Shiba Inu Nail Trimming – A Complete Guide

Phew, this website is a labor of love and largely a one-woman show so unless indicated, all articles written by J.Tsukamoto

Shiba Inus are known for their theatrics when exposing them to grooming rituals such as nail trimming and bath time.

Shiba Inus that have not been socialized to normal dog grooming tasks may scream, cry, and do everything possible to make it basically impossible to get the grooming task done.

To completely avoid this from happening in the first place you must socialized young Shiba Inu puppies to these experiences early and consistently.

However if your Shiba is already an adult that is not receptive to nail trimming, we'll show you methods on how to trim your Shiba' nails peacefully - and without losing a limb or appendage.

Nail Trimming Primitive Dogs Like Shibas...

Shiba Inus are a basal, or primitive breed of dog that have more wild characteristics than more domesticated breeds such as retrievers and labs.

Because of this, trust and respect from your Shiba Inu needs to be earned. 

And the earlier, the better.

If there is one thing. One thing, that Shiba Inu owners could do to eliminate 90% of behavioral issues with their Shibas - it would be early puppy socialization.

By socializing your Shiba pup to other people, other dogs, and scary sights and noises you’ll significantly reduce common behavioral and emotional issues later on in your dog’s life.

Unfortunately, not enough Shiba Inu owners spend the necessary time to socialize their puppy correctly. 

Of course, this is easy to understand as caring for a new puppy is an already daunting deal.

But if you’re reading this and your Shiba is still a puppy, don’t waste another moment and start socializing.

Now.

[Read more about Shiba Inu puppy development here]

Sometimes, Shiba Inus are rescued or adopted as adults where the socialization window has long passed. 

So whatever learned or not learned habits are already packaged in with the Shiba.

And it’s going to take some bit of unwrapping to get to the good parts.

On top of this “primitive” nature, most Shiba owners are familiar with the “prima” Donna attitude - or as some say, Shibattitude

This attitude usually manifests in shrieks, screams, and howls for the slightest hint of discontentment. 

For the uninitiated, these sudden screams can startle you to the core.

But pair this high pitched screaming with nail cutting and you got issues.

Fortunately, with Shibas - it’s usually all bark and no bite.

Somewhat like wolves, vocal communication is still strong in Shibas.

However, even though you know that your Shiba is likely just having a screaming fit, many

groomers will be too unnerved by the screaming and may not want you and your loud Shiba back

 at their salon. 

Don’t worry too much though. You don’t want a groomer that can’t handle difficult dogs anyway.

With some persistence, you will find an experienced groomer that will be able to handle your Shiba drama queen or king.

And if even that fails - you’ll just have to take it to a veterinarian that has the right attitude and staff to get the job done.

Remember though - as much as possible, it's much better in the long run if you can trim your Shiba's nails yourself. Read why here. 

Tip: Don’t ever have your dog fully sedated simply for a nail trim. If that’s what your vet recommends - I'd consider looking for another vet.

For even the most difficult of cases, two or three trained vet techs, and a muzzle / head cone will be more than enough to get the ordeal over with in the least stressful way possible.

If your current veterinary staff can’t handle this, it’d be best to find one that can.

An example of a calm Shiba = "GOALS"

Why is Nail Trimming So Important?

Overgrown dog nails not only looks unsightly but it’s also bad for your dog’s health.

You don’t want to be “that” dog owner - it’s not a good look.

Long nails are at greater risk for breaking, cracking, and getting stuck to things.

Cracked and broken nails are painful for dogs and make the task of getting your Shiba to trust you with her nails that much harder.

Additionally, long nails affects your dog’s ability to walk and run correctly - eventually leading to bigger problems down the road like arthritis and gait issues.

The longer you let your dog’s nails grow, the harder it gets to keep it under control.

Dog nails are not like grass where you can just let it grow and give it a good hacking later when it gets unruly.

That’s because as the dog’s nails get longer - so does the ‘quick’ - that sensitive area which will bleed and cause pain to your dog if cut.

By regularly trimming your dog’s nails, the quick will recede and you can eventually be able to cut the nails shorter and shorter before hitting the quick.

Comprehensive Video on Acclimating Your Dog To Nail Trimming:

Shiba Inu Nail Care - Tip #1 - Baby Steps, Baby Steps, Baby Steps

While some Shibas (especially those trained from puppy hood) learn to accept nail care quickly - the majority will take much longer.

A lot longer.

If you start too fast, you’ll inevitably risk traumatizing your Shiba to the point where future nail grooming will be close impossible

Think of it as an ultramarathon or 100 miler versus a quick one mile jaunt around the park.

Training starts slow - like simply handling paws everyday with positive associations.

Then progress to putting your Shiba in a safe nail clipping position and handling paws.

Next, try quick file or clip to see how much you can get away with.

Alternatively, if your Shiba is not bothered by noise too much, you can instead start with a Dremel like grinder / sander. 

