Fear of clipping nails?

[green ninja]

My little Bella has long nails and I tried at 3 different times to use something to clip them or sand them back. Any time she hears the nail sander she goes nuts, so I decided to try just a pair of dog nail clippers (not electric, just clippers). She reacted even more strongly with those.

Because I don't know her background, I don't know if maybe it's a fear, or if someone maybe tried hurting her at some point with either one. She doesn't tend to get scared by noise, but this sander she freaks out about, and totally went nuts when she saw the nail clipper and it wasn't even near her foot.

Any ideas on how we can solve the issue of the nails being clipped, and/or break this fear?

[tall grass pugs]

I think most of us tend to cough up the ten dollars a pop and have the vet tech do the nail trim. Pugs play to our hearts with dismal howls and frenzy, which can and has caused their eyes to fall from their socket. You might try helping her associate nail trimming with treats, but she will look like the Hindenburg dirigible before her attitude changes. With their cobby body and short neck, they can't see their feet well and cannot bear having them being messed with. Some pugs more than others, but all pugs resist the trim.
Walking during the cooler morning on concrete sidewalks is helpful, but won't shorten the dewclaws---vet techs do it behind closed doors and experience less drama.

[Rugbysmom]

Ugh....all I can say is "Welcome to our World!!!"

[Snifter]

I agree that plenty of walks on concrete will keep the nails down, so then you only have to worry about dewclaws.