How many times have your heard that one? It is especially hard to cut toenails if you can’t even hold his paw long enough.

To gain his trust

Start touching and rubbing the dogs feet at a very young age. This way he will be accustom to having his feet touch and you won’t have that problem. I have found that touching and rubbing the dogs feet and between the pads of his feet starting out at a very young age, will help out greatly as he gets older so I could hold his paw while cutting the toenails.

For dogs that are older and are not used to having their feet touched, slowly touch one of his paws and say good boy and give him a treat. Talk to him calmly and reassuringly while you rub his paw and give treats. Do this several times a day, touching only one of his paws. The next day try touching or rubbing another paw, as you give him his treats. This will take time, as it requires a great deal of trust from your dog and plenty of patience on your part.

Cutting nails

After you have gained his trust, you can introduce him to the toenail cutter or dremel. Have treats handy and give him several. Then you can try cutting the toenails on his foot. I suggest that when you start cutting the nails, you do it slowly and just cut a very small amount of nail off, and do it more often. This way you won’t cut to far down. If this happens, the dog remembers the pain associated with it and doesn’t want to cooperate as well. Remember to praise the dog when he holds still after cutting each nail. When you are all finished, make a big deal out of it. Give him hugs and treats and tell him he’s a good boy.

I’ve had many dogs throughout the years. Cutting toenails is one of the things I dislike most, not only because they won’t stand still long enough, but I’m always afraid that I will cut to far down which will hurt them. Toenails bleed ‘forever’ it seems if they get ’nicked’. Then you have to watch out for infection.

I’ve always cut the pups toenails while they are still in the whelping box. I know the mother of these pups appreciates it. Their toenails become sharp as little needles. I use  ‘human’ fingernail clippers while they are still young.

Then as they grow I use a ‘human’ toenail clipper.  As they mature, I had to use a regular toenail cutter designed especially for dogs, as their toenails become to tough to cut otherwise, at least on my large breed of dogs. This is where I have problems cutting the toenail. Since some of my adult dogs haven’t had their toenails cut for a while, they become very thick and hard. Cutting them with regular toenail cutters don’t work as well. I haven’t cut them as often as I should have, their toenails are now really thick and tough to cut through, and if they move or pull their foot away, I sometimes cut to far down.

Then finally, I’ve started using a dremel. It sure is a lifesaver for me. I’ve found one that is cordless and super quite. Because the dremel is quick and easy to use, it makes it so much easier to trim the nails. If I ‘cut’ to far down, the heat from this dremel seals the “nicked” part so it does not bleed. In my opinion, the dremel is the best way to cut nails, at least on the larger breed of dogs.