07/19/2026
Sometimes it’s not about avoiding the things a dog is afraid of, it’s about helping them learn they don’t need to be afraid of them!
I’ve worked with dogs who have never allowed anyone to touch their nails and dogs who have needed sedation just to get through a nail trim
In reality, not every dog responds the same, some don’t respond well to being confined or restrained, or simply aren’t used to having their paws touched.
This is why you’ll find me doing some dogs nail trims outside with a leash on, so they can feel a bit less restrained and contained, allowing some of their nerves to settle down.
In this video you can see Nala’s reward for getting one paw done is getting the okay to get away from me and the clippers and decompress between each paw. And she actually ended up coming back with some curiosity, likely because what’s going through her brain is “oh this ain’t so bad”
Trust doesn’t mean we never ask a dog to do something they’re uncomfortable with. It means showing them calmly and consistently that they can trust you. It’s like saying “I understand you feel unsure. But I’m not going to hurt you. We can do this!”💪🏼
When you understand dog language, know when to give space and when to follow through, something that once felt like a huge deal can eventually become no big deal at all 👏🏼