Anonymous said to handsomedogs: I have a doberman that’s just under two years old. He has a phobia of having his nails clipped, and has ever since we got him as a puppy. He’s fine with you touching or playing with his paws but the second the clipper comes out, he screams roars and thrashes to get away. He’s never bitten me but it takes three people to hold him, and then it’s still almost impossible to clip his nails. Sedatives didn’t work, nor did high-motive treats. I’ve never nicked his quick or hurt him with a clipper, so I have NO IDEA why it does, and always has freaked him out. I don’t think the clipper itself hurts him? It’s an expensive one made specifically for large dogs, and my other pooch isn’t bothered at all by it. Is there any way we can ‘clip’ his nails without a clipper? Any ideas?
Nail trimming can be a pain with some dogs. Have you tried a dremel? He may just have a negative association with your particular style of clippers. While a dremel makes noises, it doesn’t squeeze down on the nail and create pressure that might be uncomfortable or scary to your dog. Especially if feet touching is ok, he could just have sensitive quiks, or dislikes that sudden CLIP noise.
The more you restrain, the more you assure your dog that it is in fact an experience to fear. It can be frustrating as a pet owner because it involves your concentration and careful execution to not make them bleed, all the while they are flailing and jerking their paws away. But a slow, calm, relaxing approach helps the both of you in the long run. If you plan to still use the clippers, try to give a reward after each loud CLIP instead of a constant reward throughout. You want him to associate that feeling and sound with a reward, not be reinforced to behave the way he is.
Frequent walks on cement year round typically maintain a healthy nail length. Be sure not to wear out your dog’s paw pads, as they can get scraped up easily from running on cement/asphalt, but when your pup steps on the ground their nails press into the ground and naturally grind. That’s why some dogs typically do not need their rear nails trimmed and only their fronts!
Good luck! I’m sure people will respond when an abundance of helpful tips!