Ask DQ

Q: Please can you give me some tips for training a nervous dog to let you trim their nails at home?

Trimming the nails is always tricky, even with confident pooches. The tail and the feet are two of the most sensitive parts of a dog’s body, so many don’t like to be touched in these areas.

It may take months of perseverance and training but try starting with very gently touching the paw and feeding treats on a regular basis. Very slowly, begin to build this up to holding the toe, lifting it, positioning it for clipping etc. However, if your dog shows signs of stress like lip licking, looking away or panting, go back a few steps and start to work your way back up again. Once your dog is more confident and allows you to hold onto the paw comfortably, you can slowly introduce nail clippers. Start by simply laying the nail clippers nearby and feeding treats. After a few weeks of this, progress to touching the nail with the clippers and slowly move towards gripping the nail in the clipper blades. It may take many months before you can apply pressure to the nail with the clippers, especially if your dog has previously experienced a painful nail clip.

If you are still struggling, talk to a registered dog trainer or behaviourist or visit your vet for further assistance.

Q: Is peanut butter safe for dogs?

Yes, peanut butter can be an excellent treat for dogs. It can be a really helpful incentive for dogs in training and can be used on a lickimat at bathtime with great success. One just has to be careful with which peanut butter you choose, but provided you opt for an unprocessed peanut butter, your dog can consume it safely.

Peanut butter is roasted peanuts ground into a thick paste, so it should be relatively unprocessed and if you use an unprocessed peanut butter with no added ingredients or a peanut butter made specifically for dogs, you’ll have a great treat for your pooch.

However, unfortunately, many companies include additives in their peanut butter like lots of added salt and sugar, which are not good for our canine companions. More concerning still is the addition of xylitol to some brands of peanut butter; xylitol is toxic to dogs, so feeding peanut butter with xylitol is an absolute no-go.

Peanut butter, in its unprocessed form, is an excellent source of protein, vitamins B3, B6 and E and minerals such as manganese and copper. It also contains antioxidants and reservatrol. The only downsides are that it is very nutrient-dense, high in calories, and contains unbalanced omega oils. This means that it can be given as a treat but only occasionally and never as a meal replacement.

Why do dogs love peanut butter?

It’s difficult to know why dogs love peanut butter so much, but it probably has a lot to do with the high protein content, as well as the natural sodium, sugars and fat. Dogs also tend to ‘eat with their noses’ so perhaps it just smells too good to pass up.