It's Toenail Tuesday!

I've been clipping toenails every Tuesday since the puppies were born. So today is... TOENAIL TUESDAY. Time to clip your puppy's toenails. Each week I don't take much off the toenail, but the idea is getting the puppy used to having their toenails done on a regular basis, so when they really need to be done, they don't freak out. Also by doing a little each week, you are handling the puppy's feet so they get used to having their feet played with. That's just another part of socializing the puppy to something they may have to deal with later in life.

So here is what I do... When the puppy is calm, such as right after a playtime, or right before they fall asleep, I lay the puppy on it's back in my left arm with it's head toward my shoulder. I've been working with all the puppies, teaching them to be calm laying on their backs, even so they may struggle a little, but they all will eventually relax if you tighten your grip on them and rub their tummy. Play with their feet while you get them to relax. Then as you are petting them and they are relaxing, look at the lighter color toenails so you can see where the "quick" is inside. You do not want to cut into the quick or it will bleed and hurt the puppy. So notice it on the clear nails, and you'll have to guess where it is on the darker nails.

Take one paw in the left hand, the clipper in the right hand and trim just the end off the toenail making sure you don't cut into the quick. Make sure you get all the nails, and even if the puppy begins to squirm, don't give up. Reposition the puppy in your arm or ask someone to help you hold the puppy and continue the nail trim until you are done. By giving up, the puppy wins and next time it will be even more difficult to do a nail trim. And that scream they just let out... that wasn't from any thing you did. You've just been introduced to the shiba scream.

Once you are done, reward your puppy with a yummy treat and lots of praise. Then you can take a tylenol to rid yourself of the headache from the scream (just kidding - it won't be that bad, I promise).

Note: this works well for dogs under 25 lbs, any bigger they are a little awkward to hold in your lap! So please don't try this at home with your mastiff!

Here is Don Juan, our adult model, showing off the toenail trim technique...