The dogs of OPEforum

[Wilhelm]

Heidi having a slow morning allowing me to drink my morning coffee in peace and quiet.

 

[Wilhelm]

What is the consensus on clipping a dogs claws, as in shortening them?
We don't do it and Heidi's paws/claws seem fine/healthy.

I am asking because two acquaintances and dog owners said Heidi has too long claws and they need clipping to prevent possible injury to the paws.
My mom is going to ask our local vet about it.

Heidi is outdoors a fair amount of time and she loves to dig in the dirt.
As far as I can tell her claws/paws are fine and she wears them down herself sufficiently.

 

[mdavlee]

What is the consensus on clipping a dogs claws, as in shortening them?
We don't do it and Heidi's paws/claws seem fine/healthy.

I am asking because two acquaintances and dog owners said Heidi has too long claws and they need clipping to prevent possible injury to the paws.
My mom is going to ask our local vet about it.

Heidi is outdoors a fair amount of time and she loves to dig in the dirt.
As far as I can tell her claws/paws are fine and she wears them down herself sufficiently.

View attachment 246919 View attachment 246920 View attachment 246923 View attachment 246924 View attachment 246925

They look a little long but not bad. I have mine cut when they get groomed but they’re inside 75% of the time.

 

[Wilhelm]

Sleepy head

 

[Wilhelm]

They look a little long but not bad. I have mine cut when they get groomed but they’re inside 75% of the time.

Heidi's claws are actually even longer when she extends them grabbing or holding something, it is hard to catch such moments on picture.
By pressing her paw I can only make her claws extend partially.

Sometimes Heidi is outside most of the day, other days she won't set her paws outside the door other than to go to the toilet - we have noticed it greatly depends on the weather outside.
Generally she likes being outside.

Heidi has sharp hair, she does not need any grooming.
I give her a bath every month or so, sometimes sooner if she takes a stinky bath in some cadaver she found.

Thank You for replying!

 

[srcarr52]

Heidi's claws are actually even longer when she extends them grabbing or holding something, it is hard to catch such moments on picture.
By pressing her paw I can only make her claws extend partially.

Sometimes Heidi is outside most of the day, other days she won't set her paws outside the door other than to go to the toilet - we have noticed it greatly depends on the weather outside.
Generally she likes being outside.

Heidi has sharp hair, she does not need any grooming.
I give her a bath every month or so, sometimes sooner if she takes a stinky bath in some cadaver she found.

Thank You for replying!

It's best to trim them, especially the dew claws. Playing with their paws and trimming claws at a young age really helps them be better behaved when it comes time to do a claw trim when they are older and stronger.

We have to keep our one dogs claws very short as he has a history of breaking them, especially his dew claws. He'll snap them off at the base and expose about 1/4" of the quick. They'll be blood everywhere but he'll still want to continue playing fetch.

 

[Wilhelm]

It's best to trim them, especially the dew claws. Playing with their paws and trimming claws at a young age really helps them be better behaved when it comes time to do a claw trim when they are older and stronger.

We have to keep our one dogs claws very short as he has a history of breaking them, especially his dew claws. He'll snap them off at the base and expose about 1/4" of the quick. They'll be blood everywhere but he'll still want to continue playing fetch.

Thank You for Your reply.

Heidi is 14 months, luckily she was spared of broken claws so far.
But I will have to look into clipping her claws or take longer walks on tarmac with her to wear them down.
Her claws do seem to get longer slow and steady.

Is there a special tool for easy and safe claw clipping?

Heidi lets me massage and play with her paws, she seems to enjoy it.
She sits super still when I have to clean her paws from dirt prior to letting her inside the house.
I think, and hope, clipping her claws would not be an issue.

 

[Ryan Browne]

We're gonna bring this one home on the first of August. Rat terrier/Jack Russel mix. Went to visit and pick one out yesterday. 2 weeks old.

 

[srcarr52]

Thank You for Your reply.

Heidi is 14 months, luckily she was spared of broken claws so far.
But I will have to look into clipping her claws or take longer walks on tarmac with her to wear them down.
Her claws do seem to get longer slow and steady.

Is there a special tool for easy and safe claw clipping?

Heidi lets me massage and play with her paws, she seems to enjoy it.
She sits super still when I have to clean her paws from dirt prior to letting her inside the house.
I think, and hope, clipping her claws would not be an issue.

There are pet nail clippers you can get at any pet store or online. Some have a safety guard that only lets you take so much claws off with each cut which is good for squirmy dogs.

https://www.ebay.com/p/691283182

 

[Wilhelm]

Cool, thank You for the link.
I will look into getting one of those.

 

[Steve Billak]

paisley and i have been hiking this year to stay distant from too many people.

 

[Hinerman]

Thank You for Your reply.

Heidi is 14 months, luckily she was spared of broken claws so far.
But I will have to look into clipping her claws or take longer walks on tarmac with her to wear them down.
Her claws do seem to get longer slow and steady.

Is there a special tool for easy and safe claw clipping?

Heidi lets me massage and play with her paws, she seems to enjoy it.
She sits super still when I have to clean her paws from dirt prior to letting her inside the house.
I think, and hope, clipping her claws would not be an issue.

I use a Dremel to grind my dog's nails. I never have to worry about cutting too deep that way.

 

[Wilhelm]

What do You use, a grinding stone?

I don't know how Heidi would react to having her claws ground.

Do You grind round or square?

 

[Hinerman]

What do You use, a grinding stone?

I don't know how Heidi would react to having her claws ground.

Do You grind round or square?

I use these, but any round stone would work. Round of course.

https://www.dremel.com/en_US/products/-/show-product/accessories/407-1-2-sanding-drum

I got the idea from those dog nail grinders. I saw one and thought, I can do that with my dremel.

 

[Wilhelm]

Some random shots hanging out with my little home wolf.

Black pup, white rabbit skin - when she was done she had a white Santa Claus beard


Claws


Fur, that's only part of what came off of her from a couple minutes of cuddling


Sleeping on her back exposing her teeth

 

[Wilhelm]

More claws, I love them, black nail polish


The smile that melts hearts or strikes fear


Sometimes friends, sometimes not so much - that's girls for Ya

 

[Wilhelm]

No buried bones?
This piece of wood will have to do.

 

[merc_man]

If only i could get on the table.....

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

 

[merc_man]

Well looky ther. I got on the table

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[ayoungtexan]

Bebe says hi