How do you handle that, Kelly? Just trim what you can without hitting the quick and try to educate the owner?

I'm mean, actually. I trim until I DO hit the quick on a nail like that. This particular dog today was HARD to get started the nail had curled so severely. I had to use kitten clippers to get in to make the first clip. Then, take off itty bitty pieces from every angle until I know I'm in live tissue, then take another millimeter.

My theory (and that of those who taught me, and many I've talked to) is if you expose the quick it encourages it to recede faster. You've got to take off nail on the top and sides as well.... leave it looking totally rounded. Yes, it leaves the dog with a sensitive nail for a few days, but in most cases they are not dogs getting out for walks, or the nail wouldn't look like that in the first place!

At the place I work nail trims are walk-in's, for $6.00. People have NO EXCUSE not to get their pets nails trimmed regularly. On dogs with super long quicks we recommend every 2 weeks until we get it back to a 'normal' length. (Weird to me, since my super high activity dog gets his trimmed at least every 2 weeks, no matter what) That is what we aim for- if everyone trimmed nails every 2 weeks, there would be a bunch of happy dogs. It just makes me sad when they come in with the toes spread out, at crazy angles because the nail is so long it's forced the TOE to move. Poor puppies.

I also hate to see those splayed feet. It's got to cause problems with bones and joints. I read something yesterday that stated you should not be able to hear your dog's toenails on hardwood. That's why I busted out the clippers.

SPLAYED! That's the word I was looking for!

I've never read that, but it's kinda the guideline we use. When I hear toes on concrete/wood/tile, it's time to have a toetrimming party. Seems I do the dogs more often then the kids. lol.

We have to take loki to a walk in place to get his toes done. The combination of him hating it and trying to jerk his paw away everytime I come at him with the clippers, me being nervous, and me not being very good at it just makes it too darn hard to do at home.

The nice lady at the DIY groomers down the street can do all his toes and both front dewclaws in about 2 seconds, and rather than pull away from me he leans in so I can help hold him still.

It's funny how dogs are reportedly terrible for owners, but @ the vets, or groomers, they are perfect. Flooding a dog does not make for a good training experience, but it's better then letting a dogs nails get out of control!

We try and take our time, treat the dogs, and make it as happy as possible. Still get peed on or anal glanded once in awhile though.

I touched and clicked for months with no headway being made,

He still tries to pull away at the groomers, she is just so much better at it than I am

Im convinced its the grooming table that makes the difference.

The one time Tasha acted out about a nail trim at the groomer was when she hooked her to a leash hitch instead of putting her up on the table.

I wish I had a walk in nail clipper here! The last time I had Skipper's nails clipped by the vet. It cost $19 and afterward one of his nails was chaffing and causing his foot to bleed. I felt it and it was really sharp (though short). Our dogs are walking on concrete a lot. Doesn't that help to keep the nails shortened? I guess I'm going to try slathering these clippers with hamburger and see if Jethro will lick it off.

 Quote: Jenny Arntzen

I wish I had a walk in nail clipper here! The last time I had Skipper's nails clipped by the vet. It cost $19 and afterward one of his nails was chaffing and causing his foot to bleed. I felt it and it was really sharp (though short). Our dogs are walking on concrete a lot. Doesn't that help to keep the nails shortened? I guess I'm going to try slathering these clippers with hamburger and see if Jethro will lick it off.

Just in case you're not joking about the hamburger thing... please don't do that. You really don't want a dog who licks nail clippers or scissors, as a groomer it's one of the most annoying and dangerous problems a dog can have.