving them & they're obviously not helping your matter. Basically he's getting rewarded for being naughty. So yeah, that's just my thoughts. Keep it up minus the treats (unless he's SUPER good with no biting!!). Hopefully with time he'll realize you're not going to stop until he chills. I'd do the sock too if you must...or a soft muzzle.

[Missy]

Well we made a little progress yesterday, I was able to do a whole paw + a few back nails. I couldn't grind them all the way to the start of the quick yet, but at least I got more than one nail this time. He even stopped biting me eventually..

Penny is being really good. I did one of her front paws nice and short and she barely even struggled. I wish Lion would be like her!

[mchis]

Nov 29, 2011 16:10:52 GMT Missy said:

He even stopped biting me eventually..

Excellent!!! That is the key. Keep going until he calms. Then he doesn't "win" with the biting & such & he should eventually stop all together with time. **fingers crossed**