Day 20: How We Trim Puppy Nails!


The puppies had their nails done today.  We use a hardware store  dremmel (a tool with an assortment of mini- rotary grinders) to grind off the tip of the nail without risking clipping into the blood flow of the nail.  The dremmel may also be used to round off chips or snags on bigger nails of adult dogs.  Don't waste money on smaller dremmels sold  in pet stores for puppy nails - just not strong enough for Dalmatian nails and puppy can get used to sound of low speed regular dremmel no problem.


To prepare I set up a chair with a good reading light and wear magnifying readers in order to see the tiny nails.  The chair is placed  inside their ex-pen, where I can easily reach down and pick up a pup, lay it on a comfy microfiber cloth over my lap, gently massage/rub puppy's neck and back, do nails, then encourage and snuggle with puppy head under my chin, then roll puppy over on my lap and scratch the tummy until puppy falling to sleep and then gently put it back in with the others.  What I like to see is puppy when put down will stay in vicinity of safe and comforting me.  Puppy may curl up on one of my feet while I am doing nails of the next one.


To do the nails for a right hander is to hold/enclose pup against the left side of your body on your lap with left arm and grasp and support the paw with nails to be trimmed with the left hand.  Then turn on dremmel and let puppy hear sound and get used to that.  When puppy is disinterested in sound then quickly tip the end of the nails on that paw and move gently, easily to next front paw.  Try not to have to adjust your left arm - just one paw and then the next following right away.   No abrupt motions, or exclamations from me, just ordinary talk.  By middle of second front paw, puppy usually decides it is not liking the grip on its paw or the buzz vibration of the dremmel and  tries to wriggle away. The dremmel doesn't hurt but if anyone has ever had an oscillating blade used to cut off a cast that vibration is what the pup feels - and so it decides at first that this is unpleasant.  Also most do not want their paws to be held in a grip.  It is very helpful to play with the pups' feet, paws, tickling toes/pads and generally getting pups used to the idea that their feet can be touched safely by us.    


On to the rear paws then.  Reverse the pup  in the same hold with its head now buried into the crook of your arm and body where it feels more secure and do the back paws.  These paws are handled calmly, with no hurried motions, like it's the most normal thing in the world.  With the rear paws, puppy is still lying on its stomach and you are looking at the underside, the pads of their feet.  In your good light you can see the tiny long nails that need to be shortened.  Dremmel from underneath to front easily grinding off the tips.


Afterward the puppies relax with a semi-firm hug against your neck or close to your heart - reassuring words, head kisses.  Then the back and tummy scratches until puppy is all settled and comfortable.  People use different techniques but it is all in calm assurance, protective care of them and happy kisses and praise afterword.  We don't sympathize "Oh you poor thing..." - the tone is more "Oh good for you! Look how big you are!  Stand fast!  or "Hold tight!" "Good boy/girl!"  We want confident pups who learn that confidence, in part,  from our confidence in them that we communicate to them.  There is no need to teach a puppy he is about to undergo a worrisome procedure when puppy can master that incident if given half a chance with a calm, confident approach by us!


None of these pups were shaking, crying or squealing while getting their nails done.  Now that we have begun doing this we will of course keep at it and pups while generally not liking having their nails done will see it as something they can live with and move on to other things in the day's grooming/play routine.


Polo, our oldest  Dalmatian, jumps to the grooming table and will actually hold out a paw when he sees the dremmel out.  He likes being groomed, the nail chore is just something to get over with first. So the pups are being introduced gently to a procedure that is a must for them on a weekly basis (Kamea's nails are the healthiest, hardest, fastest growing  I've ever encountered and with her sometimes twice a week) for the rest of their lives.  Best to get on with it and learn what to do for your puppy from the outset. The shorter nails keep the tight feet so desirable in a Dalmatian and will do less damage to floor and furniture surfaces, your clothing and your skin!