Most dogs dislike having their nails trimmed, and most people dislike having to clip their dog’s nails! We’ve tested several methods to simplify the process, and we hit upon one that works every time.
Here’s how to clip your dog’s nails painlessly using a strategy we like to call “peanut butter plate.”
How to clip your dog’s nails (aka “Peanut Butter Plate”) from Maggie Marton on Vimeo.
For Copper – who DESPISES having his nails cut – I modify the strategy by first clipping his leash to him then looping the handle around a door knob. It’s sort of like what they do at the groomer with that slip lead, just to keep him in place. For him, because he hates having his nails cut so much, it goes more like: clip, let him lick the plate, clip, let him lick the plate, and so on… versus Emmett’s constant licking while clipping.
Have you tried anything like this before? Do you have a good suggestion for making nail clipping go even easier? Or, are you one of the lucky ones whose dog doesn’t seem to mind?
This is great! We are definitely going to try this. Pyrrha also really loathes having her nails trimmed, and it’s always a battle in our house. Thanks for the video tutorial, too!
Good luck! Let me know how it goes!!
I gave up with Titan a long time ago. He has some dark nails that scared me plus he’d never sit still. We go to the vet every 3 weeks for a trimming which serves 2 points: getting his nails trimmed and keeping him friendly with the techs and vet there. 🙂 I love your concept!
Dark nails make me super nervous, too. I try to take a very thin shaving off their dark nails, and I’ve found that if I stay on it, they don’t get too long. My favorite, though, is when they go in for their dental and the vet techs get their nails SUPER close! 🙂 Of course, it helps that they’re out…
Lars just sits there and lets me clip his nails. I have handled his feet ever since he was born so it is not a big deal to him. I am one of the lucky ones I guess.
Fantastic idea though…
Wow, Jon! Good for you and Lars! That’s fantastic that you were able to handle his feet to ensure he was comfortable.
That’s much more calm that my “pin the 60 lb dog down with my legs while trying to hold her paw still” method! I’ll give it a go and let you know!
HAHA!! Kaitlin, that’s hilarious! That’s sort of the method we used with Cooper: put him in a headlock and GO! 🙂 Let me know if this helps at all!
Very clever! We are definitely going to give this a try. Kobi is going to be very excited about it I am sure!
Let me know how it goes! Emmett gets excited now, for sure. The other two… not so much.
That is brilliant!! I am going to attempt this!
Good luck, Rebekah! Let us know how it goes!
All of our Airedales and now Vlad have always had black nails. Sharkly and now Barkly have had some white, some black, and some spotted. Since black nails make me nervous too, and I don’t trust that “this is where the quick starts” rule, I always want to see the underside to KNOW exactly where the quick is. I start by giving them a massage first until they’re limp and lying calmly. This way, to know where to clip, I can see the underside by holding up their paw. Plus, the massaging gives me a regular chance to look for any odd lumps or growths.
That is a really great suggestion. Using a grooming session to check for anything out of the ordinary is a brilliant idea because it makes that hands-on check part of your regular routine. Thanks so much for sharing!
I use a variation of this for the bath sometimes. A smear of Peanut Butter on the tub wall goes a long way to keeping the puggle still.
SUCH a great idea!!
This is soooo helpful Maggie! Thanks for posting this video. Will have to try this with Cody and Sierra.