If your dog hates having their nails trimmed, a scratch board will save you so many headaches! This video is from one of our early training sessions with Ranger, our Australian Cattle Dog x Malinois x Dutch Shepherd mix. He came to us fairly under-socialized and isn’t a fan of having his nails trimmed. He now gets very excited when we have the board out, and will even paw at it if we don’t have treats on hand.
This video shows an early prototype of the board. The boards now sold by 2 Dog Night Studios have 120 grit sandpaper (rougher) on one side and 180 grit sandpaper (smoother) on the other side, solid backing and a handle for stability.
How to train your dog to use the scratch board
To start, have a handful of high-value treats. Hot dogs, pepperoni, leftover salmon, and bacon are all great options!
Balance the board against your legs or a wall and enclose the treat in your hand.
Show your dog that you have the treat, but do not let them have it. Instead, hold the treat at the top of the board as your dog sniffs at it.
Sometimes it helps to tap the board to build excitement for the treat.
As the dog becomes frustrated that they cannot get the treat, they will paw at the board. Immediately mark the behavior with a yes (or a clicker, if you use that method) and reward with the treat immediately.
Repeat this process several times and the dog will begin to learn that pawing at the board results in a treat!
Typically you will treat after every couple scratches once the dog gets the hang of it.
