How to hold a dog when trimming its nails

The process of nail trimming often frightens dogs, causing them to become restless, resist, and struggle. Therefore, owners performing this procedure themselves need to know not only how to properly use the tool but also how to hold the dog while trimming to avoid harming the animal.

Content

1 Reasons for difficulty with retention
2 Rules of conduct
3 Algorithm for correct retention

Reasons for difficulty with retention

Difficulty trimming nails can be caused by a variety of reasons. Most often, they are related to circumstances such as:

unsuccessful experience with previous haircuts;
excessive excitability of the dog, other individual behavioral characteristics;
the pet's response to the owner's experiences;
an incorrect position or method of holding an animal that causes it discomfort.

Please note! Your dog needs support. Therefore, during preparation and during nail trimming, be calm, reassuring, and comforting.

You should speak to the animal in a soft tone, telling it everything is fine. Avoid raising your voice, yelling, or intimidating it, as this will have the opposite effect. Giving it its favorite treats can also have a calming effect and distract it from what's happening.

Rules of conduct

If this is your first time trimming your dog's nails, you should introduce it gradually. First, pick up the dog's paws and sit for a while, allowing it to get used to being touched without becoming irritated. Once the dog no longer reacts to its paws being held, pick them up. nail clipper, carefully run it over the claws, also giving time to get used to such manipulations.

When trimming, avoid touching the area around the nails with your hands, as this can cause tickling or other unusual sensations that could cause your pet to struggle. For the same reason, avoid squeezing the paw too tightly, preventing the dog from moving it. Any animal that feels threatened or threatened will struggle and try to escape.

It's crucial to avoid creating any situation that might make your pet think they're being harmed. To achieve this, all your movements should be firm and precise, yet gentle and unobtrusive.

There are several options for how to properly hold a dog when trimming its nails:

Many dog owners prefer to place their pet on a table to make the procedure more convenient;
others take it in their arms, pressing it to their body.

However, professional groomers recommend having a second person hold the dog to prevent it from getting up and running away or from twitching and hurting itself.

If the animal struggles, preventing manipulation, you can wrap it in a blanket. This will also require another person to hold the dog while the owner frees the paw and trims the nails.

Important! If, despite all measures taken to ensure the procedure is carried out correctly, the pet whines If the dog is struggling to get away, this indicates increased sensitivity. In this case, a few minutes before clipping, treat the paws with an anesthetic solution of lidocaine.

Algorithm for correct retention

When trimming your dog's nails, you should hold it in the following manner:

secure the pet to the surface with the help of an assistant;
take the required claw with your fingers and perform the necessary manipulations;
look at the animal’s reaction, calm it down if necessary, and reward it with a treat;
do the same operation with all the claws on all the paws;
If the dog is too restless, the procedure can be carried out in several stages.

If your pet cannot be calmed by any means, it is recommended to use sedatives or take it to a veterinarian to have the procedure performed by a specialist.

You can avoid many problems with restraining your dog during nail trimming by choosing the right place and time. It's best to perform the procedure on a comfortable couch or your pet's favorite spot. Your pet should be in a friendly mood, such as after a walk or feeding. If your dog is excited or frightened, postpone the trimming.

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