Dachshunds are infamous fighters in the case of slicing their nails. It’s essential to maintain them trimmed to a correct size although.
Leaving a canine’s nails too lengthy could cause ache, joint points, and is among the biggest mistakes when it comes to cutting your dog’s nails.
I’m going to share my private tales of how I “received” – how I acquired my cussed Dachshunds to let me trim their nails with out preventing or appearing like I used to be making an attempt to kill them.
However first, some basic ideas.
Disclosure: A few of the hyperlinks on this article are affiliate links (Amazon Affiliate or different applications we take part in). As an affiliate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases.
Why Is It Essential to Maintain Your Dachshund’s Nails Quick
The subject of canine nail size is a brand new one. Or slightly, it’s grow to be a extra essential subject lately.
As veterinarians and scientists have realized extra about canine well being, they’ve discovered that maintaining your canine’s nails a correct size is extra essential than as soon as thought.
In the event you let your canine’s nails get too lengthy, it will possibly trigger a complete myriad of great orthopedic, postural and mobility points.
Since Dachshunds are already vulnerable to again points, and nails which might be too lengthy may trigger them to negatively modify their posture till it places stress on their joints and backbone, it’s particularly essential to maintain your Dachshund’s nails quick.
The way to Inform Your Dachshund’s Nails Are Too Lengthy
There are a number of methods to inform in case your Dachshund’s nails are too lengthy.
- Your Dachshund’s nails mustn’t contact the bottom when they’re standing on degree floor
- Your Dachshund’s nails mustn’t click on loudly on the bottom after they stroll (with some canines, a light-weight tapping is usually unavoidable)
- In case your Dachshund is biting their nails, it’s a probable indicator that they’re too lengthy and inflicting some foot discomfort
- Put up an image to a Dachshund Fb group and get advised by the canine nail police
To the final level, one one hand, I respect that there are individuals making an attempt to teach others concerning the difficulty of nail size and canine well being.
Nonetheless, loads of these persons are very passionate and lack any bedside method.
It’s essential to have a thick pores and skin to place an image of your canine’s nails on social media and ask concerning the size.
Don’t say you weren’t warned!
Why You Must Trim Your Dachshund’s Nails
Some individuals surprise why they should trim their Dachshund’s nails. They suppose that strolling their canine will put on their nails down and hold them quick.
Whereas strolling your canine to “trim their nails” may match for a small fraction of Dachshunds, strolling recurrently received’t hold the nails quick sufficient for many.
These Dachshunds both don’t stroll usually sufficient, don’t stroll on surfaces exhausting sufficient, their nails are too robust to put on down quick, or their nails develop too quick.
Most Dachshunds will want their nails manually trimmed by you or a groomer to maintain them on the correct size.
How Typically Ought to You Trim Your Dachshund’s Nails?
This may actually range and is dependent upon issues like how briskly your Dachshund’s nails develop and whether or not you stroll your canine totally on exhausting surfaces or delicate.
The minimal frequency your Dachshund’s nails needs to be maintained is as soon as a month.
In case your Dachshund’s nails actually develop at a snail’s tempo, or they put on down sufficient from strolling on exhausting surfaces, this once-a-month “upkeep” could be an inspection.
Nonetheless, for many Dachshunds, anyplace from 1-5 millimeters needs to be trimmed off as soon as a month.
Dachshunds have been bred to burrow and dig. Nails are an essential instrument for doing that. Due to this fact, loads of Dachshund’s nails develop quick.
In case your Dachshund’s nails develop quick, they could want their nails trimmed as regularly as as soon as per week.
Grinding Dachshund Nails vs Clipping Dachshund Nails
In the case of trimming Dachshund nails, there are two methods to do it:
You could surprise which methodology – grinding or trimming and which model of every – is greatest on your Dachshund.
I can say from expertise, it actually relies upon.
Nonetheless, you should have one of the best luck with no matter you begin utilizing from the time your Dachshund is a pet.
