trouble cutting dogs nails

[silverdaler]

no problem doing it when he was a puppy. he is so scared when i try to do it and panics. i dont want to take him to the vet because i hate to see him so scared. is there any possible way to get him to chew his nails down??? all the nails on 3 of his paws he chews but the nails on the 1 paw he just lets grow. any help i shall appreciate :)

[Booldawg]

Maybe try a nail file if he's scared of the clippers? Takes time but gets the nails down. If that doesnt work then plenty of pavement walking should keep the nails worn down to a managable level. We had a dog like that once and tried those tactics. She was petrified of the clippers and would do anything to get away from them.

[HelenGlatt]

I remember reading about this and basically you need to get your dog completely used to you touching his feet without him getting paranoid you're going to start clipping his nails. You're meant to sit beside him and just let your hand be next to his foot. Keep doing this until he doesn't care, then touch his foot (all casually, like) now and again. you build up like this until he doesn't give a damn what you do. Then you introduce the clippers. Same thing. Just have them near your hand, then in your hand etc and the idea is he'll be fine with them if you introduce them really gradually....like over a period of days or weeks. I guess the alternative would be for someone to distract him with lumps of roast beef or whatever, whilst you do it? might that be an option?