nail trims at groomer

• 07-21-2008 4:37 PM

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 1,046 Points 10

  nail trims at groomer Reply Contact So I've given up  trying to trim Zack's nails.  I acclimated him to both the clippers and the dremel for 3 weeks and he still completely flips out when either device approaches his feet.  It took 3 people at the vet to hold him down to do his nails and even that was a struggle.  His nails grow SUPER fast (typical for the breed) and they need to be trimmed every 1-2 weeks. The grooming section at Petsmart charges only $8 for a nail trim so I was thinking of taking him there.  The problem is he already has some anxiety problems about different environments and strange people so I'm wondering if having strangers struggling with him to do the scary deed  would make it worse.  But then I figure, so many dogs go to groomers all the time so how damaging can it be to their confidence? Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 10 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

  Post Points: 0

• 07-21-2008 5:05 PM

  In reply to jenns

  rwbeagles Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW, TX Posts 14,905 Points 2,035

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact Have you tried that sandpaper board thing that was posted here before? I forget who's invention it was but someone here put it up and folks said it really did work. I'll have to see if I can find it...   ETA: here is a bit about it...think there was a thread before this even...referred to here. THREAD Gina H. dog.community Moderator "Carne Asada, is not a crime."

  Post Points: 0

• 07-21-2008 6:21 PM

  In reply to rwbeagles

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 1,046 Points 10	Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact I have not tried that.  Looks like it would only work for the front nails.  I swear, I've never seen a dog with nails that grow this fast. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 10 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat
  	Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 7:17 AM

  In reply to jenns

  spiritdogs Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 10,137 Points 735

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact  http://www.clickerlessons.com/nails.htm http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001/nailtrimming.htm  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgEwiH8CeUE  Regional Director for Massachusetts, International Positive Dog Training Association Director, SeniorCare Pawsitive Connections Program AKC CGC Evaluator #3669 Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer Sioux, CGC, TDInc. Maska, CGC, TDInc. Sequoyah, CGC Fergie, Retired Lap Dog, Age 19 Dancer, CGC, TDInc. (1989-2006) #1 Heart Dog "If you talk to the animals they will talk with you and you will know each other. If you do not talk to them you will not know them and what you do not know, you will fear. What one fears, one destroys." - Chief Dan George "The fidelity of a dog is a precious gift demanding no less binding moral responsibilities than the friendship of a human being. The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can ever be." ~ Konrad Lorenz

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 8:24 AM

  In reply to spiritdogs

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 7,100 Points 850

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact I clip Kenya's nails 1-2 times each week.  When I got her I was scared to do it b/c her nails are black and VERY thick, they've always been blunt/squared off and never get a sharp tip on them that's easy to cut off like Coke's do.  She also previously has had some issues with being fearful of strangers and such, but taking her somewhere for nail trims didn't seem to make a difference.  Also, just being up on a table seemed to help.  A groomer told me the same thing last night, at least for a big dog, when they are up on a table they don't seem to struggle as much b/c they kinda know they are trapped.  Now I can clip her nails on my own, but I still will just do one or two at a time.  When she starts getting nervous or pulling away I stop.  So it might take a few days to get them all done, and then we start over again...  vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop RA CL1-F CL1-R TT HIC TDI CGC ("Kenya", GSD) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC ("Coke", All American) Alta-Tollhaus' Bono ("Nikon", GSD)

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 12:40 PM

  In reply to jenns

  luvmyswissy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 1,541 Points 25

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact I gave up a long time ago trying to clip any of my dogs nails.  When my behaviorist looked at me one day and said, why??  just bring him to the groomers that what they are good at - ever since I bring all my dogs once a month.  I have a groomer right down the street, she takes "walk ins" for nail clippings and all three only cost me $15.00 and its so worth it! All three dogs STRESS at it, they don't like it but she clips them in less than two minutes flat and its over.  When I would do it, it took an hour a dog and total STRESS for both them and ME!!  So the groomer it is and I would highly recommend it.  They know what they are doing, do it quickly and the deed is done. And.. they get a car ride of it and cookies!

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 12:53 PM

  In reply to jenns

  Pit_Pointer_Aussie Joined on 04-13-2007 Upstate New York Posts 1,129 Points 125

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact I do my dog's nails once a week, and really should do them more. They all are good about having them done now, but none of them particularly enjoys it -- they just know they get a jackpot when we are done (raw rec bones). I would keep up the reconditioning, so it's easier no matter who is doing his nails. Work at the reconditioning with a dremmel at home, and then take him to the groomer to have his nails cut, feeding him a truck load of peanut butter, meat or other super high value treat while it happens. Basically, work to change his response to one tool at home on the timeline that will work for him, and try the best you can to help him while the nails are being done at the groomers in the mean time.   It's just a better life with dogs.

