McCaskey is getting worse and worse when it's time to clip his nails. In the beginning he would just run away after each clip, and it has progressed to lip curling and nipping. He has never actually bit me, and judging by the way he nips in my direction and then tries to run off, I believe he is not actually trying to "get me" rather trying scare/warn/ward/fend me off.

I tried to get him more acclimated to nail clipping by doing it more frequently, but that hasn't helped. Today I tried to use treats: rewarding him after each clip. But, he was so squirrelly and unusually stressed today I decided to muzzle him for the last paw and a half. (I think my 2-year old running around, shouting, and mimicking me added to the poor dog's stress levels. And I couldn't get him to settle down...I suppose I could have shut him in the dog crate? -- JOKING!)

The problem is being compounded by his twitching and jumping around because I am more likely to cut his quick, which I have been doing more so than I have ever done before.

What recommendations do you have? Is there something I can do to help relax him, or do I just need to be resolved to muzzle him from now on? Thanks.

He will bite you soon if nothing is changed. He knows he can run away (win) from the session. Treats are fine but your attitude need to change. When you grab a paw, do not let go till you are done (it could be after clipping 2 nails) but it has to be on your terms. Do not accept nipping/growling, TELL him "cut it out" don't ask. Then when YOU decide to let him off, reward. You need to learn to be Mr Tough Guy one instant and immediately become My Nice Guy after you get what you want. Otherwise chances are high you will get bit soon.

No two-year-old! Nap time for the child is when to do it.

Also, do one. Do one quickly and confidently, reward big, and done for the day.

There's a detailed thread here about home procedures, which I will try to find Sunday if someone will bump this.

(I'm drowning right now in a work project that I finish tomorrow afternoon.)

 Quote: faisal khan

Treats are fine but your attitude need to change. When you grab a paw, do not let go till you are done (it could be after clipping 2 nails) but it has to be on your terms. Do not accept nipping/growling, TELL him "cut it out" don't ask. .... immediately become My Nice Guy after you get what you want. ...

Big ditto! Set yourself up for success, too, with calm, with everything right there, with no "need" to do all of the claws in one session, and with aromatic rewards right there to focus on.

I don't tolerate the nipping or lip curling and I do tell him to knock it off, which he usually does until a nail or two later. I also don't flinch or back off when he does this. He hasn't actually growled though, just the little lip twitch. When he wants to run he thrashes violently and I'm afraid he will get hurt if I don't let go, but he is always leashed so when he does get away I am able to bring him right back and continue.

I never get angry with him, but I am firm: we always finish regardless of his nonsense. I do try to sooth him during (maybe sooth is the wrong word), but I will hold his paw and say "easy" or "wait" in a low tone while stroking his side to stop him twitching so I can get a clear picture of where to clip on the next nail. And then of course, praise him big time when we are finished.

Is it possible that it is causing him pain and he is pain reactive? Although, I can't imagine how it could be painful unless I get the quick.

There was something else I was thinking about that I wanted to add, but now I can't remember. I will have to post it later when I remember.

I have had great success with addressing these problems through marker work.

Touch the foot..mark
Touch the nail with the clipper..mark
and so on..and so on..

What has worked for me and my Mal pup (similar to Matthews suggestion)....

First I taught her the "leave it" game. I put her in a down and put a pile of food in front of her on the floor, but she has to ignore it.

Then I added in holding a paw, and rewarding her with a piece of food from the pile. Then I started clipping nails, each nail clipped gets a piece from the pile.

I found that her concentrating on ignoring the food pile took her focus off of me clipping her nails and now I can easily clip all four feet in one sitting.

To add to the excellent points made above...make sure your dog is tired when you do this. I typically trim nails on a Sunday night. After a weekend of "go, go, go", even my young dog has no issues.

I know this may sound odd, but my male, Kodi doesn't like me to cut his nails, so I dremel them instead. I find a place where he is most comfortable, and like Melissa said, after he is good and tired out, he will let me grind them down with no trouble.

Here is an old link that might be helpful if you should want to dremel the nails instead of clipping.
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~jmerenski1/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

Follow the instructions for how to get the dog used to the noise and eventually on to one nail at a time initially.
The introduction is the most important part.

It takes time to get to the place where the dog will be compliant but if you follow the steps, the dog will eventually learn to just relax and take a nap. But that doesn't happen overnight. Just do the baby steps and always keep the association positive for the dog.