For some finicky puppies, and most grownup Dachshunds, you or your groomer might must strive a number of strategies to see what works greatest on your canine’s nails and that doesn’t trigger them to combat it an excessive amount of.
What do I take advantage of to trim Summit and Gretel’s nails?
If you wish to know what I take advantage of with out studying the detailed tales beneath, right here it’s:
Ought to You Lower Your Dachshund’s Nails Your self?
Whether or not you need to trim your Dachshund’s nails your self, or take your canine to a groomer or veterinarian to have it executed, is a private resolution.
It is dependent upon loads of issues, together with:
- Does your Dachshund combat you? – You could discover it exhausting to restrain your Dachshund your self whereas your canine could also be extra calm if another person does it
- Comfort – Do you discover it faster and simpler to spend 10 minutes doing it at dwelling or would you slightly drop your canine off and simply have another person handle it?
- Your consolation – are you snug clipping your Dachshund’s nails with out slicing the short and hurting them?
- Price – Giving your canine a pawdicure at house is at all times cheaper
- The colour of your canine’s nails – In case your Dachshund’s nails are black, it is going to be more durable to see the short so it’s possible you’ll need to go away manicure to the specialists
How I Received My Dachshund’s to Let Me Trim Their Nails
Gretel’s story
One among my Dachshunds – Gretel – got here from a rescue at one yr outdated and was very set in her methods.
She hadn’t been socialized properly, she was so anxious she was on Prozac and, based mostly on her response after I tried to trim her nails, her earlier experiences weren’t good ones.
She is nearly 11 years outdated now and solely two weeks in the past was I capable of clip her nails and not using a combat or a lot fuss.
That’s a really very long time to be engaged on getting your canine snug with nail trims, proper?
Truthfully, I may need been capable of make it occur a number of years earlier however I had given up. Not on slicing her nails all collectively however I had given up on me ever doing it.
You see, she has IVDD – the illness accountable for inflicting back problems in Dachshunds (nearly all of them anyway) – and he or she would combat me so exhausting after I tried to chop her nails I used to be terribly afraid of wounding her again.
So I made a decision I used to be not going to combat her and threat paralysis or surgical procedure only for quick nails.
Nonetheless, I knew her nails wanted to be saved at an affordable size.
I attempted taking her to completely different groomers and ultimately found she fought rather a lot much less when another person was doing it and I wasn’t within the room.
So, each 2-3 weeks I took her to PetSmart to first get her nails clipped and later to get them floor with a dremel.
I accepted that her nails would at all times be a bit too lengthy as a result of her nails develop quick and her quicks by no means moved again considerably between trims.
She most likely may have gone to the groomer for a nail trim weekly however my pockets and schedule wouldn’t accommodate that.
In all of this although, I did understand that the very fact she stood upright on a desk when her nails have been being executed was most likely a part of the success.
Some Dachshund’s are freaked out by being held very tight or the other way up like a child, which doesn’t make the job any simpler.
As soon as we moved out of the large metropolis, and particularly as soon as COVID hit, getting her nails executed by a groomer recurrently grew to become additionally unimaginable.
I renewed my effort to trim her nails at dwelling and, once more, we tried every little thing – counter-conditioning (desensitization),swaddling her in a blanket, utilizing a sling with arm holes to droop her, peanut butter and treats (she was too harassed to have any curiosity although she is extremely meals motivated), and so on.
Doggy Daddy and I continued to battle along with her, and combat her unbelievable power, as a result of her nails completely needed to be trimmed.
Typically it barely labored and typically it didn’t work in any respect.
Both means, I used to be so fearful she would damage her again once more. She was positively sore after one of many occasions we did it.
As a last-ditch effort, I made a decision to attempt to do her nails the identical means it’s executed on the groomer – standing on a grooming desk and grinding her nails with a dremel.
I ordered THIS small dog grooming table off Amazon, together with THIS dremel for pets (really helpful by my canine groomer good friend).
It labored! Gretel didn’t prefer it however I used to be capable of do it. She resisted slightly however didn’t combat me or attempt to soar of the desk.
