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Permalink Reply by Rachelle N on June 7, 2013 at 9:02am

Tipper hates to have her nails touched so I used to take Tipper to the vet for trims but she was "difficult" during visits. After moving back to NY, I discovered that a week or two of walks on pavement kept her nails worn down so they didn't need as many trims. One day, I tried Petco ($10 for a trim versus $16 at the vet) and she acted like a perfect little angel during the trim! I was thrilled. A combination of long walks on pavement and "now and then" Petco visits keeps her nails in shape now.

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Permalink Reply by Diane on June 7, 2013 at 11:02am

I used to take Chewey to Petsmart, but his nails seem to grow fast and I got tired of having to take him every couple weeks, so I made myself learn how to use the dremel. 

Fortunately I had lots of help reading this site on how to build up to it, since we got him as an adult and he wasn't thrilled with having his feet touched.   Introducing it slowly was key, along with lots of treats ;->    He'll still put up a fuss when  I put him on his back with dremel in hand, but some of it seems to be an act since I quite often find that he's almost fallen asleep when I'm doing it...  

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Permalink Reply by Honey Momma on June 21, 2013 at 2:45pm

My Honey HATES it when I touch her toes.  I get "The Look". She thinks I am going to clip her nails.  This has led to a yearlong experiment wherein we have tried three ways: 1. Two grown adults, a sharp pair of properly sized guillotines, styptic powder, a tiny muzzle (she is VERY small), tempting treats, and we attempted this on the bed.  Because, in my mind, it was more comfortable for her!  She screamed like a banshee, struggled like a mountain lion, while she snarled and snapped like we were attempting to eviscerate her.  This went on for 15 minutes or so. That didn't work (3 or 4 nails success, at most).  Lesson: My beautiful, sweet Corgi has her own private inner-Cujo. 2.  The Vet. He had all the tools we had, but there were two extra bodies (vet and assistant).  And, we did it on a metal surfaced table, where she couldn't get the same traction as on the bed (although she still put on the entire prior theater).  It was a success for all 20 nails, and it went really quick (great! vet).  It cost about 10 dollars. Lesson: slippery surface = win, while a strong little Corgi getting traction on bed = terrorized Corgi owners. 3.  Daily walks on sidewalk, plus some running:  WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN.  All nails are trimmed, Honey isn't traumatized, and we aren't terrorized (by the world's tiniest Corgi).  Lesson: Sometimes simple is better.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on June 21, 2013 at 6:02pm

Honey Momma, lucky you! I newer owned a dog whose nails got trimmed by walking on concrete.  I would consider it priceless :-D

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Permalink Reply by Jenny, Tucker, & Zoey on June 21, 2013 at 6:43pm

Mine don't either!

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Permalink Reply by Beth on June 22, 2013 at 12:02am

Jacks wear down almost to the quick if he walks a lot on pavement.  His rarely need trimming, which is good because he hates it.  Maddie's don't wear down  and they walk the same distance.  Go figure!  :-)

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Permalink Reply by Honey Momma on June 22, 2013 at 11:09am

Welll, to be fair, Honey likes to run. Alot. She gets daily walks, with runs on a Walkie Dog.  We joke that she was a musher in her last life. We have 4 dogs, and they all have nice length nails. I'd say, it's the running.  Of course, nail length is subjective.  I don't want my dogs to have competition length nails.  Other people like their dogs nails to be less than 1/2 an inch.  I am happy if their nails don't catch on the bed spread, impale people, or click on the tile.  I am also really wary about hitting the quick.  I feel like a bad doggie Momma if they bleed because I cut their nails too short.  But, that is what styptic powder is for. And the treats. : )

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