Clipped a nail to short, now what?

Dr89 · 03-23-2011, 05:38 PM

I've been clipping Rambo's nails since he was a puppy, it's not his favorite thing in the world but, as long as I just put his favorite toy in his mouth and lay him across my lap we get through it

Anyways, just a second ago I was just starting (very first nail!) and I accidentally clipped it too short. It didn't bleed or anything, but he gave a loud yelp and then a "ok I'm done with this" type look.

For about 15-20mins I continued to just mess with his paws and nails, letting him sniff the clippers, even putting them around a claw every once in a while, hoping he would let it go (one mistake Rambo, come on!) but he's not having it.

He seems to know when I'm getting ready to actually clip one, and he perks right up and either gives an uncomfortable growl or even bares his teeth at my hand/the clippers (and I've never seen him bare his teeth at ANYTHING).

So I don't think he's going to get over this as he already didn't like it too much to begin with. What can I do now to desensitize him to having his nails clipped, I'm thinking it may just have to be a daily process of messing with his nails and the clippers without actually clipping anything until he gets comfortable with it again

Thanks for any help!

lisgje · 03-23-2011, 05:59 PM

Reintroducing the clippers sounds like a good idea, but maybe wait and just play with his feet for awhile before bringing the clippers back into the picture. I have my vet or groomer do it for me since once I clipped too short on my previous GSD and felt awful and he would not let me near him again, could not blame him. LOL Good idea if you do it yourself to keep some Styptic handy as well. Chance does well with the vet or groomer, but if I try, forget it and I never short clipped him. good luck!

**jocoyn** · 03-23-2011, 06:07 PM

I had a dog do this and I decided enough was enough and just put on my biggest confidence outfit and told him to get over himself and it worked. Of course I realized there was a risk of getting bitten but felt that it was more important to have that control. But you have to know your dog....Mine never did but he knew I was not going to put up with it.

Zellie&Major · 03-23-2011, 06:21 PM

My dog, Major is now 4 and we've been clipping his nails at home since he was a pup. We've (my brother and I) never even once clipped his nails too short, but every time on every nail Major lets out a half bark/half yelp! He's just being opinated and letting us know that he hates this part!

We just laugh and say "Oh, poor Major!" Like you would to a baby that hates getting it's diaper changed...nothing hurting him...he just doesn't like it. He's learned to sit there and not move, but he will voice his opinion! Just let him know he's okay, and you'll be careful and acknowledge him and I'm sure he'll realize you didn't mean to. I know I've messed up plenty with our 2 and they're so good and quick to forgive...sometimes I feel like they're the smart paitient ones teaching me!

Todd · 03-23-2011, 06:21 PM

Heidi hated that (maybe something happened before I adopted her?) so I let the vet tech do it...and she hit the nerve. Lots of howling and blood. She started to head for the hills if she saw the clippers!!! So...now we use the dremel and sand them down. There's lots of posts out there on how to do it.

Dr89 · 03-23-2011, 07:53 PM

alright I might just have to buckle down and make him deal with it one of these days, for now I'll keep trying to ease him into it. I've looked into the dremel and I have one so it wouldn't be too big a deal, he's not skiddish about anything but for some reason I just kind of assumed a dremel coming at him would be intimidating haha. I might try that too though

**Cassidy's Mom** · 03-23-2011, 08:14 PM

Have you read the information about how to desensitize your dog to a dremel?

Dr89 · 03-23-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassidy's Mom

Have you read the information about how to desensitize your dog to a dremel?

No I haven't yet. I'm hoping he'll wake up in the morning and forget all about this

If it comes to that though I'll be sure to look it up on here.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 03-24-2011, 01:25 AM

Here you go: How to Dremel Dog Nails @ DoberDawn.com

03-23-2011, 05:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dr89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 258	Clipped a nail to short, now what? I've been clipping Rambo's nails since he was a puppy, it's not his favorite thing in the world but, as long as I just put his favorite toy in his mouth and lay him across my lap we get through it Anyways, just a second ago I was just starting (very first nail!) and I accidentally clipped it too short. It didn't bleed or anything, but he gave a loud yelp and then a "ok I'm done with this" type look. For about 15-20mins I continued to just mess with his paws and nails, letting him sniff the clippers, even putting them around a claw every once in a while, hoping he would let it go (one mistake Rambo, come on!) but he's not having it. He seems to know when I'm getting ready to actually clip one, and he perks right up and either gives an uncomfortable growl or even bares his teeth at my hand/the clippers (and I've never seen him bare his teeth at ANYTHING). So I don't think he's going to get over this as he already didn't like it too much to begin with. What can I do now to desensitize him to having his nails clipped, I'm thinking it may just have to be a daily process of messing with his nails and the clippers without actually clipping anything until he gets comfortable with it again Thanks for any help!

03-23-2011, 06:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,034	I had a dog do this and I decided enough was enough and just put on my biggest confidence outfit and told him to get over himself and it worked. Of course I realized there was a risk of getting bitten but felt that it was more important to have that control. But you have to know your dog....Mine never did but he knew I was not going to put up with it. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

03-23-2011, 06:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zellie&Major New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 17	My dog, Major is now 4 and we've been clipping his nails at home since he was a pup. We've (my brother and I) never even once clipped his nails too short, but every time on every nail Major lets out a half bark/half yelp! He's just being opinated and letting us know that he hates this part! We just laugh and say "Oh, poor Major!" Like you would to a baby that hates getting it's diaper changed...nothing hurting him...he just doesn't like it. He's learned to sit there and not move, but he will voice his opinion! Just let him know he's okay, and you'll be careful and acknowledge him and I'm sure he'll realize you didn't mean to. I know I've messed up plenty with our 2 and they're so good and quick to forgive...sometimes I feel like they're the smart paitient ones teaching me! __________________ Elizabeth: Major 4year old black male GSD Zellie 3 year old saddled black and tan female GSD

03-23-2011, 08:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,945	Have you read the information about how to desensitize your dog to a dremel? __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

03-24-2011, 01:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 24,945	Here you go: How to Dremel Dog Nails @ DoberDawn.com __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

03-23-2011, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
lisgje Master Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 750	Reintroducing the clippers sounds like a good idea, but maybe wait and just play with his feet for awhile before bringing the clippers back into the picture. I have my vet or groomer do it for me since once I clipped too short on my previous GSD and felt awful and he would not let me near him again, could not blame him. LOL Good idea if you do it yourself to keep some Styptic handy as well. Chance does well with the vet or groomer, but if I try, forget it and I never short clipped him. good luck!

03-23-2011, 06:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Todd Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA Posts: 1,129	Heidi hated that (maybe something happened before I adopted her?) so I let the vet tech do it...and she hit the nerve. Lots of howling and blood. She started to head for the hills if she saw the clippers!!! So...now we use the dremel and sand them down. There's lots of posts out there on how to do it.

03-23-2011, 07:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dr89 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 258	alright I might just have to buckle down and make him deal with it one of these days, for now I'll keep trying to ease him into it. I've looked into the dremel and I have one so it wouldn't be too big a deal, he's not skiddish about anything but for some reason I just kind of assumed a dremel coming at him would be intimidating haha. I might try that too though

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