Trimming Feet

[lavenderlacewed]

trimming

went and read your blog on trimming feet and ears cant wait to give it a try,mind you my two shelties are very unco operative he he .thanks .pat x

 

[GeeRome]

Pat! The most creative idea I have ever heard for convincing a dog to allow you to fiddle with their feet is to wear a ball cap (an old one preferably) and smear the inside of the peak with peanut butter! Keeps the dog busy and their head out of the way while you play with the footsies!

Myself, I prefer to lay my guys on their back to trim nails and the hair between paw pads. Then stand them up to do the tops of the paws. But that takes some patience as well. You might just be able to get one paw done per day for the first while. That's fine, too

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Pat! The most creative idea I have ever heard for convincing a dog to allow you to fiddle with their feet is to wear a ball cap (an old one preferably) and smear the inside of the peak with peanut butter! Keeps the dog busy and their head out of the way while you play with the footsies!

Myself, I prefer to lay my guys on their back to trim nails and the hair between paw pads. Then stand them up to do the tops of the paws. But that takes some patience as well. You might just be able to get one paw done per day for the first while. That's fine, too

You're so creative, the hat thing would never have occurred to me!

I guess I'm lucky, Sadie is very patient about having her grooming done. I think she's figured out that she gets treats for being patient

 

[GeeRome]

I can't take credit for the hat idea. A friend of mine told me about that a couple of years ago. I've never tried it myself, but she swore by it. Her dog didn't seem to mind her handling its feet, but would always have to have his nose right in there in the middle of things.

 

[Calliesmom]

:

Myself, I prefer to lay my guys on their back to trim nails and the hair between paw pads. Then stand them up to do the tops of the paws. But that takes some patience as well. You might just be able to get one paw done per day for the first while. That's fine, too

So what would you do if your sheltie didn't like to be on her back??

 

[GeeRome]

LOL I've never had that problem!

I'm quite uncoordinated and clumsy if I can't get the right angle at something. I've never been successful in trimming nails while the dog is upright. So I would likely start working on having the dog accept being turned on its side or back. When she is laying down and resting, quietly sit beside her and rub her belly. If you get the really good spot (kinda just below their ribs where the hair meets the pink belly on her flank) and scratch it just right, they will often roll over on their back in pure bliss! Just do short sessions, don't force her to go farther than she wants to at the time. Next time, if she is laying on her side, gently roll her over onto her back and then immediately back to her side. Don't hold her on her back for any length of time, just go smoothly and calmly from side to back to side and leave it at that.

If she is reasonably comfortable with handling, then just start picking her up and holding her in your arms in different angles and positions. The trick there is to move confidently. If you move in a jerky fashion or seem unsure of yourself, the dog will sense that and not feel comfortable or safe in your arms.

I start from a very young age with this sort of exercise so it never has reached a point where I couldn't manipulate my dogs' position. Picking the dog up, turning it on its back, flipping it on its side, etc. The more you do it, the more comfortable and accepting they will become of the process.

It's now routine that when it is time to do their nails, I will sit on the floor in the living room, and call one of the dogs over to me. They will walk over and stand perpendicular to how I am sitting. I then pick them up, say "flip" and flip them over on their back. Swivel them around so I can hold them steady between my legs, bum closest to me and head by my feet. Clip clip clip, all done!

 

[Calliesmom]

If I ever get a puppy, it will get trained for all that handling. but I got Callie when she was 5 and I've only seen her on her back once in almost 2 years. I did flip her over one time to do something to her belly when brushing- she didn't really like it but she does let me do a lot of stuff to her. She is also not much of a jumper so I do pick her up lots- to get in the car and for couch snuggles. I will have to work on that- problem is when she is laying on her side- if I move, she gets up. but we'll see what we can do. I have been just taking the tips of her nails off when I brush her- also usually trim the bottom paw hair. she slides if we don't keep up with it.

 

[Ann]

The single best investment I ever made for grooming at the strong recommendation of my breeder was a grooming table. I got it from PetEdge.com where they can be had for a reasonable price. I don't even use the arm any more, but it makes life so much easier for grooming, and they know what the drill is now when they're on it. I could not believe the difference it made in the process, not to mention on my back!

My dogs wouldn't flip or lay on their backs for me either without squirming. When I need to trim feet I use an old trick I learned with the horses. I pick up one foot and hold it up while I trim the other one they are balancing on. They can't hop around and will hold the foot still while you clip. I do put them on my lap when I trim nails though, especially with the Peticure. They still squirm, but eventually I hope they'll get over that.

Dayna I love your tutorials, they are SO helpful. I've always used the thinning shears for ears but never thought of it for feet. Brilliant!!

 

[lavenderlacewed]

hi

Pat! The most creative idea I have ever heard for convincing a dog to allow you to fiddle with their feet is to wear a ball cap (an old one preferably) and smear the inside of the peak with peanut butter! Keeps the dog busy and their head out of the way while you play with the footsies!

Myself, I prefer to lay my guys on their back to trim nails and the hair between paw pads. Then stand them up to do the tops of the paws. But that takes some patience as well. You might just be able to get one paw done per day for the first while. That's fine, too

my dogs lie down pretty good never thought to use this in there grooming thanks .pat