Trimming Dog Nails: Restraining Your Dog’s Paw (2 of 3)

Fanna Easter

11 years ago

Restraining Your Dog’s Paw for Nail Trimming

Let’s teach your dog that paw restraint is fun and pays with yummy treats! Plus, restraining your dog’s paw is an important part of nail trimming.

Goal: Wrap your hand around your dog’s paw for a split second.

Lightly wrap your hand around your dog’s paw just for a nanosecond and let go. Click as you’re wrapping your hand around your dog’s paw. Release and give him a treat.
If he moves his paw away, try wrapping two fingers around his paw. Click as you’re wrapping, release and give him a treat.
Practice five times in a row.
End session and take a break.
Practice during several training sessions over the next few days. Alternate between front and back paws.

If your dog pulls his paw away:

If this happens, release his paw and don’t click or give him a treat. We’re only clicking when he allows you to hold his paw.
When reaching for his paw, if he begins pulling his paw back and before you touch him, go back to this article.
Taking steps back is normal. Everyone needs to refresh so take the pressure off you and your dog. 🙂

Goal: Hold your dog’s paw for one second.

Wrap your hand around your dog’s paw and lightly say “one Mississippi” and release. Click as you’re saying “Mississippi,” release and give your dog a treat.
If your dog tries to pull back his paw, hold his paw for a shorter time, such as when saying “one.” Click as you’re saying “one,” release and give him a treat.
Practice five times in a row.
End session and take a break.
Practice during several training sessions over the next few days. Alternate between front and back paws.

Goal: Hold paw for longer periods of time. Try to teach for five to 10 seconds, which should be plenty of time to trim four nails, which comes later.

Following instructions in step two, slowly click when your dog allows longer periods of paw holding.

For two to three training sessions, hold paw for two seconds (one Mississippi, two Mississippi).
Continue adding one-second intervals during training sessions.