What happened to my sweet li'l boy?????????

[NeSaxena]

The age? He just hit 7 months (on the 13th) and he's being a maniac - right on cue! The barking, the insistent "I want to play, NOW", the f*** you looks, the "I'm not doing that", the "Are you crazy?" et all!

The rest I can handle, I've figured out outstubborning is the only way to go. BUT for some reason, he's suddenly deathly afraid of the nail cutter! We've had NO accidents at all (I'm a little proud of myself for that ), no extra cuts, no twist or turn issues, nothing!

I've tried it all - treats, playful banter, cajoling, everything! I've even been doing a lot of floor based training (down, head up, head down, leave it, reach, etc.) with the nail cutter open and in my hand the whole time, without touching him with it since two weeks now! He will get up and run if I move the nail cutter a half inch towards him! Even the highest value treat isn't keeping him there. In the morning today, I tried to make a deal with him - I'll let him eat his food if he lets me cut a nail. He almost walked away from his breakfast!!! And this from a highly food motivated pup who's getting pork (his favorite meat) in the meal!

HELP before I lose my mind!

p.s. Overpowering, out of the question - He's nearly 100 Lbs. I've tried leashing him and trying to cut his nails, but he pulls his arm/leg back with a jerk. I don't want to risk any joint issues, especially with his angular limb deformity!!

 

[Smokeycat]

Welcome to the teenage 'years'. Kryten had that stubborn, bratty phase from about 7-12 months. His required plenty of patience and a return of more intense OB training. Normally I don't use a strict NILIF but he did seem to require it for a couple of weeks near the start of that phase. He also 'lost' privileges that he had previously earned such as going off leash until he had decided to listen to me again.

 

[NeSaxena]

But how do his nails get cut?

 

[Smokeycat]

That I can't help you with sorry.

 

[Robtouw]

Your boy is a TWEEN! This stage will last a few months and then one day poof! It is over. You'll make it! Gear up because it happens again at about 18 months of age.

 

[NeSaxena]

I was most definitely expecting it, reading everything here - but it's just such a 180 degree turn in personality OVERNIGHT, it really hit me in the face! Knowing you good folks will allow me a little space to rant, here I am! (after a couple of weeks of struggling, I must add!)

Then again, the old record, how do his nails get cut? Considering they grow faster than my hair does!

 

[ruthcatrin]

This is going to sound horrible, but I started cutting Apollo's when he was sleeping when he went through that phase.....

I'd start just handling his paws when he's sleeping, no cutting, just handling, spreading the toes and touching the nails. Then add doing it with the nail clippers in one hand, then clip one nail......

Part of the problem is his behavior is self-reinforcing, he gets up and goes away=his nails not getting cut and when they're this big its hard to force the issue...

Good luck with your teenager!

 

[Rugers-Kris]

Oh boy, I sure feel ya there. I remember Ruger's teen "phase". I used a bucket that I had slathered with Peanut Butter and then frozen. I would give it to Ruger and as he laid there licking it, I could get his nails cut. His is over that stage, thankfully and we just cut nails once a week without issue. Good Luck.

 

[raechiemay]

Yep, start handling his paws more & more. Maybe trip to the vet in the mean time to get his nails cut? Maybe he doesn't like the restraint or the pressure the clippers are putting on his nails. If that's the case you could try sanding the nails down but that will also require some conditioning to get him used to the sound & feel of the tool. I feel your pain though. Duchess is stuck in the a**hole stage from about 10 months to now & she's almost 16 months old.

 

[angelbears]

Take away the car keys! I wait until he's sound asleep and try to get one and done. Then try again next time he's asleep.

 

[Iymala]

Ack! I'm dreading this something awful....Times 2. Hopefully his teenage phase passes soon

Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[cdj1]

Our previous rescue em was 175 lbs of muscle and she hated getting her nails trimmed. At the vets office she threw 4 people off of her and walked away. Finally I figured out that I had to actually somewhat sit on her head and then she would submit to the trimming. At first she howled a bit, then eventually got used to it. I noticed our newest arrival (5 yr old em) doesn't mind me touching his feet, but face plants my hand when he sees the clippers. I may have to implement the" sit on the head" technique with him also.

 

[kbuchanan66]

Happy Teenage Months lol. But seriously you will find something that works and soon this whole stage will be over.

 

[Laura Lee]

I call it the "butt-head" stage. Unfortunately, it has alreay hit with my 4.5 month-old male BM.

For keeping his nails short, we use a Dremel tool with a sanding drum and employ the Kong filled with peanut butter diversion. We can usually get at least one paw done before he starts getting annoyed and pitching a fit. One paw a day for four days. Repeat after a week or so.

 

[STEVSH]

We do a lot of running on the driveway with a tennis ball for Topaz's nails. We can't get near her with any sort of tool that even resembles a nail clippers, or we get bit. We tried the "clipping while she sleeps thing too", but that had to end as well. We got like one a week, and then she was on to us and learned to jump up while biting and growling if we even touch her while she's sleeping now because she thinks we are going to try it. So we don't know what else to do but just run her on concrete. We have a nylon muzzle and were going to try and do it that way, but she is going to spaz out on that as much as the nail clippers I think.

 

[AKBull]

I have to do the sneeky nail cutting when my boy is sleeping as well. It's either that or I put on my wrestling leotard and we throw down to get them cut. And no, I'm not taking picture requests.
He's a teen, mom, enjoy it!... hahaha

 

[STEVSH]

Wrestling leotard may come next as well. Either that or a frying pan to the head like Rapunzel

 

[voidecho]

Pictures.

 

[AKBull]

Pictures.

Fine...

 

[musicdeb]

The friggin teenage years will drive the parents crazy! Muzzle him to clip his nails or knock him out..JK...

This too shall pass... someday...