Fear of Nail Cutting
Oh, dogs have plenty of reasons to hate nail trims. The main reason is us (pet parents). We’ve given dogs plenty of reasons to hide under the sofa when we reach for the nail trimmers.
Dog nail trims can become a vicious circle: squeezing nails and too much restraint equals hulking out. And around we go!
Do know, there’s an easier way to trimming your dog’s nails and it takes less time than hulking out moments. 🙂
Check out dog nail trimming tutorials.
Why Dogs Fear Nail Cutting
“Hulking Out” Pet Parents
Even the nicest most caring pet parent can turn into the Incredible Hulk before and during nail trims. If you’re on the receiving end of a “hulking out” moment, it’s scary to say the least. Pet parents are tense and stressed out. They dislike trimming their dog’s nails as much as their dog hates it. But they power through it by chasing their scared dog, pinning them to the ground and snipping bits of nails off with lots of yelling, threats and more pinning.
Body Restraint
It’s important to teach dogs that body restraint is harmless and they can earn lots of treats when they remain still during restraint. Plus, some pet parents apply unneeded amounts of pressure on a dog’s paw when trimming nails. Honestly, you don’t need much pressure to hold your dog’s paw–just enough to hold the nail steady as you trim.
Squeezing Nails
Nope, it’s not a punk rock band. It’s something pet parents routinely do during nail trims. Dull nail trimmers squeeze a dog’s nail before trimming, which hurts! Tense and uncertain pet owners open and close nail trimmers around a dog’s nail, squeeze for a bit and then release because they’re unsure where to trim the nail. Oi, the suspense! And the more unsure a pet parent becomes, the more pressure applied to a dog’s paw. Here goes the vicious cycle again!
READ MORE: Dog Nail Trimming Tools
