Flying Poodles

Pedi-Paws

The “online magazine” Slate has a regular video feature called “As Spun on TV.” This episode Pedi-Paws video on Slate demonstrates and tests the Pedi-Paws pet nail trimmer. They conclude that it doesn’t work well because they have trouble persuading their cats and dogs to sit still for the trimming, unlike the docile pets on the sales video.

I would opine that their pets need training. I do Elly and Dancer’s nails with a Dremel tool–at least I have since I managed to clip the quick with the clippers–and they’re really quite calm about it. But I started by associating the noise with treats, then the touch to a nail with treats, and so on. Now they get a treat after each paw, and they’re pretty cooperative.

When my daughter was young, and she hated vaccinations and needles at the doctor’s office, I popped a piece of chocolate in her mouth just as the injection started. That might have worked too well… she’s got a few extra piercings in each ear now. But the idea is the same: associate something that worries you with something very positive, and the worry goes down. Works for kids and dogs, too.