After Maxwell jumped on me after work today and scratched me with his toenails, I decided to give him a trim. The last time I did that he tapped out, going limp on the floor in anxiety. Tonight, though, I applied the skills shown in the video link I posted a few days ago.
I got out my clicker and set to work. I don't have a grooming table, so I sat on the floor. The clicker was under my big toe, a bowl of his dinner on the couch next to me, and the clippers on the floor. I started with him nose targeting the clippers, then worked on handling his paws, and gradually combined paw holding with taping his feet with the clippers. When he was relaxed, I clipped the first nail, clicked, and gave him a jackpot. It was as if he hadn't even noticed the snip!
I didn't get all his nails, but I got the majority. If he got stressed I let him walk away, but the food stopped flowing. He'd go lie down in his crate for a moment, or go under the dining table, or get a drink of water, then come back for more. I stopped when he couldn't hold still for inspection of a paw. I bet if I keep doing it this way, he'll need to take breaks less and less often, and get more and more relaxed. Whew!
I also trimmed Sadie. She struggles no matter what I try, so I unfortunately had to use physical pressure to safely clip her. I hate doing that, but she needed the trim. I think I need to enlist my boyfriend to be a food dispenser when working with her. And probably use something super high value like peanut butter.
Both dogs also got treats in exchange for brushing. That's a ton of fur that won't end up on the carpet!
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