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Need dog grooming help!
me | jan 9 09 | grellis

Posted on 01/09/2009 2:39:14 PM PST by grellis

My Newfie/Lab cross will not allow me to trim her nails. She has tried to bite two groomers now, and the only success my vet had was with sedation--not cheap, when it has to be done every two months. I have tried every trimmer on the market, including the new battery powered models--nothing works. I've had Moxie since she was a puppy, and she has never been comfortable with anyone handling her toes. I'm at my wit's end! ANY suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks in advance!


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: dog; nailtrimming
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To: DieHard the Hunter
Have several people help you hold her (after she has been muzzled). Our JRT is a sweetie and we love him dearly. Except when it is nail trimming time. I took him to the groomer and he almost had a heart attack (literally).The noise from the trimmer scared him out of his wits. He began foaming and they had to stop.The vet recommended tranquilizing him prior to bringing him in.That was a flop because he is super sensitive to the sedative.Takes three days for it to leave his system. Only solution is for three of us to hold him down while the assistant trims them. I hate to do it like that ,but if you let them grow too long ,that is a bad situation to trim them also..Good luck. Oh and while I am running on. Please ,if you know of anyone who uses ProMeris on their dog (Flea control),please tell them it is killing animals. We tried it on him a few months back and he almost died. I went online and since have found many cases like him.Posted on several blogs about our experience and I still receive e-mails from people who have had terrible experiences with it. Many owners lost their pets. Called ProMeris people. They said “Well ,isolated cases”. Wrong.Many many”isolated” cases. Have called vets ,pet stores warning them etc.Better to have them think I am an over protective owner than to have someone use it on their animal and lose him/her.
61 posted on 01/09/2009 3:26:11 PM PST by Disgusted in Texas
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To: grellis

You really should be using a muzzle. For your own safety, that is. You have a powerful dog.


62 posted on 01/09/2009 3:33:34 PM PST by Tallguy ("The sh- t's chess, it ain't checkers!" -- Alonzo (Denzel Washington) in "Training Day")
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To: trisham
What I’ve done is to stand next to the bowl and praise and drop treats as they were eating.

That's a great idea, and very perceptive of you.

63 posted on 01/09/2009 3:34:34 PM PST by mupcat
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To: AirForceMom
There is some good remedies here -- I use the Rescue Remedy, the anti-Anxiety and I see they have some new formulas since I last ordered from them, I have about ten different formulas... I give the morning they are going to be groomed again in an hour or so and then when she arrives I sent my most laid back out first (mobile groomer) and then dose the other two again... we always had to muzzle Daisy but they have never had to muzzel her, say she is just as good as can be.

http://search.onlynaturalpet.com/search.aspx?searchterms=flower-essences-for-pets

64 posted on 01/09/2009 3:36:37 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Radl

You might want to try some of the Flower Essences instead.


65 posted on 01/09/2009 3:38:10 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn

Thank you! I bookmarked the site for when I have time to look through everything. ;)


66 posted on 01/09/2009 3:45:44 PM PST by AirForceMom
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To: Arizona Carolyn

That would work for the homo poodle.


67 posted on 01/09/2009 3:47:29 PM PST by Radl (rtr)
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To: Carley

Gravel works good, too.


68 posted on 01/09/2009 3:51:28 PM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma (When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule the people mourn. Proverbs 29;2)
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To: grellis

Try This.
69 posted on 01/09/2009 3:53:52 PM PST by HighlyOpinionated (YOU can get your own Bail Out . . .Dec 18 post at http://auntiecoosa.blogspot.com)
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To: grellis
I had this problem when I got my 75 pound lab. It takes patience. I found that the best clipper to use is the all metal older version + a plate of small pieces of hot dog.(I tried the fancy clippers and they were harder to work with when the dog is stubborn)
#1 get dog to lay on side
#2 give 1 small piece of hot dog
#3 I pick up the paw at the ankle and pull back slightly on the skin and this makes the nail stand out a bit.I don't touch the nail but lay the whole paw in my hand and clip one nail
#4 clip only one nail and give another small piece of hot dog. The dog may jump up to get the hot dog, but coax her back to laying on her side. I did this for each NAIL. The first time I trimmed her nails it took about 45 minutes.
Now when she see’s the nail trimmer, she's laying down in a flash with tail wagging. I have been doing it this way for years and she is no problem, but the first couple of times you trim it takes a long time. Good luck. pieces of velvetta cheese also work.
70 posted on 01/09/2009 4:01:07 PM PST by goat granny
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To: mupcat

