#togroom

Here is a #throwback to the day we brought Mona home and given a demonstration on how to groom our new puppy.

Routine nail maintenance is SO important. When your dog’s nails are too long it can affect his gait and how his feet hit the ground. Long nails fundamentally change where a dog puts pressure on his paws and the natural alignment of his bones, which can lead to joint pain and the increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

Also, a dog’s quick (the inside “root” where the blood vessels are) grows with the nail, so going too long between trims makes getting nail length back under control (“making the quick recede”) a VERY tedious and slow process.

A few final points:

1. We do our dog’s nails WEEKLY. Not a single week goes by where we don’t do their nails. It’s that important. It’s how they have those marshmallow paws.

2. We use a Dremel instead of clippers because you can be more precise and get closer to the quick without the risk of actually accidentally cutting the quick.

3. If your dog hates getting his nails one or freaks out, there is a Facebook group called “Nail Maintenance for Dogs” that focuses on CC/DS (counterconditioning/desensitization) and R+ (positive reinforcement) methods to help the dog learn to be comfortable. I do not feel qualified to give advice to anyone with dogs over the threshold because our corgis were exposed to getting their nails done since the day they were born, and they’re pretty chill about it. So if you have a puppy, start early and get them used to it!