[PyrNet-L] Re: Nervous Paws

["Pyrstar" <pyrstar@pathway.net>]

Hi All,
Thankfully all my puppies are very good at getting their paws clipped and
then using the grinder on them.    So far, anyway.    But, my Pyr bitch
Summer hates to have her paws done.    I don't even attempt to clip her
nails unless she's on the grooming table with a noose around her neck and a
noose around her rearend.    Fortunately, she is my first Pyr ever that
will bait.    Besides that she loves food.    It took me a while before I
hit on this system.    I give Summer a treat (a really good treat when
first using this system).   Then I clip one nail.    I immediately upon
finishing clipping the nail praise her profusely while stuffing a nice
treat in her mouth.    Then I do one nail again.   Again profusely praise
while stuffing nice treat in mouth.    After the first nail she settles
down a bit and after the second nail she really settles down so I can do
all the other nails.    But, I cannot do two nails in a row.    It must be
one nail, then treat & praise.    It takes a while to get all the nails
clipped but worth it when I consider the alternative and possibly cutting 
one or more quicks.     Then I use the grinder on each nail and again have
to give her the treats although sometimes I can get away with  grinding two
nails in a row before I give her the treat.    She doesn't like it, but if
I'm running late or have gotten tired I can get away with it.    I'm
usually tuckered out because I had forgotten our new nail clipping method
or thought we could finally dispense with it and have always regretted my
behavior.    Also, I have learned that a good pair of nail clippers do not
stay sharp indefinitely.    And, when they are no longer sharp they appear
to be more uncomfortable for the Pyrs thus making it more difficult to clip
their nails.     That holds true even for my puppies that are good about
having their nails trimmed.   I've found that it's cheaper to just bite the
bullet and buy a new pair than having the old pair sharpened.     At least
in my neck of the woulds it is.    With my first Pyr, Grizz, I used to wait
'til he was sleeping and then I'd clip as many nails as  I could before he
would awake.    Grizz hated his nails clipped.    Sometimes it would take
me two days before I had all his nails clipped.    The flip side of this
method is that eventually he would sorta sleep with one eye open, so to
speak.   That way if he sensed me walking too close to him he would open
his eyes to see if I had nail clippers in my hand.    I then resorted to
tippy toeing to him and clipping a couple of nails quickly.    I also had
to hide the nail clippers behind my back or in a pocket in case he opened
an eye before I was in position to clip a nail or two.    I finally just
had to give up on this method.    Luckily, I found if I trimmed his nails
at the show while he was on the grooming table he would be alot more
tolerant of the process.    He hated to be crated too, but would allow me
to crate him at dog shows.    I was very grateful he had that attitude.   
I hope my experiences are of some help to someone.
Happy Trails,
Jean F-V
Pyrstar
W.PA.