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Teach your Dog to File their Nails

Front Feet:

*Commercial scratching boards are available on Amazon & Etsy

*Or, you can DIY scratching board by wrapping sandpaper around a clipboard

  1. Start without the board. Show your dog a treat on the ground and cover it with a washcloth.
  2. At first, mark with a clicker or verbal cue “yes” when your dog sniffs or paws at the washcloth then give them a treat. After a few repetitions, wait until they are pawing at the washcloth before marking and treating your dog.
  3. Once your dog is reliably pawing at the washcloth, take the washcloth and place it over the scratching board. Sandwich the treat between the washcloth and board.
  4. Mark and treat your dog for scratching at the washcloth on the board. As they continue to scratch, slowly move the washcloth until it it no longer covering the treat.
  5. Next, place the treat under the board and continue to mark and treat your dog for scratching at the board. You can start to introduce a cue word “Manicure!” before presenting the board with the treat under it.
  6. Finally, once your dog is consistently using the board, gradually lift it to a 45 degree angle to allow the nail to come into better contact with the board.

 

Back Feet:

  • Once your dog is familiar with the scratching board you can start training the rear feet. It will be a different process.
  • The goal for this exercise is to prop the board against a platform like a couch. Their front feet will be up on the platform, and rear feet on the ground. The board will be under their belly. The dog will raise their hind foot and scratch downwards against the board.
  • Start by getting your dog comfortable with putting their front feet up on a surface without jumping up onto it. You can lure them with a treat. Mark and treat as soon as they are in position.
  • Once they are comfortable with this position, introduce the scratching board, angled against the platform.
  • Lure your dog so their front feet are up on the platform, with the board under their belly. Slowly move the treat further back onto the platform, so the dog needs to stretch over the board to reach the treat. They will try to climb up on the board. When their back foot touches the board mark and give them a treat.
  • After they are consistently offering to touch the board with their back feet, start rewarding for the downward movement as they scratch the board.