Claw Trimming

I have found a couple claw Trimming threads here, and started a thread myself called claw sling.

The opinions about claws that I have seen and heard are that you should keep your dogs claws trimmed to some extent. This could be achieved in part by doing a lot of walking on asphalt and concrete. I have had a number of dogs and done some trimming or grinding for all of them, but some make it damned near impossible without a sling, and I have often hit the quick and had a lot of blood dripping.
I like using a dremel, but some dogs do not like it.

One theory is that it's good to hit the quick at least a little bit if the claws are long because this will cause the quick to recede a bit, making it less likely to hit the quick later.

I don't have a slat mill, but I know that dog's claws can get caught and even pulled out if they reach too far forward. I wonder if having shorter claws makes this problem less likely.

Anyway, how do you all take care of nails?

 

I have not had the need to trim nails; regular road and ball work across a variety of surfaces keep the nails naturally short. Sprinting and cornering may be even a quicker way. Just as important, the pads stay conditioned too. I own a dremel motor tool, a set of canine nail clippers and some files..just haven’t had to use them. A dog well bonded with her owner should be easier to handle when working on the nails. Maybe a picture of the claw sling being used.

 

Here is my claw sling thread:. http://www.game-dog.com/index.php?threads/claw-sling.51776/

 

Do you mean this kind? I do use ones like this, but it's easy to cut too much and they bleed and it takes several hours for it to stop. The styptic powder helps, but doesn't stop it completely. Do your dogs let you do it? Mine try to pull away, making it more difficult, therefore the sling. But even in the sling it's not easy.

 

I use the same ones that are pictured above, a weekly chore, or every other week. The ones that fight it get put in a stand to have them done. Theres only one here that I have to do that with. My clippers have a guard on the back side of them so it's not often I hit a quick.

 

Do they bleed a lot? I think keeping them trimmed may also keep the quick from being too long inside the nail. How much do you cut at a time? Maybe 1/8"?

 

About that, the ones with clear toe nails I'll take it right back to the quick.

 

I assume you mean a breeding stand. Is it homemade or one you bought (what brand)?

 

Use a dremmel it's stops the bleeding with the friction and no cracking of the nails

 

Any stand will work. Have one but dont use it often. I just screw a collar into the main beam of a handrail. Works like a charm for breeding, nail trimming or anything else that I need both my hands for rather than using one of of them to control a dog.



Last time I used the stand was like 5 or 6 years ago when I bred to Ch Bugs.



Its just easier and faster for me to put one in the rail collar. I have a pedipaw drumel tool too but not one of them here is going to let you near them with it. I don't think they like the noise it makes.

 

I don't even remember who gave me the idea but I've been using the collar screwed into a post now for about 5 years. I have one indoor and one outside. Both get used way more than that stand does. Lol

 

I use both the plier style and the guillotine. I actually prefer the guillotine kind more but your much more likey to nail the quick with them since they don't have a guard on them like many of the plier style clippers do. They do however sell a guillotine style clipper that has a sensor built in it that will ring and light up if the quick is in the cutting area. I'm not one to spend 80 bucks on a pair of nail clippers but they are nice and work well.

If your wondering where to cut the nail without hitting the quick on black nails, cut right after the nail curves and starts to thin to a point. If the nail looks dry and flaky where you cut it, you can cut a little more.

 

Thank you all for the good ideas. I have used a dremel and preferred it because you can shave off layers until you start to see the white where the quick starts to be visible. However, if dogs don't like the dremel, they jerk their paws away every time I start grinding, and that gets frustrating. The clipper works quicker, but sometimes you can cut a bit too much if you can't see the quick, and you cut into it. But by hitting the quick, theoretically the quick will naturally recede, and so you probably won't hit it the next time you trim. Staff, you mom must hit the quick sometimes, and if so, does she use that Styptic powder?

AGK, that collar to post idea is good. Is that metal tube stand something you made, or is it available for sale? I would consider buying one.

 

I honestly can't remember who made it but it was a well know maker of them. I want to say Chandler but don't quote me on that.

I've used quick-stop (the powder) and do have some but I generally just put the dog in a crate after.

If you cut the quick real bad though it would probably be a good idea to use it. I use silver nitrate sticks if I really hack one good. Don't know if you can get those commercially or not though. They use them for chemical cautery.