Today was pedicure day for all dogs small and large. I had the idea half way though last nail day to video & time it. Nails are probably one of the easiest things we can do to keep our dogs sound and also the thing pet owners have the most anxiety about. The handler’s anxiety is transferred to the dog (“Worried? Worried? Why are we worried? Tell me so I can worry too!!”) and so the cycle continues. I wanted to demonstrate how if we start early, stay on top of it, approach it with confidence and kindness… the puppies roll with it.
The fact that I finished 72 toe nails in under 9 minutes is astounding to me. There was a little bit of wiggling here and there but generally the puppies were cooperative because I was fast about it. It also helps to have cream cheese! There’s a bigger reason to stay on top of nails that has to do with keeping your dog pain-free, sound and aging gracefully.
Nail cutting is essential because “nails that are too long and resting on the ground can affect the dog’s posture and their movement”, says Dr. Leslie Woodcock, DVM. I have included her 14-minute lecture below which is well worth watching as she discusses why it is so critical to have short nails on your dog and how to achieve it. Believe it or not, your dogs will thank you for watching it and applying what you’ll learn.