My Schnauzer is 8 months old and when he was little we used to cut his nails with no problem, for the last 5 months we have been taking him to a professional groomer every 2 months to get his hair, ears and nails done. For some reason, he go nuts when we try and cut his nails now. He bites and squirms like he is being tormented. We don't cut them short enough to hurt him and we talk softly to him etc. We rub his feet all the time, he doesn't mind us touching them, just don't try and cut them. If we are lucky, we can cut one a day.

We use one of the standard nail clippers. What happened? Do you think the groomer is hurting him or is he just being stubborn? What can we do? We don't want to take him to the groomer every 2 weeks if we don't have to.  Any suggestions?

It is possible the groomer has caught a toe nail or that her clippers were a bit blunt at some point.  I lost my clippers recently and borrowed a friends, I think they squeezed rather than cut and since then I have had difficutly in cutting my packs' nails and getting their confidence back. 

Don't talk softly to him, this is reassuring him that there is something to be worried about.  Be firm voiced and maybe use a strong "stand" command - he won't know what it means but may react to your tone, cut one nail and let him go with lots of praise and a treat - you could have a treat in your hand as you cut the nail as well.  Even if you can only do one a day to start with that is better than nothing and you may find that as he gains confidence you can do more.

Alternatively try a rough file (plumbers not human) or something like a dremmel but both of these generate heat so you have to be a bit careful.

When he is sitting quietly with you you could just tap his toes with the clippers and cut something like matchsticks close to him so he gets used to the noise as well as feel.

Christine

The groomer may have cut his nail too close - on the other hand, your dog is now a teenager and that counts for a lot in terms of rebellious behaviour.

My Cairn used to sleep through nail clipping.  She broke a leg, had two surgeries, and I did not groom her for about two months. After that, every aspect of grooming becames a struggle with her.  The last time I clipped her nails I cut the nail way too close and she screeched - and would not hold still for me to put styptic powder on it.  I was bloody, she was bloody, it was a real mess.   I would like to say that is the cause of her now being totally uncooperative.  However, the reason I cut too close was because she was struggling in the first place.

I bought a Dremel and I am now on a long and very slow course of teaching her to accept it.  I touch her nail with it, turn it on for a second, and she gets a small treat.   I will be older and even grayer by the time I can actually use it to any effect.  :-)

Stacey