Not so much. I think I read it somewhere. :)


71 posted on 01/09/2009 4:02:02 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: grellis
Bag Balm. On your hands, not the dog. Tastes terrible.
72 posted on 01/09/2009 4:09:12 PM PST by Excellence (What Madoff is to finance Gore is to global warming.)
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To: grellis

I’ve got a 12 year old basset hound who no longer likes having her nails cut. Just like old folks, her nails have gotten tougher over the years. Out of desperation, I rubbed foot cream on each of her nails, let it soak in for @ five minutes, and it went much better than when we took her to the vet! I hold on to her(try holding skin at nape of neck like their moms would when they were babies) while mr. uvular clips and we always have some styptic powder nearby for any too-close cuts. If possible, I try to also hold a chew bone for her.


73 posted on 01/09/2009 4:18:00 PM PST by uvular
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To: lefty-lie-spy

Gotcha! She’s not troublesome, though—that’s what’s really puzzling about this. She’s totally got the personality of a Newfie. Nothing gets to her, nothing. She doesn’t guard food or toys, she’s not dominant, she’s not submissive...I hate to say it, but most of the time she acts like she’s a stoned teenager. If a dog could grin, it would be her.


74 posted on 01/09/2009 4:20:02 PM PST by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
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To: DieHard the Hunter
Well, the vet is part of the problem...our vet of ten years recently took a job TB testing cattle, and our new vet has no problem doping up Moxie to cut her nails. I have a problem with it. At 100+ pounds, she's not cheap to sedate. If I knew a safe dosage of sleeping pills for her, I'd take care of it all at home, but I don't even know if otc sleep aids for humans are safe for dogs. Vet just says "This is best handled by a professional."

Yes, I am in the market for a new professional!

75 posted on 01/09/2009 4:24:49 PM PST by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
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To: Conservativegreatgrandma

Running a dog on gravel could lead to bits getting stuck inbetween the toes or even sticking him/her with a sharp piece.


76 posted on 01/09/2009 4:27:49 PM PST by Carley
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To: grellis
Gotcha! She’s not troublesome, though—that’s what’s really puzzling about this. She’s totally got the personality of a Newfie. Nothing gets to her, nothing. She doesn’t guard food or toys, she’s not dominant, she’s not submissive...I hate to say it, but most of the time she acts like she’s a stoned teenager. If a dog could grin, it would be her.

Cheers, and thanks for being a good sport. I really don't have any advice to offer though, as I've never had a dog that was so picky about her toes. (Bathing is a whole different story however :) It looks like there's been a lot of helpful ideas posted though. Good luck with her.
77 posted on 01/09/2009 4:29:00 PM PST by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/)
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To: hoosiermama

That’s exactly it. Someone has botched the job in the past, probably cutting down to the quick twice or more.

First thing to do is get the dog to accept handling of the feet.

Next thing to do is use something that won’t fracture the nails. We like using a Dremel tool and a sanding drum to take down nails. Works well on our Kuvasz.


78 posted on 01/09/2009 4:49:40 PM PST by NVDave
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To: Arizona Carolyn

Properly used, a shock collar can teach lessons that cannot be taught any other way. Assuming, of course, that your dog isn’t smart enough to know the difference between when he is wearing one, and when he is not.


79 posted on 01/09/2009 4:54:38 PM PST by Mr Rogers (And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way - Reagan)
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To: Arizona Carolyn

“If you cannot pick your dogs dish up and remove it while he/she is eating you have a real problem. That is one of the tests they give dogs at the humane society to determine if they are adoptable, if the dog doesn’t pass that test they are euthanized.”

Those tests are incredibly stupid. They should be banned.


80 posted on 01/09/2009 4:56:11 PM PST by Mr Rogers (And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way - Reagan)
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