Nail trimmers are often one of the most feared tools a groomer can show a dog. Some dogs are so fearful of a set of nail trimmers they will flee at the mere sight of them. During this section of the course, we will help our pets look forward to seeing these tools instead of dreading them.
If you skipped to this part because your dog only has a problem with nail trims and nothing else, do your pet and yourself a favor and go back to the beginning. Nail desensitization is at the end for a reason. We are building up a foundation of trust, training and treats to approach these feared and dreaded objects.
If you try to desensitize the nail trimmers without that foundation, you will not only likely fail in your mission, but you may make things worse. Desensitization is a journey, not something that can be fixed instantly in 10 minutes or less. If someone is promising you that—they’re lying.
You simply can’t get your dog to like or feel comfortable with nail trimmers without a solid foundation. The previous exercises build on that foundation.
Outside of this groom training course, we’ve also talked extensively about nail desensitization on this blog. Our feature image is a page from a comic I made showing how desensitization works from a dog’s perspective. I encourage you to read it to get a better understanding of how desensitization works.
Assuming you have gone through all the previous exercises and your dog is used to having their paws handled, you’re ready to move on to the dread clippers.
Showing the Clippers
If you’ve worked through all the other items, you probably know what we’re doing here. Your pup probably does too. Even if they have a special fear of the clippers, they may be more relaxed than they otherwise would because they know the routine.
Set the clippers on the floor, and let your dog inspect them. Reward any positive interactions with the clippers. If your dog is afraid and hangs back, that’s okay. Toss the treats indirectly (no beaning the pup on the head with a hotdog slice) so they can enjoy the treats while inspecting from a safe distance.
How your pup reacts to the clippers will determine what you do next. If they flee the room entirely and won’t even hang around for treats, that’s a sign there’s some deep trauma there. This is unlikely if you have laid the groundwork with the rest of this course, but it’s still possible with sensitive things like clippers.
If your dog is genuinely afraid of the clippers, approach this like you would a trauma victim who is justifiably terrified. It’s likely your pet has been quicked before, which is very painful. They have a real fear, and that fear is valid.
If they entirely flee the room, try taking them outside on a long lead and working with them there, or in a larger room where they can create more distance. Working with them outside is likely to work, since any trauma they have had is likely to have been indoors, and dogs don’t generalize well.
What ever distance your dog is comfortable with, be that right next to the clippers or 20 feet away, reward your pet for seeing the clippers (without touching them) 10-15 times and then put them away.
For frightened dogs, keep up this routine of showing them the clippers and tossing them treats until they are happy to be right next to the clippers to get snacks. If you started outside, gradually bring them inside and present the clippers in different rooms, until your pup is fine with the clippers being present in general.
Touching the Clippers
When your dog is completely confident in the clippers being present but not touched, it’s time to make things a little harder. Warm up by presenting the clippers for inspection, and rewarding them for being around the clippers.
Next, touch the clippers without picking them up and give your dog a treat. If your pup panics, that’s okay. They’ve probably decided that the clippers are fine and even good if they’re not in human hands, it’s holding them that makes them scary.
Give your pup as much space as they need to feel secure about the clippers being touched by you. Do not pick them up at this stage. Simply touch the clippers.
Watch your pup carefully for signs they are worried about this behavior. It may be as fleeting as a quick foldback of the ears or slightly tighter lips. Touch the clippers and then give them a treat. Keep doing that until they associate you touching the clippers with the treats.
Your goal is to keep at this stage, 10-15 repetitions a session, until your puppy is comfortable being close to the clippers while you do this. When they are completely comfortable, you can move to picking up the clippers.
Picking up the Clippers
When your dog is completely comfortable with you touching the clippers, pick them up, give your pup a treat, and then set them down again. Once again, gauge your pet’s reaction. Did they fly backwards a few feet because now you’re holding the clippers? Did they nervously lick their lips or look away? These are signs they are worried about the clippers.
If they feel safer ten feet away from the clippers, that’s okay. Toss the treats a little to one side of them, so they associate the clippers with having a treat, not getting things thrown at them.
Keep picking up the clippers, tossing a treat, and then setting it back down 10-15 reps at a time, at least one session a day, until your pup clearly anticipates a treat when ever they see you pick up the clickers.
When they’re immediately looking for the treat the second the clippers are in your hand, and are comfortable being close to the clippers, you can begin the next phase.
Reaching Forward with Clippers
Now that you can hold the clippers without it bothering your pup, it’s time to start bringing them toward the dog. Although the goal is to clip toenails eventually, right now you shouldn’t be aiming the clippers at the feet. Aim for a neutral area like the shoulder, and just bring the clippers forward 2-3 inches. A slight bump.
Your dog will definitely notice that they’ve moved toward them. As you are reaching forward, give them a treat. Repeat this 10-15 times, over several sessions, until your dog is comfortable.
The session after they are comfortable with this small movement, build up to where you can reach the clippers half way to their shoulder, treat, and then remove the clippers. It’s better not to reward the pulling away of the clippers (doing the complete forward motion, pulling back, and then giving treat). You want to reward the motion of the clippers coming forward.
Repeat this 10-15 times, over as many sessions as it takes for your dog to be relaxed, carefree, and clearly anticipating the treat when the clippers are moving.
Next Week, we’ll go over the big moment of touching your pup with the clippers!
Similar Posts:
- Clipper Desensitization
- Water Desensitization, Part 4
- How To Make Your Dog Like Nail Trims
- Introduction to Tail Desensitization
- Touch Desensitization: Feet
