Desensitization for Nail Trims - Laura Anna See, DVM

Desensitization/counter-conditioning is a process you can use for almost anything your dog is nervous about. The key is to start at a point where your dog is not nervous at all – this point will be different for different dogs. Some dogs cannot even sit or lie down quietly next to the owner for more than a few seconds. If this is your dog, then you should first start with training a sit-stay or down-stay that lasts several minutes. Other dogs can handle their foot being touched but not with the nail clippers.

You need to decide where your dog should start with the following protocol based on how comfortable he appears. You should look for a relaxed face, soft eyes, easy panting or no panting while you are doing these exercises. If you see pinched ears, the whites of the eyes, yawning, or the corners of the lips being drawn back in a “grin”, or if your dog whines or cries, your dog is getting too nervous and you have gone too far too fast.

For these exercises to be successful, you need to find a reward your dog adores . If you can find a food treat that your dog loves, this is the easiest thing to use. For our example, we will use a tiny piece of a tasty treat, such as freeze-dried liver or boiled chicken. Be sure to give the treat immediately after each exercise

Completing all of the steps below will take a different length of time for different dogs. Dogs with mild problems may finish in a week; but dogs that are severely agitated by nail trims will take weeks. If you need to have the nails trimmed back for real during this training time, either have someone else do it or have your veterinarian sedate the dog. Your dog must learn to trust that you are not going to hurt it during this training process.

You should go through each of the following steps for each foot .

If your dog has ever bitten you for touching his feet, do not try these exercises without professional assistance.

Step One: Touching the Dog's Feet

Start with whatever place on your dog's leg/body that the dog does not mind being touched (this might be the foot itself or as high as the back or shoulder). Touch that area, then immediately give a treat. Repeat this sequence for as many repetitions as it takes for the dog to remain calm and not try to draw the leg or paw away from your touch. Then if the dog is calm, begin touching a place a little closer to the foot. Watch your dog carefully for signs of stress, and if you see them, back up a little in the process. Work to the point where you can pick up the foot, hold it, and move the toes around with your dog remaining calm in anticipation of the treat that follows.

Step Two: Seeing and Hearing the Nail Clippers

We want the dog to learn that the sight and noise of the clippers means he is about to get a treat. If your dog is very reactive to the clippers, keep them out of sight at first. Sit next to your dog. Bring the clippers into view and then immediately give the dog a treat while you hide the clippers again. Repeat this until the dog perks up looking for food when it sees the clippers. At this stage, you can begin to bring the clippers closer to the dog when you bring them into view. Once the dog is comfortable with the sight of the clippers, you can begin working on the sound. Click the clippers, then immediately give a treat. Do this over and over until your dog loves the sound of the clippers!

Step Three: Holding Feet While Clippers are in other Hand

Hold the nail clippers in one hand far away from the dog. Sit next to the dog with the nail clippers (if you did Step Two appropriately, your dog should be excited about the nail clippers being this close!) Click the clippers and give a treat. Now pick up his foot with one hand, click the clippers in the other (far away from the dog) and give a treat. Let go of the dog's foot in between each repetition. Repeat this sequence, gradually moving the clippers closer to the dog's foot until he calmly sits with his paw in your hand while you click the clippers right next to the nail. (Do not actually touch the nail at this point.)

Step Four: “Practice” Clipping Nail

After you have worked through Step Three, place the clippers over the end of the nail, but DO NOT CUT. Give the dog a treat and let go of the foot. Repeat this step until the dog sits calmly and does not try to pull its foot away at all. When the dog is comfortable with this step, then put the clippers over the nail and close the clippers against the nail, but do not actually cut the nail. Give the dog a treat and release the foot. Repeat this until the dog can remain calm and does not try to pull its foot away.

Step Five: Make Your First Cut

Place the clippers over the end of the dog's nail and close them against the nail. If the dog remains calm, then trim just the very tip of the nail. Immediately after the clip, release the dog's paw and give your dog a treat. This is not a real nail trim, this is just your dog getting used to the feeling of the nail clippers on his nail (it is an odd sensation to many dogs). Do this for all the nails on one paw if you can, giving a treat after each toenail, and then stop. Do not do more than one paw per session at this stage. Be very careful not to clip into the quick, as this will be painful and set back your training.

Step Six: Clipping Nails