Hey Tribe,
Let's talk dog nail trimming!
I trim my dogs' nails at home for a few reasons: it is cheaper than having someone else do it and, more importantly, it allows me to form a better bond with my dogs. The time my dogs and I spend together trimming nails has become almost meditating. We are calm and quiet together. They trust me to mess with their body and not hurt them. This will translate to them allowing me to do other things to their feet that might otherwise frighten them, such as pulling briers out of their fur, cleaning sap out from between their pads, and checking for cracks and wounds.
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| A lot of junk can get trapped in these fur feet. |
There are countless websites and videos that will show you how to trim your dog's nails, the American Kennel Club also has a very nice nail trimming guide you could read. For this post, I will offer you tips and tricks that I haven't found on other sites, but really help me successfully trim my dogs' nails.
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| All the essentials. |
Treats: Use a very specific treat for "nail time." For us, that treat is Zuke's minis and the dogs only get them when we trim nails: this makes it super special. I put a little pile of Zuke's on the floor next to me, so I can grab one easily. When Fly and Rex first started nail trim training, they got one treat every time I made a clip - now, they get a treat when they roll over in front of me, after each foot, and at the end when I say they are finished.
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| Chap waits his turn - he knows he can't eat the treats until it's his "nail time." |
Trimmers: One day I asked my vet which type of nail trimmer is best and she said "whatever you're most comfortable using," but she uses the scissor type, which was re-assuring since it's what I have. They are self explanatory to use and easy to hold. A lot of folks use the grinder type trimmer, but I think they are noisy, expensive, and put nail dust into the air for you to inhale. Gross.
Body position: If you control the head, you control the body, so I clip my dogs' nails with the dog on its back, head toward me. I'm less likely to get kicked in the face this way. Also, I can see the nail better from this angle.
Vision: Use a headlamp to better see what you're doing. Reading glasses with a little magnification might help too.
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| Chap's nails are small and a bit difficult to see. |
Not all nails are created equal: White nails are easier to trim, because the pink quick is visible through the nail, while black nails require a bit more attention to avoid cutting too deeply. Also, front feet nails are usually longer than hind feet nails: I don't know why, maybe they push off with their hind feet more?
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| Front paw nail |
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| Back paw nail. |
Beware the sharp claw: Freshly trimmed nails are sharp! This is where the grinder trimmers have an advantage, because they grind the nails smooth, rather than the scissor or guillotine trimmers that will cut a sharp edge. Scissor trimmed nails should file smooth on their own after a day of regular walking, but in the meantime, try to avoid getting a paw to the face or against your nice pants.
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| Be like me and trim in your comfy clothes. |
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| Two weeks of growth - way too long! |
Relax: Enjoy the time spent with your dog. When you are calm, your dog can be calm too. If you are worried about hurting the dog, take tiny shavings off with each repeated cut and you won't cut too deep, which can help you remain calm and confident. During "nail time" your focus is on your dog, which is wonderful and your dog will love it - if you are relaxed.
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| Rex wants it to be his turn again. |
Below, is a short video clip showing how relaxed Fly is as I trim her nails.
So, there you are with some tips and tricks to help you and your dog enjoy a successful nail trim session at home. Happy trimming!
P.S. Photos were taken with my iPhone5, sorry for the terrible image quality.
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