Chewing on nails?

[Chris Ronson, Jr]

I'm not really sure what to think of this, but it can't be great for his nails/claws. Leo is 11 months old today and just started doing this maybe a week ago. He's pretty insistent on it when he's doing it and has woke me up at night doing it. I stop when I can, but I'm not with him for about 8 hours a day..

Here's a quick video, he was camera shy for a few seconds in the beginning because he heard the beep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJHVshz7b6w

Any ideas or reasoning?

[Safi]

Safi has done the same thing on occasion.. sometimes to the point of shoving her entire foot in her mouth. So far I have seen references to boredom, yeast or other sources of irritation. She does seem to do it a lot less (have not noticed her doing it for a couple months now) if I keep her nails trimmed followed by using an emery board to smooth out the nails. (Recently moved to a grinder and much easier to work on the nails) Dirt under her nails also seemed to bother her.

[melissap]

Nothing unusual about him doing this. He is grooming himself and it is not harmful to his nails.

That said, if you do not already, start using the dremal to sand his nails down once a week.

Good luck,
Melissa

[Chris Ronson, Jr]

I do his nails about once a month..no matter what I've tried, he's extremely skidish of the dremel, and mixed with his strength, makes it a very difficult process. Positive reinforcement just hasn't worked..or maybe I just haven't had the time to do it properly? I dunno..

and yes, he gets his whole foot in the mouth too lol. His paws look fine, no irritation between toes or anything.

Thanks for the replies

[caro]

In general, Ridgebacks absolutely hate to have their nails done.  I have one that requires three people usually, two to hold and one to cut/dremel and I often have to use a muzzle.  I would suggest putting a leash on him and either standing on the end while you dremel or tying him to something where he can't get loose, then be very firm with him.  If he looks like he is going to bite you, use a muzzle.  Better safe than sorry.  The one I have to muzzle, usually wags frantically and gives me lots of kisses when I take it off.  I know it is all an act, but it's very disconcerting all the same.  They will also scream like you are going to kill them but again it is all an act.  Only time you have to be really careful is if you are using clippers, then if you quick them they are going to remember and it's going to be harder to do them the next time.

Caroline

[Safi]

With Safi .. She would not let me cut her nails while laying down. The easiest way was to have her sitting or standing and to bend her paw back (like they do with horse hooves) and cut/dremel from behind so she could not quite see what I was doing

[Chris Ronson, Jr]

Hahaha, yes Caro, that's exactly Leo to a T..though he hasn't gone as far as to try to bite me (that's for when I do his ears with the liquid clean out stuff, muzzle necessary, and kisses immediately after!). What I found is just like you said, 2-3 people, I need to prop him on his back sitting back into me and I hug/hold him. half the time he'll sit their and lick me to death, the other half cry like he's being mutilated. Sometimes the person with the dremel catches a kick to the face/chest from a back leg...sneaky bugger I tell you

[rhodesianridgebackd]

Co-incidentally, I was going to post something about this 2 days ago. I trim her nails once a week but she still insists on further grooming. Its fun to watch her scratch her wrinkled forehead and muzzle with her dew paw.

To me it's a grooming thing and nothing to be afraid of.

George

[melissap]

My 1st no where near enough conditioning on my end - but I never wondered if he would bite me, he would however Not be still for it despite help from several strong family members - he was terrible about having them done.
 
My 2nd will do it and would never bite or snarl - but tries to pull away & acts like the world is ending. She has had it done since she was a puppy, but I think I had some backbone to gain and learning to do. She is my BABY girl afterall 

My 3rd, has had them done once a week routinely since she was brought home and tolerates it well.

The earlier and more regularily it is done from the time they are little, makes all the difference - that said, owner experience and the temperament of the dog also has significant impact on how it will be received!

Just my 2 cents 

Melissa 

[rhodesianridgebackd]

My 1st no where near enough conditioning on my end - but I never wondered if he would bite me, he would however Not be still for it despite help from several strong family members - he was terrible about having them done.
 
My 2nd will do it and would never bite or snarl - but tries to pull away & acts like the world is ending. She has had it done since she was a puppy, but I think I had some backbone to gain and learning to do. She is my BABY girl afterall 

My 3rd, has had them done once a week routinely since she was brought home and tolerates it well.

The earlier and more regularily it is done from the time they are little, makes all the difference - that said, owner experience and the temperament of the dog also has significant impact on how it will be received!

Just my 2 cents 

Melissa 

Absolutely agree. Starting early and staying on it frequently helps. Also have to make sure you know how to cut it cause when you cut too deep, that's a memory he/she will not forget for a while. Dex is so relaxed when I cut her's...literally done in like 4 mins. Love that fuzzy girl.

[caro]

Doesn't always work, George.  Misha's breeder is famous for her short nails and all the puppies have nails you can hardly see, but Misha is still quite a problem.  I have to tie him up or chase him around the bathroom to dremel them.
Caroline

[Safi]

Doesn't always work, George.  Misha's breeder is famous for her short nails and all the puppies have nails you can hardly see, but Misha is still quite a problem.  I have to tie him up or chase him around the bathroom to dremel them.
Caroline

Thanks Caroline .. you made me laugh thinking of you chasing Misha around with dremel in hand .. I can just imagine it

Our dog trainer had a way of carving the nails right to the quick with regular nail cutters .. wish I could get them that short myself. I did quick one of Safi's by accident when she moved on me one day, but fortunately she still trusts me to do them.

[TDprange]

Lucy is also pretty bad about the nail cutting.  You would think that I was getting ready to cut a toe off or something based on how she reacts.  The last time I had drag her out from under the coffee table and another time I've had to lay on top of her so she couldn't get away.

[rhodesianridgebackd]

Doesn't always work, George.  Misha's breeder is famous for her short nails and all the puppies have nails you can hardly see, but Misha is still quite a problem.  I have to tie him up or chase him around the bathroom to dremel them.
Caroline

Haha Caroline. That's too funny. I know Misha is probably too fast to catch .

[Chris Ronson, Jr]

Well, when doing his ears he doesn't try to bite me..it's more like him making sure I know he doesn't like it. Mouth opens, goes for my hand, but when he gets to it he just rests his teeth on my hand and not clench..but when he's trying to go for the ear drops themselves...he tries to bite that (while I'm holding it) and has gotten me before. A loud yell calms him down enough for me to finish quickly, pat his head, and ignore him for a few so he knows I didn't like that..

Unfortunately he knows what the dremel sounds and looks like, so unless i associate a negative thing like tieing him up or putting his training collar on him to get him to not run..I'm not sure how else to acclimate him to it. It's so bad that even if it's off and in my hand, he'll do his best to get out of the room as fast as he can. I guess just start walking around with it all the time and lots of teats while getting it closer and closer?