Help! Basset hound HATES getting nails trimmed

While sedative to get going is a good idea, you still need to give training a try.

The object in training is teaching the dog to allow you to handle her feet. Try making it an incremental game (tiny increments) using a clicker. The end game is to allow you to hold any foot for a period of time and to never have a struggle. In some cases the dog may even offer you a foot if the training goes well.

After holding feet is easy I desensitize the dog to the Dremel and the sounds it makes using positive association with food. I do not handle feet with the Dremel running until the dog has that positive association.

Then I put the two together.

The process takes time and patience.

When an animal allows you to handle it's feet it gives up control and requires that the animal completely trusts you.

I use the same calm, incremental formula teaching a horse to give up it's foot for cleaning, trimming and shoeing. Force absolutely does not work with a 1200 (or more) pound animal. Cooperation is all that works. That is the goal regardless of the species.

These nail clippers have a guard so you only take off about 1/8 inch or so. For long nails you will have to trim them say once a week till you can get them down to a normal length. It's best if you start this when he is a puppy, and they will get used to it. An older dog will take alot of work, and you may have to use a sedative, like Toedtoes said.

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