Many dogs have difficulty clipping nails, so teaching a dog to use a nail board can reduce the stress of nail care, and dogs will look forward to nail care. Teaching a dog to use the nail board for its rear legs is a separate action from the front legs and is taught as a separate exercise.
Not:
For starters, this can be helpful if your dog is already accustomed to using a nail board for their front nails, but it’s not necessary.
You will need a raised platform of sufficient size for your dog to stretch out on the nail board so that the dog is almost in a standing position, a nail board of sufficient length for your dog to be inclined against the platform. can raise its hind leg against it and scratch downwards, delicious treats and a non-slip surface for the dog to stand on.
- If your dog isn’t already familiar with a nail board, you can place it on the ground so he can be free to explore. You can use treats on the ground for your dog to sniff. Don’t force your dog to interact while he gets used to it.
- Get your dog used to resting his front paws on the raised surface without jumping completely. Show your dog a tasty treat and lure him so that his front paws are on the raised surface. As soon as their paws are raised, “click” or verbally mark “yes,” then give your dog the treat. When your dog is happy to raise his front legs, we can then introduce the nail board.
- Lean the nail board against your raised platform. Hold it or secure it so it won’t fall or move if your dog hits it. You may need to adjust the angle to find the ideal angle for your dog to work.
nail board, image 1
- Lure or ask to “paw lift” onto the raised platform so that your dog’s body is aligned with the nail board. If your dog is unsure, you can initially reward him if he raises his hand and places his front paws on the board, then increase the difficulty by encouraging him to place his front paws on the platform. herself. With further repetitions, stretch the lure further so your dog needs to stretch further.
- Your dog will bring his back legs together to reach the lure and begin attempting to climb. As soon as they move either leg closer to the scratch board, click or say yes and reward.
nail board #2
- After a few repetitions of marking the foot movements, stretch the lure a little more and wait for the dog to place its hind paw on the scratch board itself. You can mark and reward both the foot on the nail board and again when the dog’s foot naturally begins to scratch downward. With a few repetitions, you can move on to rewarding only the downward scraping motion.
nail board #3
Keep your sessions fun and short so your dog remains eager to participate in nail care.