Saturday, May 19, 2018


Several Reasons for Aggressive Behavior

A couple of causes for your pets to become aggressive are getting a bath and trimming their nails.  The problem with trimming their nails is that it is easy for you to cut the nails too close and actually cut the blood vessels that are giving the nails their blood supply.  This makes the animal jittery whenever you pick up the nail clippers to trim their nails.  The second most common cause for your pet’s aggression is giving them a bath.  You take your pet to the shower or tub in the house.  Outside you may use a hose and somewhere that your pet will remain clean after you wash them. You are all set to wash them and the pet begins to struggle, so you do what come naturally, that is to restrain them so you can give them a bath.  Now whenever you say the word bath or try to take them to the shower, or tub, they will fight you.
What do you need to do to give your pet a happy experience when it is time to trim their nails or to take a bath?  If it is a puppy, start by showing them the nail clippers.  Rub their paws with the clippers, softly. Include a treat when they will let you rub their paws, with clippers, and not show any aggressive behavior.  Do this for a few times and then move into the next step which is actually trimming the nails.  Again, if they show an aggressive side, stop the trimming.  Go back to the rubbing of the paws with trimmers.   If your pet is an older dog you may have to break the aggressive behavior that the previous owner caused.  Start as if they were a puppy, and before long you should be able to trim their nails and give them a bath.  Make sure that the water is warm, not hot or not cold, when bathing your pets.  This will give them an enjoyable experience.  Follow the nail trimming and bathing with a treat.  Also, brushing their coats, between baths, will also go a long way to make them feel comfortable when it is time to bathe them.
If you are experiencing problems and what you have tried does not settle your pets down, take them to a vet.  Make sure you let the vet know there is a problem so they can work at making your pet comfortable.  There are also businesses that you can take your pet for a bath and trim.  There are even some businesses that will come to your house, instead of you having to take your pet to the groomer or vet.

Good trimming and bathing