Trimming your dog’s toenails can be a tricky endeavor and very time consuming part of your dog’s grooming, especially if they have black nails and you can’t see where the quick is. Years ago, I began trimming my dog’s toenails with the common guillotine nail trimmer. Many times I would nick the dog’s quick and it would bleed and bleed. Even though I always had the septic powder available for those times, the nail still bleeds quite a bit before it stops. I always felt absolutely horrible when this would happen. It didn’t make it any easier the next time because my dog remembered that I hurt him the last time I trimmed his nails. So, needless to say, trimming the dog’s nails wound up being a struggle and I dreaded the thought of tackling the chore.
I have discovered a much easier way to do this and that is by using a coarse nail file. What I did was purchase a couple of cheap coarse nail files from the drug store and I filed his nails with those instead of cutting them with the guillotine clipper.
I have a small dog, so I would set on the sofa, get an old towel, lay it across my lap and have my dog lay either next to me or on the towel. If your dog is large then you may want to sit on the floor next to them. Be sure to have healthy dog treats handy so you can treat them when they behave well having the nail trimmed.
Begin by having them lay next to you and before you begin be sure they are in a relaxed state, then take one paw, hold a nail firm in your fingers and begin to gently file the nail. At first, your dog won’t be used to how the grinding on the nail feels and will probably jerk away. As they become acclimated to the filing of the nail, you can begin filing harder and more rigorously to speed the process. Trimming the dog’s nails in this fashion is less stressful for you and your pet. Plus, there’s no worry about nicking the quick and making the nail bleed. The finished length of the nail should not touch the floor when your dog is standing. Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed at least twice a month. If those nails don’t get trimmed the quick will extend longer inside the nail and it’s difficult to get the nail trimmed as short as it should be.
Be sure to purchase the very coarse nail files so that you can take off a substantial amount of nail in the shortest period of time. Using the coarse nail file can be a precursor to using the very popular Peticure that is advertised on TV. I have not used the PediPaws brand but would assume it works the same, although the one I use is not battery operated, it’s electric with a variable speed. I only mention this as I use the Peticure to facilitate the amount of time it takes to trim the nails and my dog adapted quickly only needing to get used to the noise it made.
This aspect of your dog’s grooming is such a very important part that it is necessary to find alternate ways of getting those nails trimmed. If the dog’s toenails are left untrimmed they will continue to grow and become jagged and split, possibly exposing the quick. Not only do the nails become jagged and split, but over a lengthy period of time, the dog’s feet can become deformed if their nails are left too long, which is painful for the dog.
Don’t give in or stop when the dog jerks his paw away, it’s just because they aren’t used to the grinding on the nail. If you let them relax and try again they will become used to it and realize that it doesn’t hurt.
As we embark on a physical training regime we must first start out slowly and gradually build our physical strength a little at a time. Dogs are no different, if they have been “couchpooches” they must also start out slowly and build up to greater levels of physical endurance. Dog agility training is great exercise for both you and your pet and a wonderful activity for bonding. But, start off slowly taking your time to be sure both you and your dog are in good physical shape before commencing on a demanding exercise program such as agility training.
Before beginning an agility program your dog will need to know general obedience commands such as sit, stay and the recall commands. In agility training the dog uses specific movements in, over, under and around agility equipment. If your dog doesn’t know the basic commands yet, they will have difficulty understanding what they are to do and will become confused and frustrated.
If your dog has been sedentary, it’s a good idea to ease him into a gentle, regular exercise routine before hitting the agility course. An agility program involves running, jumping, balancing and quick turns on and around equipment specifically designed for agility training and is physically demanding. Pay attention to your dog’s exhaustion level and attention span and take breaks now and then to give the dog a physical and mental rest. Increase the physical and mental demands only when your dog is ready for the next level.
By increasing your dog’s physical activity they will need additional nutrition, so adjust the amount of food your giving. You may look into changing the type of food so that they are getting the high protein diet they require. The dog will also be more tired and have sore muscles especially in the beginning. Make your training sessions short in the beginning and gradually increase the length of your workouts.
As you begin agility training here are some things to keep in mind:
Always have plenty of fresh water readily available for the dog.
Provide a cool, shady spot where your dog can rest.
Feed your dog a balanced high protein diet. You may want to consider a natural dog food.
Never let the dog become overheated. You may want to train in the morning or evening to avoid the heat of the day.
Keep an eye on their feet and legs for abrasions and/or cuts.
Especially at first, be aware that the dog may have sore muscles and stiffness, so go easy.
If you plan on attending a formal agility training program take note of where they hold the training, if it’s indoors make sure there is plenty of ventilation so your dog doesn’t become overheated.
And above all, make agility training fun for both you and your dog.
Does your dog attack visitors at your home before they are barely inside the door? Is your dog absolutely out of control barking, jumping on you and rushing the door in attack mode? Yes, I understand and this is not an easy behavior to change. But it can be done and here are some basic dog training tips that you can use to change your dogs behavior when there is a knock at the door.
First, establish a boundary that your dog is to stay behind and you don’t open the door until they calm down and stay behind the barrier. Second, they are to remain there until your visitor comes into your home. The dog is not to cross the boundary to approach the visitor. The visitor can cross the boundary when the dog is calm and then allow the dog to sniff and smell them. The dog is not to jump on the visitor.
These are very basic principles and not difficult to understand, but can be difficult the first several times you put this into practice with your dog. You don’t need to wait for visitors to arrive to facilitate your dog’s training. You might consider having a family member, friend or neighbor assist you with the dog training. Have them knock on or ring the door bell, patiently wait until your dog calms down and is in their designated waiting area and then come into the house. Praise them with kind words and treats when they behave well. If you do this several times a week your dog will learn this faster than relying only on visitors. If you drill your dog in this frequently and early on in their training then your visitors aren’t outside waiting in the rain. Take a look…
Often the most successful dogs at agility competitions are those within herding breeds. Dogs like Australian Shepherds, Shetland Sheepdogs, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Border Collies tend to dominate Frisbee, agility, and obstacle course competitions. These dogs are not only renowned for their quick feet, but their intelligence. These above four listed dog breeds have been proven to be some of the most intelligent breeds in the canine world. Dog agility training tends to begin once the dog is about 1-2 years old, though it can start earlier. Simple practices like running through tubes, jumping over hurdles, and running with the owner are early lessons, while a more advanced lesson would be using a seesaw.
Dog agility training is a great activity for owners of all ages, and anyone with patience and dedication can do it. Dogs also love the attention, the exercise, and spending time with their owners.
nails in this fashion is less stressful for you and your pet. Plus, there’s no worry about nicking the quick and making the nail bleed. The finished length of the nail should not touch the floor when your dog is standing. Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed at least twice a month. If those nails don’t get trimmed the quick will extend longer inside the nail and it’s difficult to get the nail trimmed as short as it should be.
stay and the recall commands. In agility training the dog uses specific movements in, over, under and around agility equipment. If your dog doesn’t know the basic commands yet, they will have difficulty understanding what they are to do and will become confused and frustrated.