I need advice on nail trimming...

Like... how often do they need to be trimmed? And... does anyone have any detailed, up-close photos of corgi nails trimmed correctly? I read somewhere that if his nails are clicking on the floor, they are too long (but not sure if I agree with this).

His nails are somewhat long, but... on the clear nails, it appears as if the quick is very close to the end of them, and I'm afraid to even touch the black nails! I really don't want to hurt my baby...

Does anyone have any advice?

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Permalink Reply by Alex on January 30, 2011 at 3:35am

Also try to tire Odie out first. We usually go on a fetch session at the park and the minute we get home I set Kenji onto his side and start the nail trimming process. Kenji will be so tired that he won't have the energy to fight me off.

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Permalink Reply by Beth on January 30, 2011 at 9:44pm

If he's that bad, you need to go slower and praise any signs of improvement.

Read my blog post here:

http://www.mycorgi.com/profiles/blogs/jack-let-me-dremmel-his-back

Notice the date.

I have been working on this at least once a week (and frequently two or three times a week) for the past four months, and FINALLY tonight for the first time I was able to do one front nail to the point that it's not short enough, but you can see where it's been flattened out from sanding.

We used cheese as our reward tonight, and I think it helped push him that last little bit over to acceptance. But that was after much work using my marker word "yes". It takes an endless store of patience. If you get frustrated and try to force a dog just once (if you're working on the voluntary compliance option) then you blow it and you are back to square one, or even before square one.

I tried fighting Jack as a puppy and it simply did not work. I could feel his little heart racing and he screamed and screamed. I know the difference between a mad puppy and a terrified one, and forcing him to hold still caused him to panic. He did NOT come to us like this (the day we brought him home I held him on his back while the breeder showed me how to do his nails, something he'd clearly had done before) but had sudden onset of panicking while being held tight at about 12 weeks, so I'm pretty sure it's the equivalent of claustrophobia in people. In fact, our vet said Jack is claustrophobic.

So, if you have lots of time and lots of patience, try the method I describe with Jack in the blog post. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Lisa and Odie on January 31, 2011 at 7:20pm

Thank you Beth! Your blog was very helpful, and I will try getting him used to the Dremel this way. I did find that over the weekend when I bathed him, while my son held him during his bath, I was able to get 2 of his front nails clipped because he was so concentrated on hating his bath that he wasn't thinking too much what I was doing to his feet... but obviously I have a lot more work to do. I just hope my poor legs can handle this (I've got some awful bruises from his nails!)

I play frisbee with him all the time when the weather is cooperative, but this little guy is so much like the Energizer bunny... he never wears out!

Thanks again for the tips... if and when I succeed, I will post an update!