Shiba Inu Nail Care - Tip #2 - Your Mindset and Attitude

Dogs are highly perceptive and will pick up on how you’re feeling in a snap.

If you’re stressed - your dog is stressed.

If you’re fearful - your dog is stressed.

If you’re not confident - your dog is stressed.

 If all of these apply to you, then it might be more critical to work on these weaknesses before even attempting to trim your dog’s nails.

In the meantime, you can leave nail trimming duties to a qualified and trusted person until you are ready to properly work with your Shiba.

Why?

If you’re not confident, fearful, and stressed, you’ll only make future nail trimming sessions harder and more unpleasant for your Shiba.

Shiba Inu Nail Care - Tip #3 - Safety Is ALWAYS FIRST

Getting bitten in the face is not pleasant. (Happened ages ago when I had zero dog skills)

Trust me. 

It usually involves a lot of pain, tears, stitches and a Tetanus shot.

The reality is even the most well-trained dogs bite - especially when stressed / fearful.

If you’ve raised your Shiba from as a puppy - you’ll at least have a better understanding of your dog’s mood and likely reactions.

But if you adopted or rescued an adult Shiba, you probably won’t be able to predict how the dog will react to different situations.

This is where safety measures make a big difference.

The absolute best safety tool is something that can’t be bought. 

It must be learned and ‘earned’. 

As your dog’s caretaker, you must be able to understand your dog’s moods, fears, and temperament. 

And as your dog’s ‘teacher’, you must put in the time for training and obedience. 

In a nutshell, you need to have: Training, Obedience, and Trust (T.O.T) .

Basically, if you can’t even get your Shiba to obey basic obedience commands, how do you expect her to give you her nails willingly?

Shiba Inu Nail Care - Tip #4 - Don't Give In - Grooming in non-negotiable

Shiba Inus are known for being loud.

Dramatic.

Even terrifying.

For this reason alone, many Shiba owners feel that grooming an unwilling and loud Shiba is IMPOSSIBLE.

It's not.

Shiba Inus are smart and use these high dramatics for a reason - it works. The high-pitched screaming and squealing sounds like they're being tortured - so they know their terrified owners will stop.

Don't fall for it. 

You need to stay calm, collected, and steadfast.

As long as you feel that the Shiba is not a bite risk and simply being dramatic - keep going on with the conditioning and training.

Don't push it though. Learn when to stop and always end on a positive not. 

Watch this video of a loud Shiba Inu being conditioned to accept wearing a muzzle:

Helpful Safety Tools For Shiba Inu Nail Care:

Supplements / Medications

For certain cases, veterinarian-prescribed medication can help to reduce anxiety during grooming sessions.

It’s important to understand that medicine should not be used as a crux but rather a tool to help acclimate your Shiba to being handled.

Long term, the goal is to fully desensitize your dog to accept handling / grooming without the need for medications. 

Supplements -

Certain supplements may help, but the efficacy on most is spotty at best- so we don’t recommend them.

Medications - 

Before even thinking about giving your Shiba medications, be sure to consult with your vet on your plan of action.

Some medications veterinarians prescribe include:

• Acepromezine
• Trazadone
• Sileo
• Xanax

Options If You Just Can't Do It Yourself...

Although it would be ideal if you could trim your Shiba's nails yourself, sometimes it’s just not possible.

Don’t feel bad or defeated.

Trimming a screaming and / or biting dog’s nails is not an easy task.

You may not have the physical or emotional ability to handle the stress which is not good for your Shiba anyway.

Your job now is to find a qualified person/s to do the task right. 

[ Important ] Remember, finding a good dog groomer is just like finding a good doctor. 

All groomers are NOT made alike. 

Some may have little to zero experience whereas some grooming business owners have done it for decades.

It’s critical that you take the time to find an experienced groomer that has the right skill sets to deal with difficult Shibas.

Tip - Steer clear of grooming services at ‘big box’ pet stores. 

Veterinary Offices -

Most veterinary offices provide grooming services such as nail clipping, teeth cleaning, and anal gland expression.

But just as with dog groomers - not all veterinarians / vet techs are equally skilled and or patient when it comes to dog grooming tasks.

Make sure your veterinarian has the patience and empathy to get the job done right - preferably without excessive medication / sedation. 

Also, it’s perfectly fine to have your ‘main’ vet for health issues and another vet / vet office for grooming.

Remember, don’t give up if a groomer or vet can’t handle your dog - think of it as dating, keep looking until you find the perfect match.

So Where Do I START??

You just read or at least skimmed through quite a lot of info.

Now, you probably are wondering, what next?

The answer is, it depends.

It depends on the Shibas age, past and present experiences with nail grooming, general obedience / training skills, and finally trust and comfort with you.

Not all tips and guidelines will apply to you and your Shiba. Every Shiba is unique and requires personalized care.

So your first step is to assess your Shiba and her particular needs and then devise an action plan best suited to her.

Go through the following guidelines and see which ones will likely bring the most success for your Shiba

Favorite Nail Care Tools