Nail Clippers Means Treats

By now, your dog is totally comfortable with you reaching and holding her paw for five seconds. Now, let’s add nail clippers in the mix. We’re still not cutting nails, just touching nail clippers to paw and nail, pretending to trim nails.

Usually, when clippers appear, your dog’s ears flatten against her head and she looks away. By the end of this tutorial, your dog will happily look and allow nail clippers to touch her paw.

Step One

Goal: Dog looks at nail clippers and gets treats.

• Place nail clippers about three to four feet from your dog, and click and treat when she looks at them.
• Practice five times in a row, then put clippers in a drawer and end training session.
• Practice one or two more training sessions, rotating between front and back paws, with plenty of breaks in between.
• When your dog will look at the nail clippers, it’s time to move forward.

VIDEO: Clipping Dog Nails – Touch the Nail Clippers

Step Two

Goal: Touch nail clippers to paw for a nanosecond.

• Pick up and reach for your dog’s paw with nail trimmers. Practice five times and end session.
• Pick up nail trimmers and place next to your dog’s nail just for a nanosecond. Click as trimmers touch your dog’s paw. If she moves her paw, place trimmers about one or two feet away and click/treat a few times.
• Practice five times in a row, then put clippers in a drawer and end training session.
• Practice one or two more training sessions, rotating between back and front paws, with plenty of breaks in between.
• When your dog is comfortable with clippers touching her paw, move to the next step.

Step Three

Goal: Pretend to trim one nail with clippers.

• Pick up your dog’s paw and place clippers against her nail. Click or say “yes,” as the clipper touches her nail. Release paw and put clippers down, then give her a treat.
• Practice five times in a row, then put clippers in a drawer and end training session.
• Practice one or two more training sessions, rotating between front and back paws, with plenty of breaks in between.
• Once your dog is comfortable with you holding nail clippers against her nail for one second, slowly increase time to five seconds.

VIDEO: Clipping Dog Nails – Pretend to Trim a Nail

REVISIT:
Trimming Dog Nails: Reaching for Paw
Trimming Dog Nails: Restraining Your Dog’s Paw