Fingers crossed it will proceed to work along with her.
Summit’s story
My different Dachshund – Summit – got here to me as a pet.
The breeder had recurrently dealt with her paws and trimmed her child nails so I figured she can be snug with me doing it.
Flawed.
Summit could be very vocal and would yank her paw again from me and scream (it actually seemed like a scream) after I tried to chop her nails.
I couldn’t get her to carry nonetheless and it was harmful. Primarily, I couldn’t safely reduce her black nails with out threat of slicing them too quick and making her bleed.
So I made a decision what would work for considered one of my Dachshunds would most likely work for the opposite so off to the groomer we went.
Flawed once more. Largely.
I took her to 1 one who was capable of trim her nails a little or no bit with out an excessive amount of fuss.
They plied her with loads of treats, whispered candy nothings in her ear, and he or she fussed however didn’t downright scream.
I had taken Gretel to a brand new groomer as a result of we moved and the woman was capable of efficiently trim her nails. I didn’t need to go to 2 completely different locations so I attempted taking Summit there too.
Let’s simply say it went horribly. I don’t blame the woman per-se however Summit was NOT having it.
She went again to screaming, howling, preventing to get out, and, after I stepped in to assist, she “put her enamel on me”. (She didn’t chunk however would typically use an open mouth and enamel to speak that she was afraid or uncomfortable.)
I advised the woman a number of occasions as much as that time that she didn’t must do Summit’s nails if she fought her an excessive amount of.
The girl saved assuring me she may do it and that she had handled troublesome canines earlier than.
After her 4th try, and the enamel on my hand difficulty, I advised her once more she didn’t must do it and he or she instantly took her fingers off of Summit and mentioned, “Yeah, okay. I’m not going to do that.”
The clincher although was that she groomer requested me if Summit has at all times been this fashion and I mentioned sure, roughly. The groomer advised me, “properly, you’ll by no means get her to vary now.”
Problem accepted!
A Lesson in not giving up on trimming my Dachshund’s nails
I used to be so mad. Who was this woman to inform me that I’d by no means be capable to get Summit to calmly have her nails executed?
A canine can nonetheless be taught after a yr outdated and he or she didn’t even know me!
If there may be one technique to get me to do one thing, it’s to inform me that I can’t. So I recommitted myself to educating Summit to let me trim her nails.
I’m comfortable to say that, after solely a pair months, I used to be capable of reduce her nails.
Steps I Took to Get My Dachshund to Let Me Lower Her Nails with Clippers
I acquired a refresher on trimming canine nails
A veterinarian I do know – Dr. Buzby – who gave me a sneak-peek of her Canine Nail Care Masterclass: Nail Trimming Without Fear.
Though I didn’t apply all of her ideas and ideas, it actually gave me extra confidence that I may do that.
I purchased actually good nail clippers
I began utilizing some really good, sharp nail clippers that cut nails like butter.
The simpler a pair of nail clippers reduce, the much less they’re more likely to squeeze the nail and fast, which will be uncomfortable.
Additionally, the scissor kind clippers are higher than the guillotine kind (a loop of steel with a blade that rises as much as “lop off” the tip of the nail).
The latter restricts the angle you may reduce the nail at and have been recognized to crush the tail as a substitute of reduce it.
Observe: Additionally hold this styptic powder readily available in case I do by accident make considered one of her nails bleed. I’ve used a number of completely different ones and this one has labored one of the best.
We performed the clipper “contact” sport
I did quick coaching classes a number of occasions per week aimed toward getting her used to me touching the clippers to her nails.
Truthfully, this was the straightforward step.
So, for this sport, she acquired a small training treat each time she let me contact the clippers to her paw and he or she didn’t draw back.
If she pulled away, I hid the clippers behind my again and he or she didn’t get a deal with.
If I may contact her paw with the clippers and he or she didn’t transfer it, she acquired a reward and reward.
As soon as I used to be capable of contact all of her paws with the clippers with out her transferring, I began holding the clippers there for a few seconds and ready.
