That's something I figured out with GSDs early on. They're scary empathic. They pick up on your feelings FAST. And if they sense nerves or weakness, they'll take advantage of it fast.

Sadly, knowing that doesn't help much when you're nervous about hurting them (or getting hurt yourself).

Like I said, it's worth coughing up $20 every few months at the vet (or $10 I think to add it to the grooming bill) to let someone else deal with it. (The girls at the vet swear that Sebastian likes the attention... If I try to hold a foot long enough to even look at it good, we have a wrestlng match!)