If you were in Anderson Tractor Supply on Feb. 23, 2020 you may have heard some c-r-a-z-y sounds – pug squeals, not barks, but squeals.
Pet nail trims don’t have to be scary.
-Kelley Stewart
Now mind you, before I even touched this little baby the squeals, whines and howls were happening. Her fear of nail trims made her act so hysterically.
How does your dog handle nail trims?
Since around 2012 I’ve been setting up a table and bringing my nail trim supplies to the Tractor Supply stores on a monthly basis in Anderson, Muncie and New Castle and I’ve had the privilege of working with all kinds of animals up close and personal.
On this particular day a 15 lb pug gave me a run for my money. Pug squeals could be heard all around the world it seemed like. Her mom broke a sweat and we both had slobber all over us…but, we got it done. With frequent breaks, consistency and patience.
Pet nail trims don’t have to be scary.
It isn’t something to keeping putting off because they get so worked up and I’ve made it my mission to help pets and educate their guardians about the necessity of regular nail trims.
Education and Consistency is the Key
When a customer brings their pet in to see me it may be their first time or it may be their 40th time. They may have recently adopted their dog or cat and have no idea how they behave for nail trims. Or, they know for sure their dog will try to escape and bite.
The pets that resist terribly are the ones that really need humans to help them get through that fear.
And usually that only happens when they’re consistent and patient with the process.
In the store that day as the pug was squirming to free her mom’s grip, I explained what was going on and how we were going to help her. I asked if they had ever seen a toddler throw a fit in a grocery store because they wanted candy or a toy and many people nodded.
Dogs can throw temper tantrums and unfortunately we just have to wait them out. In saying that, I pay close attention to the pet’s breathing and heart rate. Safety is a priority and I won’t continue with the service if I feel the pet is too stressed out. I can also make house calls if you’d rather have me come to you versus you come into the store. Just request the service here.
Regular Visits Will Lead to Better Behavior
Dogs like this pug benefit from regular nail trims. I know it’s a hassle but believe me, it will help. They’ll have more chances to practice and learn how to behave for this basic and necessary service.
Puppies and kittens that are introduced to nail trims in a positive manner typically continue with good behavior as they get older. I encourage people to bring puppies and kittens in once a month to make sure we get them on the right track with nail trims.
Do Older Dogs Need Nail Trims?
Yes – yes and yes.
Long nails can cause a lot of pain. If your dog has arthritis or hip dysplasia and long nails on top of that, they’re not very comfortable. Left uncut, your dog’s nails can curl into their paw pads, can twist and grow into a circular shape or corkscrew. Again, this is uncomfortable and why I provide low-cost options to help people and their pets.
We make house calls too, request an in-home nail trim now.
Thanks for reading,
Kelley Stewart | President & Founder
sit-stay-play In-home pet sitting & more.inc
“Your pet sitting, dog walking, poop scooping specialists!”
P.S. It’s the end of January and we’re scheduling spring break and summer vacation pet sitting visits now. If you’d like to talk to us about our pet sitting services, call us at 765-744-5688. We service Muncie, Yorktown, Anderson and New Castle, Indiana areas.