Sunday, January 14, 2007
Cut and Run
How do you cut a dog's nails and trim his hair when he absolutely, positively refuses to cooperate? Cheryl tried a few times in the past to trim Oreo's nails but he was adamant about not letting her do it. She even suggested that I hold him down while she cut but, having envisioned an ongoing wrestling match with an ever-growing dog, I respectfully declined.
The issue came up again yesterday since Oreo's nails and hair were looking a bit ratty. When Cheryl mentioned the pup's untrimmed state, I thought back to a time when Cheryl had smeared some cream cheese on the fridge to distract Oreo and carry out some long-forgotten chore.
"Why don't you smear some peanut butter on the fridge," I helpfully suggested. "And see if that works?"
So Cheryl dabbed a bunch of peanut butter (organic, of course) about two feet up on the fridge door and summoned Oreo to the kitchen. He immediately attacked the peanut butter-laden door and Cheryl was able to trim his nails and his hair without complaint. Actually, there was a minor disturbance when the peanut butter ran out. But another smear on the door provided plenty of time to complete the tasks at hand (or, in this case, the tasks at paw).
You have to wonder what Oreo would put up with if we spread some live paté on the fridge door. I'm guessing he'd be so distracted, we could give him a full haircut or maybe even minor surgery.
The issue came up again yesterday since Oreo's nails and hair were looking a bit ratty. When Cheryl mentioned the pup's untrimmed state, I thought back to a time when Cheryl had smeared some cream cheese on the fridge to distract Oreo and carry out some long-forgotten chore.
"Why don't you smear some peanut butter on the fridge," I helpfully suggested. "And see if that works?"
So Cheryl dabbed a bunch of peanut butter (organic, of course) about two feet up on the fridge door and summoned Oreo to the kitchen. He immediately attacked the peanut butter-laden door and Cheryl was able to trim his nails and his hair without complaint. Actually, there was a minor disturbance when the peanut butter ran out. But another smear on the door provided plenty of time to complete the tasks at hand (or, in this case, the tasks at paw).
You have to wonder what Oreo would put up with if we spread some live paté on the fridge door. I'm guessing he'd be so distracted, we could give him a full haircut or maybe even minor surgery.
