Many dogs need their nails trimmed regularly to prevent overgrowth. But what should you do if your pet develops a phobia about nail trims?

Here are the Dos and Don’ts of calm nail trims for dogs.

First of all, let’s start with the Don’ts:

• If you’re not sure how to safely trim a dog’s nails to avoid the quick (the sensitive inner component that hurts and will bleed if cut), don’t try to clip your pet’s nails on your own! It’s best to consult our team for a tutorial on the proper technique.
• If your dog is scared of nail trims to the point of having panicked or aggressive responses, don’t overpower them to force a trim. You may achieve your goal in the short term, but they will just be even more resistant to future trims, and some pets may escalate to the point where you can no longer safely perform nail trims or other similar handling procedures on them at all. Instead, consult our team on other fear-free options (and check out the Dos below!)

Here are the Dos for happy nail clips:

• To help set young pups up for success, train them to feel comfortable with general grooming and veterinary-type handling during their critical socialisation period (between about 3-16 weeks old). This means daily positive sessions where you touch all over their body (including looking in their mouth, putting nail clippers near their paws, checking their ears, etc). Take it slowly at the start and build up gradually as your pup gains confidence, making sure to praise calm behaviour and reward them frequently with tasty treats!
• Make nail trims as pleasant as possible for your pet with a tasty distraction (such as a Lick-Mat covered with peanut butter or cream cheese stuck to a surface your pet can reach) or by feeding regular treats during the process.
• If your pet seems nervous about nail trims, consult our team about options for helping them cope. This may include the use of temporary anti-anxiety medications and/or behavioural modification techniques. Some dogs may also be trained to use scratch boards to help maintain their front nails (which they are often more nervous about).