Nail Clipping: More than a Pawdicure

CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK!

For those of us with hardwood or tile floors in the home, it's a familiar sound. Once we can hear this sound it's time for every dog's least favourite thing... Having their nails clipped.

Now, let's be honest.  Many dogs (including both of mine) HATE having their nails clipped. They'll fuss, whine, pull their paws away and occasionally use their teeth to protest as well!  But no matter how much your pup may disagree, keeping your dog's nails short is an important part of a regular grooming routine. Longer nails over time can negatively affect your dog's gait and damage bone structure in the feet. In extreme cases, nails can grow long enough to curl back around into the pads of the feet.  

Needless to say, both of these possibilities are extremely painful but can be easily avoided by regular clipping. Depending on how often your dog walks or runs on pavement (which wears down the nail naturally), their nails should be addressed either via clipping or filing every 4-6 weeks.

For the DIY'ers

Trimming your dog's nails from home is also an excellent option.  Set yourself up for success by ensuring you have the right tools.  

The most important thing you'll need is a good pair of nail clippers. There are a few different styles to choose from, but I recommend and use scissor style clippers.  This style of clipper gives you the most leverage and control. A photo of the clippers we sell in our salon is shown below.  These sturdy, stainless steel clippers are durable and have rubber coated handles for easy gripping.

The other tool you'll need in your nail trimming arsenal is styptic powder. 

Kwik Stop brand styptic powder

Styptic powder is an anesthetic as well as a cauterizing agent designed to stop bleeding on contact. Bleeding can occur when you accidentally cut the nail too short and clip the nail's quick.  

A diagram of various nail lengths and proper clipping length 

Some websites and blogs will suggest that baking powder or flour is a suitable alternative, but in my experience there is no substitute for the real thing.  Most containers cost under $10 and will last for years if you're only doing your own dog's nails at home (and you're careful!)

Once you've got the tools, you're ready to start clipping!  Check out this video for step-by-step instructions.

The Easy Answer

The easiest way to avoid the heartache and frustration of attempting to clip your own dog's nails at home is to take them to the groomer on a regular basis. Sometimes, the most wiggly of dogs who just won't let their owners do them often are just fine when they're on a groomer's table.

Don't feel badly if you can't clip your dog's nails.  You're not alone!

Many dog groomers offer nail clipping as a walk-in service and can often do them while you wait for a reasonable price.

Nail clipping teamwork at The Friendly Groomer

The Last Resort

Some dogs absolutely REFUSE to allow their nails to be trimmed by their owner, or by a groomer. The last resort should never be to leave nails to grow un-clipped.  Unfortunately, no matter how upset or aggressive a dog may become, it still must be done.  In these cases, I recommend taking your dog to the vet.  Vets can ensure both your dog and the person attempting to trim their nails remain safe.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your dog's nails trimmed is more than just a luxurious pawdicure. Whether you decide to bring them to a groomer, a vet or even do it yourself, it's an important part of keeping your dog at their best!

 
-Peter

Show Grooms vs. Pet Grooms

Perhaps earlier this year you were able to catch the Westminster Kennel Club's annual Dog Show, held in New York's Madison Square Garden.  It is without a doubt the granddaddy of all dog shows, and for me, it is a pleasure to watch.  Along with the fun of seeing all those dogs walking around and strutting their stuff, it is also interesting for me to see all the ways that these dogs are groomed in their show style grooms which are quite different from the typical pet style grooms we see on most dogs.

For example, take a look at what a Shih-Tzu looks like in a show groom next to a typical family pet's style...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

As you can see, they almost look like two different breeds of dog.

Take a look at these two Standard Poodles...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

Notice the similarities between the clips performed on these two poodles; their faces and feet are both clipped short. 

Here's another example, the Miniature Schnauzer,  one of my favourite breeds of small dogs...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

The first dog is in the proper breed style with a short clipped back and head, legs scissored into columns and the face and eyebrows trimmed into the Schnauzer's hallmark look.  The second is a bit different, as he still has the beard, brows and short clipped back, but his legs are trimmed shorter and the skirt is just a little bit longer than the back.  The pattern is the same but the second dog's owners will have much less brushing and combing to do, as Schnauzer's fine coats tangle and mat quite easily.

And since we all love dog pictures here is one final example...

Show Groom

Pet Groom

The dog on the left is a Springer Spaniel in full show style.  He has a robust plume on his chest and his ears are long and tassled.  His skirt and featherings are trimmed but left long while his back and head are clipped quite short fading into his longer furnishings.  The handsome devil on the right is my boy Wallace, clipped short on the head and back using the same clip pattern fading into his longer furnishings on his chest and belly.  As you can see they are trimmed shorter on his underside and legs for easier maintenance.  Wallace loves to get outside and explore and it's not unusual to find burrs and other bits of nature in his coat.  Keeping his skirt and furnishings shorter makes it much easier to find and get rid of these things without too much trouble.  His ears are also tassled, which the picture doesn't illustrate very well, but they are not quite as long as the dog on the left, again for easier maintenance and so they don't dip into his water bowl when he's thirsty.  

I'm sure you are noticing a pattern by now.  Pet style grooms are keeping in the spirit of the breed standard clip while altering it slightly (usually by going shorter in spots) for functionality and ease of upkeep.  Neither show grooms nor pet grooms is right or wrong.  It is up to each owner to decide what grooming style suits their lifestyle and personal preferences.  

Here are some things to consider when deciding how to groom your pet:

Budget

For starters, as you might have guessed, show grooms require a groomer with a great deal of skill and experience.  However, "pet grooming" is the service provided by most commercial dog groomers. There are far less groomers with the ability to execute show grooms and as such you can expect to pay more for these services.  

Maintenance

Unfortunately, the problem with many show grooms (take the Shih-Tzu for example) is practicality. A dog with a show groom will require a great deal of upkeep and maintenance.  This includes not just regular brushing and combing, but more frequent bathing and clipping to maintain their look.  If you've got the dedication and time to handle a hairstyle such as this, your reward will be a beautiful and lustrous coat for your dog that will no doubt turn heads wherever he or she goes!  

Lifestyle

The rambunctious and playful nature of a family pet's day will lead their coats to becoming dirty and tangled. In addition, the elements, water in particular, can wreak havoc on a dog's coat as constantly getting wet and drying will further tangle and mat the coat.  All in all, the typical family lifestyle is generally not suited to show grooms.  

What about mixed breed dogs?

Another thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to mixed breeds, pet grooming is almost always the way to go as there is no defined 'breed clip'.  Dogs like the golden doodles below can be groomed in almost any fashion to suit their owners' tastes and needs.  Just take a look at the differences in the clips on these two.

Remember, there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way for your dog to look.  Your dog is a part of your family and you are the one who decides what they look like.

-Peter