Nail trimming is a difficult moment for many dogs. Being held, the noise of the clippers and the pressure on the nails are stimuli that can be uncomfortable for your dog. There are ways you can help make the situation more pleasant for him. One of these is desensitization, which we'll cover here.
The basic principle of desensitization is to gently accustom an animal to something that scares it and turn the experience into something positive, without overstepping its limits and provoking the fear response. This is a very gradual process that can take several months of work and a lot of patience.
Since the animal still needs to have its claws trimmed during this time, it is recommended to have them trimmed in an environment other than the home during this period to avoid creating negative experiences and losing our acquired skills. Desensitization sessions should always be short and positive and should never go so far as to cause the animal to express fear.
The first step is to teach your pet a position to get his nails trimmed without having to be held. We suggest you teach him to lie on his side. To do this, you need to arm yourself with treats! The best advice is to put a treat on his shoulder so he turns his head and takes it. Then, gently push on his shoulder, gradually increasing the degree of difficulty until the dog has to lie on his side to get his treat. You can then say the word you want to associate with this position while rewarding your dog.
Now it's time to gently get your pet used to having his paws handled. Start at the top of the legs, work your way around each leg, giving them plenty of treats! It is important to stop before observing signs of fear and always end on a positive note. Over the course of the sessions, you should be able to gradually move down the paw until you are able to isolate each finger, then apply pressure with your fingers to each claw.
When the animal no longer reacts to this, it is time to take out the nail clippers, make him smell it and reward him abundantly. Afterwards, you can try to get him used to the sound of the nail clippers, always with rewards. The last step is to cut one claw at a time.
The key to success in desensitization is to be patient and not to exceed your dog's tolerance limits, at the risk of losing acquired skills. The process can take several months, but can make nail trimming much more enjoyable for you and your companion. It is also possible to adapt this method for other treatments, such as cleaning the ears or brushing teeth!
Written by: Dr. Dominique Girard