Nail Grinding
Grooming & Handling · 34 steps · by @allison
Your Dog will learn to enjoy having their nails sanded down with an electronic grinder.
Alternate between right and left sides as you work through this plan.
**Any position is fine.** This plan never asks Your Dog to stand, sit, or lie down, and you should not make them. Most dogs find lying down easiest, on their side or in a relaxed down, because the leg is supported and they are not balancing on three feet while you work. Some prefer to stand, and small dogs are often happiest in your lap. Let Your Dog choose the position they settle into, then keep it consistent so the picture stays familiar.
**A start button makes this much easier, though it is not required.** This plan builds Your Dog's feelings about the grinder, its look, its noise, its vibration. A start button handles a different job: it lets them tell you go ahead or not yet before each individual nail. The two work beautifully together.
- **Start Button: Side** is the natural fit for nails. Your Dog offers lying on their side, then lays their head flat on the mat as the go-ahead for each nail. Head lifting, rolling up onto the chest, or pulling a paw back all mean stop. - **Start Button: Chin Rest** works if Your Dog would rather stand, especially with the chin onto a surface so both of your hands are free.
If you are using a button, wait for it before every rep here, and treat it coming undone exactly as this plan already treats a pulled-away paw: stop, and let the step get easier.
**Puppies:** Getting your puppy happy about having their nails ground is wonderful socialization during the puppy window (around 4 to 16 weeks), when puppies learn what is safe and normal in their world. Because a young puppy usually has no fear to undo and soaks up new experiences fast, you can often run this plan in **proof mode** (proof levels 1 and 2, the harder review steps) so your puppy breezes through it faster than an adult dog might need. Keep every rep positive and let your puppy set the pace.
Training steps
Pair the sight of the grinder with treats at a distance
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the grinder from a distance, then surprise them by tossing a generous handful of tasty treats so they do not have to get close to the grinder.
Success: Your Dog eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Pair the sight of the grinder with treats
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, show them the grinder, then surprise them with a generous handful of tasty treats. Do not approach Your Dog with the grinder. Stay where you are and encourage them to come get the treats, so they are choosing to approach the grinder on their own. Between reps, sit with Your Dog without feeding them and keep the grinder hidden. This contrast will have Your Dog thinking “where is that grinder? I want to see it again because it makes great stuff happen!”
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Put the grinder on the floor and sprinkle treats around it
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, put the grinder on the floor, sprinkle a generous handful of tasty treats around it, then back away so Your Dog can get close and find the treats without any social pressure.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Muffle the sound of the grinder before turning it on
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, pick up the grinder, wrap it in a blanket or towel, then turn it on so it makes noise. When Your Dog notices the sound, begin feeding treats for 5 seconds, then turn it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Turn on the grinder
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
When Your Dog is not expecting it, pick up the grinder and turn it on so it makes noise. When Your Dog notices the sound, begin feeding treats for 5 seconds, then turn it off.
Success: Your Dog approaches and eats the treats.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to front shoulder for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's shoulder for 1 second and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to front shoulder for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's shoulder for 3 seconds and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to front leg for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's leg for 1 second and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to front leg for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's leg for 3 seconds and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to front foot for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's front foot for 1 second and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to front foot for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's front foot for 3 seconds and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to thigh for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's thigh for 1 second and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to thigh for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's thigh for 3 seconds and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to back leg for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's leg for 1 second and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to back leg for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's leg for 3 seconds and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to back foot for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's back foot for 1 second and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Touch grinder to back foot for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
With the grinder off, hold it against Your Dog's back foot for 3 seconds and feed a treat with your other hand while they are touching.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch grinder to front leg
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's front leg with one hand, touch the grinder (off) to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold the front foot but touch grinder to the leg
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's front foot but only touch the grinder (off) to their leg. Hold, do not grip or pull, and let go the moment they draw the paw back.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch grinder to front foot
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's front foot with one hand, touch the grinder (off) to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch grinder to a front nail
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's front foot with one hand, touch the grinder (off) to one of the nails with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch grinder to back leg
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's back leg with one hand, touch the grinder (off) to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold the back foot but touch grinder to the leg
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's back foot but only touch the grinder (off) to their leg. Hold, do not grip or pull, and let go the moment they draw the paw back.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch grinder to back foot
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's back foot with one hand, touch the grinder (off) to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch grinder to a back nail
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Gently take and hold Your Dog's back foot with one hand, touch the grinder (off) to one of the nails with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch active grinder to front leg
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Turn on the grinder, then gently take and hold Your Dog's front leg with one hand. Touch the handle of the active grinder to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after. This replicates the vibration without actually grinding.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch active grinder to front foot
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Turn on the grinder, then gently take and hold Your Dog's front foot with one hand. Touch the handle of the active grinder to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after. This replicates the vibration without actually grinding.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch active grinder to back leg
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Turn on the grinder, then gently take and hold Your Dog's back leg with one hand. Touch the handle of the active grinder to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after. This replicates the vibration without actually grinding.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Hold and touch active grinder to back foot
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Turn on the grinder, then gently take and hold Your Dog's back foot with one hand. Touch the handle of the active grinder to it with your other hand, and then feed a treat immediately after. This replicates the vibration without actually grinding.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during handling.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grind a front nail for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Grind one of Your Dog's nails for 1 second, then praise and feed a tasty treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during grinding.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grind a front nail for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Grind one of Your Dog's nails for 3 seconds, then praise and feed a tasty treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during grinding.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grind a back nail for 1 second
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Grind one of Your Dog's nails for 1 second, then praise and feed a tasty treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during grinding.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grind a back nail for 3 seconds
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Grind one of Your Dog's nails for 3 seconds, then praise and feed a tasty treat immediately after.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during grinding.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Grind a nail all the way
Setup: Your Dog is nearby.
Grind one of Your Dog's nails all the way down, then praise and feed a tasty treat immediately after. End the session after one nail or continue to grind more nails. It is a good idea to keep using treats during nail care since this process can feel awkward for everyone. If you want to fade them, simply reduce the number of treats per grind each session.
Success: Your Dog is happy and calm during grinding.
Advance on: 4 of 5 successes
Congratulations! You now have a dog who loves to have their nails ground.
Keep the positive association strong by giving Your Dog a high-value treat for every nail you grind.
Do not chase a full set. One paw, or even two or three nails, and then finishing on purpose is a genuinely good session. Nails only need doing every few weeks, so you have far more time than it feels like you do, and a dog who leaves the room when the grinder appears costs you much more than a long nail does.
If you have trained a start button, this is where it earns its keep: wait for Your Dog to offer it before each nail, and stop the moment it comes undone. See Start Button: Side, or Start Button: Chin Rest if Your Dog prefers to stand.
If Your Dog starts avoiding having their nails ground, that's completely okay! Simply Drop back to a step they're comfortable with and work through the plan again or restart the plan with proof steps. Go at Your Dog's pace and do as much training as they need.