Trimming the fur on his pads

[Doc's Mom]

Doc is 13 months old and I have only had him for 3 months. When I brush him I always play and hold his paws and tell him he is such a good boy. But when I try to trim the fur around his pads he mouths me and pulls his paw away. Just last night I tried again and he not only pulled his paws away, he made sure he laid on his front paws so I couldn't get to them! What is the best way to trim the fur around his paws? I have hard wood floors and I don't want him slipping. Oh, he does let me cut his nails, but since he is walked every day, they don't need it as much.

Thanks!

 

[charlieinnj]

Are you able to get someone to distract him while you do it? They could hold something yummy in their hands while you work on the paws......

 

[noblenewf]

Hi! This is typical for this age. Everything is a game...but it's good that you are starting this grooming now so he will get used to it. I have found that when both of my boys were young and I was grooming I would have my husband distract them with a really good treat (hold a really tiny treat in your hand between your fingers and don't let them have it right away...just let them lick it and they focus on licking it and it distracts them from any grooming that the other person is doing) while I groomed. You can either have him lie on his side and trim that way or if you have a grooming table lift their foot up one by one and spread the toes and trim the hair as good as you can. Soon they will become used to the process but it does take time. Just keep practicing. Now both of my boys get on the table without hesitation and will let me pick their feet up. They stand like horses who are getting their hooves trimmed! Sometimes they have to put the foot down for balance but then I say "PAW" and lift it up again after I give them a little break from standing on three legs. Sometimes it takes several times to get the pads trimmed well. Good luck!

 

[NessaM]

Nanook's paws are ticklish, and he hates it when I trim them! But I tell him it's for his own d**n good and he can like it or lump it, but he WILL hold still. *laughing*

 

[victoria1140]

distraction, ice cubes, stuff in bottles, anything that works. My dogs have ticklish paws so have been working at playing touch on their pads with a feather to get them used to being touched.

 

[Leonard and his bud Snuffles]

Snuffles is real good about letting me do his front pads, but his back are another story. Our own Karen (Luvxl k9) thinks Snuffles too is ticklish back there. He does seem to be a bit better this year than last. I laos do it mostly during our brushing session when we walk to the park. He is more tired and doesn't fight on the brushing like he does here at the house.

 

[Doc's Mom]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I will just keep at it and try distractions.

But I tell him it's for his own d**n good and he can like it or lump it, but he WILL hold still. *laughing* Thanks Nessa, now I can laugh about it!

 

[kagricola]

Sundance has very ticklish feet and once kicked me right in the stomach in what seemed to be an involuntary response. So now I use clippers and he doesn't seem to mind it at all.

 

[Brody the Newf]

Brody's back paws are really difficult to do because he'll kick his back legs whenever I go near them. I need to pin his leg between my legs and get to the fur that way. I'm always afraid that I'm going to hurt him somehow.

When I do his front paws, I put one of my hands inside his mouth and he's too busy moving my fingers over his teeth to even want to move.

 

[tonkatruck]

We lay Tonka on his side and use an electric trimmer between his paws. He doesn't even mind. Not much bothers the big guy

 

[Kent]

We lay Tonka on his side and use an electric trimmer between his paws. He doesn't even mind. Not much bothers the big guy

Same with Thunder. He really seems to enjoy all the fuss. :nod: