25/02/2026
One of the best parts of my job is seeing what happens when animals are given time, choice, and respect.
I’ve been working with a lovely dog who found nail clipping genuinely frightening. She had already tried vets and other places, and just opening the drawer with the clippers in was enough to make her leave the room. So we took a different approach, at home, where she feels safest and least on guard.
We started with trust and consent. Every interaction was her choice. If she wanted to take her paw away, she could. We never held onto her. We rewarded her for offering her paw, then for leaving it there a little longer. The clippers started on the floor, then in my hand. Eventually, while she was happily eating a treat, I could gently touch her paw with the clippers. All of it at her pace, with lots of breaks.
On our first visit, we did not clip any nails at all, but by the end of the session she was comfortable being in the same room as the clippers and offering her paw. On the second visit, we managed one nail, and she was so surprised when she realised it did not hurt that she had a full-on celebration. Today, on visit three, we managed four nails.
This is cooperative care and desensitisation in action. No restraint. No forcing. Just building confidence, step by step, in a place where she feels safe. Watching her confidence grow, and seeing her come to the door happier and more relaxed each time, is honestly one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
Well Done Bo 💞💓
