My dog fights us every time we

[babylonsister]

try to clip her nails. I mean, she will not let us! We have a grinder and clippers but can't get near her with either. She's a 100# yellow lab and abhors us even getting near her with those tools. We gave her two Composure gummies yesterday before I even tried to lay on her to hold her down, no dice. She's a rescue so there's no telling what kind of trauma she may have experienced in her previous life.

I'm looking for any tips to accomplish this feat, or maybe just sympathy. I imagine we'll eventually have to bring her to the local aid to animals to get her claws clipped.

[Ocelot II]

1. I had the same problem with most of my cats.

Eventually I gave up and left that chore to the vet, since cats, though small, are fierce and mighty; they are like hairy chainsaws. Dogs aren't as pointy all over, but if wrassling a 10# cat is a fraught exercise I can just imagine trying to restrain an uncooperative 100# dog. Can you distract her with treats?

[MLAA]

2. Some tips friends have used include giving her peanut butter to distract her, if 2 people are available one holds the

spoon with peanut butter if not it’s time to be creative like wearing one of those clear plastic shields with peanut butter spread on it. I have one friend whose otherwise sweet little Chihuahua has to go to the vet and be fully sedated which is a very expensive process.

[Karadeniz]

3. Theres a sling that hoists the dog up off the ground. Im in the same boat. We

take our pittie mix to the vet. We'd need to set up a pulley and we're too weak nowadays. Look up the dog sling on the internet.

[Quakerfriend]

4. I feel for you! My 128# German Shepherd - same

thing!

I take him to the walk-in groomer for $15.

He’s very docile, as pups go.

[1WorldHope]

5. My dogs have a pathway from the porch to the back gate.

It is paved with flag stone. They listen for the garbage trucks and take off like race horses to "scare them away". I don't have to trim their nails at all. Maybe more walks on concrete? It's terrible to have to knock them out to cut their nails. But they don't leave us much choice at times.

[bamagal62]

6. My dog will only

Let me do her front paws. She all of a sudden has “jackrabbit feet” with her back paws. I stopped trying and now get the vet techs at my vet to do it.

My cat thinks she’s at the spa when I do hers. I start by gently massaging her paws. She immediately relaxes and starts purring. Weirdest thing I’ve ever seen.

[SheltieLover]

7. We take our Pittie to vet for nail clips for the same reason

He is a very sweet boy, but it appears he feels his feet are under attack when we have tried to do nail clips.

If you can get a good hold of his front end & hold him tight, maybe anothet person can do the clipping. Gs has a buddy who worked for a vet & when he can geg him to come over, they have no prob clipping his nails. If you copy what vet does it will work.

[twodogsbarking]

8. Every other Saturday my wife cuts the nails. I am in charge of trying to hold the legs still.

Just talk and be nice. If that doesn't work keep trying. Our dog hides in the other room when I bring in groceries. Plastic bags ARE the work of the devil.

[Haggard Celine]

9. This is probably a stupid question,

but I was just curious. Can you train a dog to use a scratching post or something similar? My cat uses his scratching post all the time and I don't have to clip his nails at all. It would save you a lot of money if you could get something the dog could use to trim those nails naturally. I don't know what I would do if I had to pay $100 every time he needs his claws trimmed.

[imaginary girl]

11. Yes

They make scratch boards for dogs or you can make one yourself with sandpaper. It's easiest to train for the front paws, but possible to teach them to use it for back paws too. I use kibble to reward my dog for scratching on it, and cue him to make sure he uses both front legs.

[Haggard Celine]

12. I knew at least one DUer would know about that!

There are some clever people on this site. This is a great place to ask questions like this.

[iscooterliberally]

10. I used to take my dog for a bike run around the neighborhood.

You have to be careful and not do it too much though. I bought an extension bar called a K-9 Cruiser. It attaches to the back wheel of your bicycle and you can tie a leash to it. This way the dog doesn't pull you off the bike if it comes across a squirrel while you're riding. Anyway, every couple of days I would take my large GSD for a run around the neighborhood. Running on the pavement helped to wear her claws down and take the edge off. I just didn't run her every day because I didn't want her to tear up the pads on her feet. I would only take her out for about a five minute run too. She would run full speed though. She really loved it. Good luck with your pup!

[3catwoman3]

13. Our vet showed us a muzzle/mask they use for cats when trimming their claws.

It works like the proverbial charm on our one cat who despises claw trimming. I got one to use at home, and I can get all 10 front claws done in less time than it used to take me to get 3 done before she would become unmanageable and we'd have to stop to prevent being shredded.

The explanation was that if the cat can't see what is going on, she will be less likely to be upset by it. It works for her. The other 3 cats are not bothered by nail trimming.

I know not all animals would tolerate having their eyes covered, so this is only our experience.

There are lots of different styles of devices like this.

[Ocelot II]

14. I tried that mask on one of my cats and she went completely nuts -

even more berserk than getting her claws trimmed. She did NOT like being unable to see, and she let me know in no uncertain terms. So she just didn't get her claws trimmed except by a vet with the help of a couple of assistants.

[ShazzieB]

15. I went looking for pics to see what that muzzle/mask looks like.

Trimming my Willow's nails is REALLY hard, and I thought that might be something I could try. But lo and behold, most of the hits I pulled up were for round, clear, plastic things that go over a cat's head like a little space helmet! They're actually kind of cute. Maybe something like that would work for a cat that needs to be able to see?

I don't know what would work for Willow. One of the problems with her is that she retracts her claws as hard as she can and really fights me when I try to gemtly press on her paws to get her to extend them. That's one thing cats can do that dogs can't!

[3catwoman3]

16. Yours is the comment I recall from when I posted about this device once before...

Last edited Tue Apr 15, 2025, 11:47 PM - Edit history (1)

...and precisely why I made sure to say that some cats do not like them.

I'm just glad it works for mine.

[TomSlick]

17. I can't clip my dogs' claws. With my color blindness, I can't identify the "quick" in the claw.

After once having a screaming dog running around the house streaming blood, I have the vet trim claws.

[littlemissmartypants]

18. You've probably already done this...

But rule out any paw issues like an injury, possible foreign object, fungus or pad soreness before trying.

Doing paw related non nail trimming activities like massage with pad balms and creams can get them used to having their paws handled which may help with the anxiety when the time comes for a trim.

Some options are:
Burt’s Bees for Pets Paw & Nose Lotion
Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Balm
Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax
Pet Head Oatmeal Natural Paw Butter

❤️

[canetoad]

19. I guess that Gibby

Is a lot smaller than your girl buy maybe you can riff off this: I took a very strong, two handled shopping bag. Cut leg, tail and head holes in the appropriate places.....

When it's time to do the deed, a stout broom handle or similar laid over the backs of two chairs and poor little Gib dangling helplessly in the middle in her bag. Works a charm.

[Niagara]

20. I'm not actually suggesting this idea

But I found it humorous and sweet!