A nail a day?

[Emily_Babbelhund]

With ten minutes to spare, we got our nail done tonight. Excellent idea to do this as a sort of challenge, @snowbunny , because no way would I be remembering to do this without it!

We are cutting very little nail because even though Carbon loves the sight of the clippers and is laying on his back waving his paws in the air, me actually touching his feet is still not his favourite thing. I've been only cutting on one nail (and very little at that) but touching his paws with my hands and with the clippers and rewarding for calmness. Strangely he's fine with his back feet, but his front paws are more challenging. Anybody else notice that?

But at the very least I'm proud of him for wagging his tail madly when he sees the clippers. That's a very good development!

 

[Emily]

Strangely he's fine with his back feet, but his front paws are more challenging. Anybody else notice that?

I'm not up to cutting yet and not up to back paws but I have noticed that Ella is much more comfortable with me doing anything with her front right paw than her front left paw. I guess they just have preferences?

 

[snowbunny]

All of mine do better with back paws than front ones. Maybe because they’re not sure the back ones belong to them

 

[FayRose]

Going to try today's when Molly wakes from her post breakfast snore-fest. This time I will try when she is aware, so I may do a front paw. I'll see how it goes.

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Got one done last night and just did one this morning. Those front ones are tough. I keep forgetting to bring the nail clippers downstairs where the treats are, so his 'treats' are having his teeth brushed afterwards which he loves. That doggie toothpaste must be delicious. To a dog, that is. I personally was not impressed.

I was thinking to keep us motivated (I know I am finding this challenging!) that I could sweeten the pot by offering a little prize draw for everyone who does cuts a nail (or even just does a couple minutes of nail care training) a day. Maybe something special sent to you from my summer home in Bavaria? My German teacher does this for her students (one lesson per day completed enters you in a monthly drawing for a small prize) and I find it motivating.

Anyone want to join in on a "Bavarian July" nail challenge?

 

[Stacia]

Yes What a super idea of yours Emily and very kind to offer a little prize drawer, I certainly need motivating, though so far, have done a nail a day.

 

[snowbunny]

Ah, that's lovely! I think it's a great idea!

I did mine yesterday before our evening walk. I like to do them before something "big" so it's not just sossidge, but it's also an indicator that something amazing is going to happen (lunch, walk etc).

 

[Emily]

Ooh, yes, I like that idea. Especially if we can join in with a little * on the basis that we're still working towards a nail a day.

We're making great progress at the moment as we're just getting started but I know that the inevitable training plateau is just around the city and I really need to stay motivated to persevere!

 

[snowbunny]

Ooh, yes, I like that idea. Especially if we can join in with a little * on the basis that we're still working towards a nail a day.

We're making great progress at the moment as we're just getting started but I know that the inevitable training plateau is just around the city and I really need to stay motivated to persevere!

@Emily, during the "nail a day", sometimes I trim a little of Willow's nail, sometimes I don't. The trimming with her is not the focus for me - I'm focussing on it being a super-short "is that it?" session of counter-conditioning. I reckon that counts perfectly well

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Ok, so here is what I'm thinking. How about opening it up to either a nail a day or a tooth a day? So nail clipping or tooth brushing. I have a real thing about tooth brushing and wish more people would do it. I think they would if they knew how easy it is.

My idea is to call it "The Bavarian Toe or Tooth Challenge". You enter your name by and start keeping track (honour system) by 1 July. If you do either a toe or a tooth a day for every day in July, you enter for the prize drawing at the end of the month.

Fabulous prize: something entirely silly and useless made in Bavaria sent to you from Bavaria from an actual (non) Bavarian. And bragging rights as the Queen (or King) of the Royal Order of the Golden Toeeth.

Alright, I'm getting silly now, but how does that sound?

 

[snowbunny]

Sounds good to me! Although as all the Labs are more than fine with tooth brushing (Logic Gel is YUMMY!) I’ll carry on doing their full set of gnashers every day
Ginny is less keen but since her teeth are all nubs anyway, I just rub the gel on with my finger.

 

[Stacia]

Sounds great, I will do the nail a day as Rourke's teeth are good but his nails are a problem.

 

[snowbunny]

I’m plodding on with the nail a day. I have seen a distinct difference in Shadow, Squidge, and Ginny. None of them have a problem with their nails being done, but they all seem a lot chirpier about it already.
The last two days, I’ve trimmed a back nail of Willow’s - we don’t have the same consent protocols for the back as the front (because I’ve not worked that out yet) and she is far less twitchy about them. Today, I threw her a little scatter party on the floor when I’d trimmed her nail; she stretched out to grab the food without her rear toes leaving the sofa, then immediately backed straight back onto it.

 

[Stacia]

Rourke is still twitchy, but there might have been the slightest glimmer of "oh well, get on with it then" yesterday.

 

[snowbunny]

Another day, another nail! Tick!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

I don't know what the heck I've done with my clippers. I think I may have left them in Normandy.

Back in Regensburg tomorrow so if I don't find them with the unpacking, it's off to the pet store. Then we're back at it again!