If she moved her foot away, no deal with.
Solely reward your Dachshund in the event that they don’t draw back whenever you contact the clippers to their paw.
We continued this fashion till I may maintain the clippers on every foot for about 10 seconds.
I acquired a lick mat and located a deal with she couldn’t refuse
Subsequent, I purchased a lick mat to occupy her throughout nail trims.
I attempted every kind of creamy stuff to placed on it like peanut butter and cheese however nothing appeared to distract her sufficient from what I used to be doing to her ft.
Finally, what labored was both the combo of goat cheese with a dab of honey (sugar isn’t one of the best for canines but it surely was just a bit bit and leaving her nails lengthy was extra dangerous than a tsp of honey as soon as per week) or cat meals (once more, not dangerous in small quantities and fewer dangerous than nails which might be too lengthy)
I then performed the contact sport along with her ft once more utilizing the lick mat.
If she moved her foot, I picked up the lick mat. If she stayed, she acquired to proceed licking the mat.
I positioned her to arrange for nail clipping
Have you ever ever seen a horse getting their ft trimmed and shod? That’s sort of what I did with Summit.
I saved her standing up and bent every foot backwards to work on it.
I discovered that I acquired one of the best view of every foot and nail if my eyes have been proper over it.
I sat on my knees on the bottom, barely parted, and put the lick mat between my legs. That precipitated Summit to sort of stroll right into a “chute” with a barrier on either side of her.
She may again up however not transfer an excessive amount of back and forth or flip round to see what I used to be doing.
I’d then sit up on my knees as wanted to place my line of sight proper over her foot.
I made it more durable for her to get traction to tug away
This one is a bit exhausting to clarify however you may see it a bit within the video above.
Principally, I wrap my arm that’s holding her foot beneath her physique and I barely carry her.
That means she has a more durable time utilizing her foot to push off of the bottom or transfer away from me.
I made certain I had actually good lighting
I made certain that I may see her small, darkish brown nails clearly. I didn’t by accident reduce an excessive amount of and make the short bleed.
Actually good lighting that lets you see the nail and fast clearly is essential to a secure nail trim.
I began my renewed effort to trim Summit’s nails in the summertime so I’d do it outdoors in pure daylight.
Later, when the climate acquired worse, we would have liked to maneuver inside. Attempting to clip her nails beneath family lights wasn’t very simple. It casts shadows and isn’t very vibrant.
My good friend talked about she used a headlamp and I assumed, “Why didn’t I consider that??”. I’ve round 3 headlamps for tenting however by no means thought to make use of one for nail trims.
I began utilizing this headlamp indoors and it’s been a complete sport changer.
I went at her tempo
I wished manicure classes to be as constructive of an expertise as potential.
At first, I simply began trimming one nail at a time. I used to be rapidly capable of transfer to 2-3 on one foot.
As soon as she was snug with that, I began doing a complete foot, then two ft, then all 4. Actually, I used to be capable of progress to doing all 4 without delay.
It helped after I acquired extra snug slicing her nails and will do it sooner. She would get pissed off after I did an excessive amount of fussing round with a nail.
Nonetheless although, all of us have our good and dangerous days. Most occasions I can trim all of her nails without delay. Typically I can solely do one nail at a time.
I think about our session executed if she pulls away greater than as soon as, if she makes a “yip” sound after I clip a nail, or she backs out of the “chute”.
I made certain to maintain the lick mat as her particular deal with
She doesn’t get the lick mat, goat cheese, or honey at some other time. She solely will get this particular deal with when she lets me trim her nails.
When the session is finished – even when I solely clipped a number of nails – the lick mat goes away.
The keys to with the ability to trim my Dachshund’s nails was to work along with her, not in opposition to her, strive a bunch of various issues to see what labored greatest, and to not hand over.
Regardless of which instrument you select, the keys to trimming your Dachshund’s nails and not using a combat is coaching (your canine) and confidence constructed with observe (you).
Good luck!
