posted 04-17-2003 12:56 AM         

I have a question for you all?

I have a 16 month old pug that is a house dog. I have 13 more of them that I have turned a storage building in to a dog house for, these are the ones that I breed and sale.
My question is for the one that I keep in the house. She is a very well trained dog when it comes to obediance. She listens to just about every command we give her but she also sleeps at the foot of my water bed and we all know that sharp puppy nails and water beds do not agree with each other but I can not no matter how hard I try get her to let me trim her nails. I do NOT want to be forcefull with her because I do not believe in hitting a dog for doing wrong because that will cause some dogs to lose trust in there owners. When I am working with her I only use a whisle and a good firm voice as I have found it is twice as affective for this breed although I cannot speak for all breeds on that part. Some dogs may not respond to a whisle and a command the way a pug does. So does anyone have any advice on getting her to trust me enough to let me clip her nails?????

posted 04-17-2003 12:40 PM         

I am a bit concerned about you saying you breed and sell pugs, but don't know how to handle a dog that is fearful of having it's feet touched.

I volunteer at a shelter where many dogs are euthanized. I try very hard to help in any way I can in re homing, training and socializing the dogs. It breaks my heart when I hear people are breeding to make money. I have never seen a pug at the shelter and know they are very hard to get, but just want to know what your main reason is for breeding? Do you health test? Do you have contracts with the people whom you sell the dogs to?

The Pit Bull was once a very respectful animal, but since BYB have stared breeding them look whats happened to the breed...really think about what your doing.

I would really like to know a bit more before I get into this.

posted 04-17-2003 04:35 PM           

If you can get some one to help you hold her, I would put fold up a towl and make a "brace for her neck, to keep it imobile and from biting, just in case. Then have some one hold her under their arm with the town in the other hand...and simply do the nails. She will most likely scream and hollar and carry on, you must remain calm, not abusive. Show her she has nothing to fear. Usually dogs like this calm after the first set of toes, then by the second leg are only watching, by the fourth leg they are still stiff but no longer hyperventalating and by the time you get to the last leg they have almost completely given in. After you do the nails, reward her with praises and maybe some peanut butter on a spoon. Many dogs come into my groom shop that have never had their nails done and this method has worked 99% of the time, except with severly aggressive biters. Usually once they see their feet are not going to fall off they calm down. After a couple of times, most are easy to handle. The difficult part will be hanging onto the pug (as I swear they make themselves greased) and not letting her pop out of your grasp.

posted 04-17-2003 06:21 PM         

You all would know what I am talking about if only knew how sencative she really is.

I have bred and sold these dogs for 4 years and my mom has done it for 9 so you answer you smart comments yes we can handle these dogs but like I said I refuse to be forcefull with a small dog and any one who will is ignorant.