Puppy nail trimming Help

[myrottie_chyna]

I was trying to trim chyna's nails the other day. Let me tell ya, it was no easy task. She flailed, mouthed, cried... all this before even getting any of them clipped. :(
What is the best method of getting a 10 wk old pup to hold still long enough to let me clip her nails? Should she be put on her back, or in a sitting position?
Or should I have my husband hold her on his chest with her tummy facing me? (that wont work for long since she is getting big).
HOW do you all teach them to hold still for clipping?
I did finally manage to get them done by having her on her back between my legs on the floor, but she fought me the whole way.
I dont want to accidently hurt her with her struggling while I am trying to clip.
HEEEEEEEEELLLP!!!!

[alexav]

Slowly and methodicaly conditioning her to accept her feet being handled is the best for all involved.

Depending on how much you've worked on handling her feet, you may have to take it very slow. Like even just touching one toe at a time and rewarding her when she holds still. This has been traumatic for her and has set your training back at least a notch or two, but she needs to learn that you are not going to hurt her and yes, it's a little unpleasant but she needs to accept it as a necessary evil. Make sure that you are not asking to much but that she relax BEFORE you let her go.

If you have to wrestle her each time and it is so unpleasant for all of you, as she gets bigger and stronger, you will have a real problem.

[marianne]

With puppies a human toe nail clipper is all you need to start. When pups have been introduced to their new families one of the things they leave here was with a class on HOW to do the nail trimming. Have some one hold the pup and trim the curved tip. I would also have one of the older dogs help with a demonstration of the use of the Dremel tool for when the nails grew thick. For a puppy if you must....treats may be given to keep the pup occupied. I do prefer to save the treats for training. You are the boss here! Now is the time for you to be #1. You can do it ....this is just a baby.:)

[Rajah'sMom]

I have been doing Rajah's while she naps. It has worked well.

[Charles V]

I agree with alexav. I have 2 puppies and from the moment I got them have been working with them to be comfortable in situations like nail trimming, teeth brushing and general handling. Before I ever trimmed their nails, I went through the motions several times over the course of a couple weeks without the trimmers so they were comfortable with me handling their paws. I have only trimmed their nails once, but it seemed to work pretty well, even after just 2 or 3 weeks of "conditioning" they are very comfortable with their nails being trimmed.

[mijpa]

Originally posted by myrottie_chyna
I was trying to trim chyna's nails the other day. Let me tell ya, it was no easy task. She flailed, mouthed, cried... all this before even getting any of them clipped. :(
What is the best method of getting a 10 wk old pup to hold still long enough to let me clip her nails? Should she be put on her back, or in a sitting position?
Or should I have my husband hold her on his chest with her tummy facing me? (that wont work for long since she is getting big).
HOW do you all teach them to hold still for clipping?
I did finally manage to get them done by having her on her back between my legs on the floor, but she fought me the whole way.
I dont want to accidently hurt her with her struggling while I am trying to clip.
HEEEEEEEEELLLP!!!!

I TO STRUGGLED WITH THIS UNTIL JUDI W. REPLEYED TO ONE OF MY POSTS, SHE TOLD ME TO PUT THE PUP INBETWEEN MY LEGS WITH HIS HEAD FACING AWAY FROM ME AND I HOLD HIM WITH MY LEGS AND JUST DO IT.SHE ALSO SAID TO PET HIM AND REASURE HIM EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT, YOU CAN ALSO HAVE A TREAT WITH YOU THAT USUALLY WORKS PRETTY GOOD TO.