| Re: Laser Nail Trim
Have you tried muzzling your dog and tieing him to a fence of post?
Our older girl is about 9 yo (rescue so we're not 100% sure). I do nails once or twice a week, so Tula's had years of me doing her nails. Each session was a struggle with Tula snapping, growling, bug-eyed, and flailing around. Finally a couple of years ago I muzzled her in exasperation.
It's made a significant difference. Tula is much more relaxed. She still struggles and fusses, but the intensity is gone. It's almost as tho she realizes she can't bite me so she doesn't have to struggle against me doing her nails and struggle against her knowledge that biting me will cause bad things to happen to her. By muzzling her, I removed her responsibility for herself, so the war that clearly raged in her to keep her bite inhibition in place in our pre-muzzle days isn't there.
I wish I had muzzled Tula years ago when it was clear that her weak, pet-store pup nerves couldn't stand the stress of nail trimming.
(BTW--I've never had a foster dog who needed muzzling and some of them initially didn't like having their nails done. They all left for their forever homes good about having their nails done. My DH and I have been fostering for 10 years for Rottie rescue. Tula is the only personal dog since I've had the breed (1984) who I've muzzled.)  |