I have a maltese poodle x silky 4.3kg. She will not let you cut her nails. We have tried the vet has tried. We have tried to wrap her in a towel so she can't move. The bugger gets out somehow. The only time we got to cut a few nails was when the guy down the road pinned her down but he's very heavy and we thought he was going to squish her!

She doesn't bite, she will grab my mums hand with her mouth as if to say stop but never hurts you or breaks the skin. She just wriggles out of our arms. We don't know why she is like that but she has always been a skittish dog. She is about 12 this year but everyvet says she has a very strong heart. We don't take them on a lot of walks but they have a front, side and back yard to run around in and sleep inside. She does run around on the concrete out the front with our other dog.

Is there any way we can cut her nails? Her nails are getting that long that they are crossing themsleves and causing her discomort. Please help!

Normally I would recommend gradually getting her used to the clippers but at 12 years of age she's probably pretty set in her ways.

How is she about being clipped?

You might want to consider trying a dremmel. Dremmels are basically like a little mini sander. They look like a pen but are battery or power operated and have a little sanding disc on the end. You can buy them at hardware stores in the woodwork section and they buff away the nail without the crunching sound you get from clippers.
Some dogs take to them much better than clippers.

The only other option I can think of is physically holding her down like you have been doing.
My parents Great Dane weighs 80kg (175lb) and he sounds the same as your dog. We used to have to get 4 of us pinning him down on the couch just to cut his nails. Over time he got used to it and now he just lays there with a sad look on his face.

We have tried the sander but she still Tried to escape.

She is so little and holding her down means 2 people holding her down and she basically gets squished. (she is a strong dog)

We asked the vet if she could take any sedatives but they said she was too little and its dangerous.

Does she feel more comfortable standing instead of being held?

She will not stand still. She pulls away till we lose our grip.

I have a 120 lbs Staffy with the same problem. I have to take him to the groomer, where they put his head in a muzzle that is attached to a pole. It sounds cruel, but for us it's the only way.

My groomer uses something similar to this:

Groomers Helper, Pet Handling & Safety System (http://groomershelper.com/)

I have seen groomers do pretty drastic things to get nails cut.

My 100 lb has to be cowtied for her nails to be cut. I don't think she'd bite me, but I'm not going to find out either.

You may just have to take her in for her toes to be cut to the professionals (groomers).

We took her to a beauty parlor once and they said they didn't cut nails. I will have a look around see if any do cut nails.
Thanks guys

Most Vets (around here) will cut nails for a $10 fee.
Well worth it, when it's that much trouble:)

Yeah the vets can't cut them either. The vet and a vet nurse were trying they got one nail cut and gave up.

They aren't trying hard enough! We've never had a dog who'se nails we haven't been able to cut.

If you've done bloodwork on her recently and it's clear, maybe a light sedative?

I was thinking Valerian root. It's natural and I know vets who have used it on my dog for nail cutting.

You could also use Melatonin. It's a sleep sedative for people, but it helps dogs just chill out.

I agree with sariss.. No one is trying hard enough to cut this dogs nails. She's getting away with being a jerk. A little dog can't honestly be that hard to clip nails on

Lucky this dog thinks she's a big dog. She chases Rotweilers down the road, german shepards and massive dogs like malamutes. She's even attacked a german sheppard because it was trying to eat my other dog. She's a big dog in a little dogs body. There is no fat on her she's all muscle lol.

I wouldn't really be proud of that.

Imagine that at 175lb

That's why I shared the Great Dane story... if his nails can be cut then so can yours.

Heck, my rabbits nails are a nightmare to cut, she gets wrapped in a towel, and hugged really tight with just one foot poking out of the blanket at a time.

Have you seen any videos of Don Sullivan working with dogs? He is known as the dog father. His training method worked for me.

Get his video. My dogs are now a joy to walk and clip.

Lucky this dog thinks shes a big dog. She chases Rotweilers down the road, german shepards and massive dogs like malamutes. Shes even attacked a german sheppard because it was trying to eat my other dog. Shes a big dog in a little dogs body. There is no fat on her she's all muscle lol.

I'm sorry, but your dog sounds like it is completely out of control. Allowing your dog to go after big dogs is going to get her killed. Most larger dogs back down from smaller dogs because the smaller dogs resemble puppies. You're not going to like the outcome if a larger dog decides they're not going to take any crap from your dog.

I handle pit bulls. They'pre pure muscle. I handle out of control, scared GSPs, they're pure muscle as well. They don't get by with a lot. They stand for their toe nails to be cut. They wear a muzzle when needed. They don't win with anything. I'm sorry I cannot rationalize with you. I handle stubborn dogs on a daily basis. Your dog is winning every battle you start with her.

I'm sorry, but your dog sounds like it is completely out of control. Allowing your dog to go after big dogs is going to get her killed. Most larger dogs back down from smaller dogs because the smaller dogs resemble puppies. Youre not going to like the outcome if a larger dog decides theyre not going to take any crap from your dog.

I handle pit bulls. They'pre pure muscle. I handle out of control, scared GSPs, they're pure muscle as well. They dont get by with a lot. They stand for their toe nails to be cut. They wear a muzzle when needed. They dont win with anything. I'm sorry I cannot rationalize with you. I handle stubborn dogs on a daily basis. Your dog is winning every battle you start with her.

I didn't allow her to go attack I opened the front door to see my dad who's in a wheel chair out the front with a german shepard trying to get past him to eat my other dog (it must have thought she was a rabbit). So when I opened the front door and screamed out to my mum and started crying because I was scared for my dog. My other dog went up to the german sheppard and started scratching it. It auctually took my mum kicking the dog to get it away completely.

As for calling my dog stubborn. YOU come and cut my dogs nails while she stands with a muzzel on. Then tell me that you won.

What seems to work really well for our two great danes if they're not cooperative is letting them lick peanut butter our of their kongs while we clip them. As long as they're happy they don't care what we do with their paws. =) It's kind of like a reward for good behavior while we clip them.

We have tried that. I spoke to my bf's mums friend last night, who works at a vet and she said she will try cut them and if my dog moves too much then on the weekend she will get a slight sedative and cut them right back.

Hopefully that will work.

Bring your dog to me. I've never been able to not handle little dogs like that.

Id be up for the challenge! I worked in a groom shop for a year, I've gotten fast at clipping nails for stubborn dogs.

Good luck