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 9:05 PM

  In reply to Pit_Pointer_Aussie

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 1,046 Points 10

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact Thanks guys. I think I'll at least start by taking him to the groomer and work with him further on desensitizing him.  I would of course prefer saving the $$ and the trip by doing it at home, but it definitely won't be saving the stress! Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 10 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 9:20 PM

  In reply to jenns

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,707 Points 75

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact  Bring him here! My poor dogs have their nails done every other day. Ena Bean has gotten into screaming about it, lately, so we're taking it slower than usual, but she's getting better....   The BIGGEST thing with nail trims is confidence. If you are nervous, it makes it sooo much harder to do! I'd bring them to a small grooming shop, rather than a chain store. You don't really want the new girl doing his nails... Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 9:28 PM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 1,046 Points 10

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact jennie_c_d: I'd bring them to a small grooming shop, rather than a chain store. You don't really want the new girl doing his nails...   I was thinking that too, but Petsmart charges $8 and the grooming shop charges $16...that's a big difference!  Then again the last thing I need is someone hurting him.  And large pet stores freak him out as it is. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 10 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 9:32 PM

  In reply to jenns

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,707 Points 75

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact  Yup. You want it to be as comfortable as possible, for him. I charge more than the chain stores, too. I don't have any "new girls" (or new guys!) and if I did, they wouldn't do nail trims on skittish dogs. It's one of the things I'm funny about.... Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 10:13 PM

  In reply to jenns

  luvmyswissy Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 1,541 Points 25

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact $16.00!!!!   That's a rip off and I would call around.  My local groomer charges $5.00 a dog and she can't be that off on her prices.  I agree that you don't want someone who knows less than you do trying to cut her nails and you might just get that college student with a summer job at Pet smart. Seriously, that is highway robbery my Vet even charges much less than that.  Good luck.

  Post Points: 0

• 07-22-2008 10:40 PM

  In reply to luvmyswissy

  jennie_c_d Joined on 09-10-2007 Southeast Georgia Posts 8,707 Points 75

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact  I charge $10, and the vet I used to work for charges $16.50. $16.50 is a rip off, though, because I file the nails, and I'm a *lot* more comfortable trimming nails than they are. They used to call me up to do all of their nail trims, LOL. Mischeif N Miracles, CGC, RE (PRT, 10/13/2003) Libby's Monkey N The Middle (Chinese Crested, 1/26/2008) Teenie Weenie at the Bridge (Dachshund, ???-12/28/2007)

  Post Points: 0

• 07-23-2008 2:18 AM

  In reply to jennie_c_d

  grab01 Joined on 09-10-2007 middle of the desert Posts 883 Points 0

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact jennie_c_d:  I charge $10, and the vet I used to work for charges $16.50. $16.50 is a rip off, though, because I file the nails, and I'm a *lot* more comfortable trimming nails than they are. They used to call me up to do all of their nail trims, LOL.   I'm one of the few techs comfortable with doing nails with a dremel when it's requested by a client at work.  Most of the techs don't use dremels on their dogs nails, or see the point of it. If they do manage to do a dog's nails, it takes forever. I can do them in a speedy manner. Aesop gets his done normally twice a week. Last week it went a few days longer, so I had to catch up. He's getting much much better. He only wiggles for the front nails now, and just barely.  He will lay perfectly still for the rear nails now with no holding.

  Post Points: 0

• 07-23-2008 9:48 AM

  In reply to grab01

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 1,046 Points 10

  Re: nail trims at groomer Reply Contact Yeah, I think $16 is a rip off as well, especially since manchester terriers need to have their nails done weekly.  I doubt I will find anywhere around here that is much cheaper...they figure if you can afford to live in the area you can pay up the wazoo for nail trims!  If I only had someone to help me I'd be open to doing it myself.  DH has no patience for this sort of thing.  Now if he needed a dremel to do a bit of handywork around the house he'd be on it, but if it involves sqirming, thrashing dogs, forget it!   ETA: Just came back from the groomer.  I found a small boutique that charges $10.  Zack was so frightened by the sounds of the blow dryers he was too scared to fight, lol.  They did quick him, twice, and said that it happened because his quicks are really long and that they should go down with a few trims.  I hope this doesn't make him more scared of strange places, but it had to be done.  I just couldn't bear the sound of "click, click, click" on the wood floors anymore, and he can't do agility with nails that are too long. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 10 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

  Post Points: 0