What to do about long nails

[Nora04]

My girl is almost four. When she was a puppy, I accidentally clipped her nail into the quick once. From then on, I could not manage her to trim. I used the conditioning, praise, treat trying to slowly get her used to the clippers and or dremel, but nothing worked. I have taken her to the vet and various groomers on a regular basis all of her life for nails. We currently go to a great groomer every other Thursday since last April, but apparently it’s not enough; her nails are awfully long. What else can we do? I think the nails are interfering with her running. I’m sick over it.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Ugh. A tough one.

Perhaps it would be worth it to have her sedated and have them cut nice and short (and make sure the vet really gets them short) and if you both think you need to, you could administer some mild pain meds for a couple days. ? I'm no medical professional, but that makes sense to me.

In an old Doberman book they say that if it is snowy outside, and you clip too deep on the nails, just let your Dobe go romp around in the snow for a while. I really don't think you're going to damage your dog.

My previous Dobe seemed to have particularly sensitive nails. He was pretty terrible about trimming. It's possible your girl is not worse about it than Oji was. I just put a muzzle on him, earplugs in my ears (he was very vocal) and safety glasses on my face and the semi-wrestling match ensued. He never held it against me afterward. A Dobe, and probably most dogs, seem to be able to handle this and not resent or come to distrust you.

My current puppy (not any relation to a Doberman), also does not hold it against me when I have to be assertive about the nails. I do take the time give him intermittent belly rubs (standing up, preferably) and chest rubs. What's more, I am actually experimenting with acknowledging him when he mildly yips and jerks away when he feels some pain. In theory, and perhaps with Dobermans, I have not done any positive/reassuring acknowledgement when my Dobes have yipped/yanked in response to pain because I feel they would take advantage of it; but I am trying it on this 11 month old pup of mine.

Of course, you have to be a physically able enough person to do this assertive, determined, refuse to take no for an answer type of nail trimming.

Are you using a grinder tool, or are you using a clipper?

 

[JanS]

Cutting to the quick might cause a quick yelp but if you don't react, they will stay calm too. Our dogs are only Dremeled these days and you can get them down and keep them at a nice length if you're consistent about it. If they're super long, you can start with nail clippers, then finish them with grinding. I have our trainer do our dogs since she's just better at it than me and they will lay nicely for her.

 

[LifeofRubie]

@Nora04 to @JanS point, does your groomer clip or Dremel? Dremeling every other week isn't conformation short but should be enough to keep them from interfering with her gait, I would think?

 

[Rits]

If you are trying to get them shorter... With the doberman foot shape, you sadly have to Dremel them every 3 days. So twice a week. Once a week to maintain at current length.

Some grow faster (my girls I have to do more often than my boys) but the doberman foot requires much shorter nails than other breeds to avoid the nail from contacting the floor at a stand. Any contact from the nail with the floor causes them to rock back some. The longer the nail the more affected they are.

Good for you for trying to see them get shorter. I don't have an answer for making it easier other than starting over with only one nail a day. Praise praise praise.

 

[Ravenbird]

From then on, I could not manage her to trim. I used the conditioning, praise, treat trying to slowly get her used to the clippers and or dremel, but nothing worked. I have taken her to the vet and various groomers on a regular basis all of her life for nails. We currently go to a great groomer every other Thursday since last April, but apparently it’s not enough; her nails are awfully long. What else can we do? I think the nails are interfering with her running.

A couple of things I want to mention:
If the vet and groomer can do her nails with no sedation, you can too! I do nails on a neighbors dog because the wife "can't" and the husband can't do it alone. We muzzle the dog, he holds and I trim. She does fight, but we go quickly and praise between each foot. It takes less than 10 minutes and the dog holds no grudges and plays happily with us as soon as we're done. I just want to say you CAN do this if you really want to but it takes effort and not letting your dog get the best of you, plus help from someone that understands how to handle dogs.

If you are happy with the groomer doing it every other week that's great too - LOTS of people use groomers/vet techs to do this chore! But you can ask the groomer if they can go shorter each time as the nails are seeming to be getting too long.

Also a photo of the nails would be very helpful. I don't show and I don't keep my dog "show-short", and even though I aim for once a week trimming (I use a Dremel, not clippers) truthfully it's more like 10 days to 2 weeks between trims and it doesn't affect her running at all.

 

[Kaiser2016]

but the doberman foot requires much shorter nails than other breeds to avoid the nail from contacting the floor at a stand. Any contact from the nail with the floor causes them to rock back some. The longer the nail the more affected they are.

Great info! We recently got feedback that Kaiser’s hind leg nails were “too short”. The same person even asked if he was prone to dragging his hind legs Please, this dog doesn’t even let the AIR around him drag! When we used to get his nails done by a retired Doberman breeder, she used to do them “show short” but I think slightly longer nails are better for grip while running and turning and they’re easier to maintain vs show short which had to be done every week.

it's more like 10 days to 2 weeks between trims and it doesn't affect her running at all.

Same here. I also agree that Dremeling is much faster for the dog and it’s better if a second person is there to help. Everyone has to stay calm and confident while doing the nails because they will pick up any negative or nervous energy.

 

[Rits]

but I think slightly longer nails are better for grip while running and turning and they’re easier to maintain vs show short which had to be done every week.

Funny enough, people tend to think when the nails don't touch the ground at a stand that they are too short to do this but they aren't! Again, it has to do with the doberman foot shape, that tight cat paw. Their nails don't actually contract inside the foot like cat claws but they do appear shorter than they actually are when the toes are boxed up. But once they extend their toes due to running, the nails sort of extract and then make contact with the ground. You can see for yourself by flexing the toes to full extension how much more visible nail shows, especially the middle two toes. Really, the paws and pads are what makes contact with the ground the most. Ripley has nooo problem doing tight agility maneuvers or running fast cat with short nails.

Also a photo of the nails would be very helpful. I don't show and I don't keep my dog "show-short", and even though I aim for once a week trimming (I use a Dremel, not clippers) truthfully it's more like 10 days to 2 weeks between trims

I have let mine go longer every now and then. I'm human! I get sick. It gets away from me. But thankfully they are already short that by the time I remember to make room for 10 min for my dog, they've only been clicking the ground for a few days. So yeah, every 10-14 days in those cases. I just know if your goal is to get shorter, you have to do it at least once to twice a week, otherwise it's a losing battle. Maintaining a length, probably a little more frequent than every other week. Really depends on the dog but sounds like every other week isn't cutting it A picture would be great!

I let Ripley's nails go for ~3 weeks while she was having puppies so I wouldn't stress her before labor or when she was needed to be in the whelping box almost 24/7 to nurse besides going potty. Boy, did they get long!! It was more than just clicking but full on contact with the ground which turned into her feeling like she was on a ice rink on any hard floors. I'm still working them back to normal so I know the battle all too well.

 

[LifeofRubie]

I let Ripley's nails go for ~3 weeks while she was having puppies so I wouldn't stress her before labor or when she was needed to be in the whelping box almost 24/7 to nurse besides going potty. Boy, did they get long!! It was more than just clicking but full on contact with the ground which turned into her feeling like she was on a ice rink on any hard floors. I'm still working them back to normal so I know the battle all too well.

I "ran out of spoons," as they say, over the summer and let Rubie's go like 4 weeks... I was shocked hers weren't in contact with the ground but I'm REALLY surprised Rips were with how on-top of them, you are? Maybe it's an age thing? Or Rip being flooded with hormones (I know they can do crazy things to women's hair, skin, and nails)?

There was a very short window of time when Rubie's nails didn't click when she was strolling around but, for me, that was really hard to maintain with <7 days between so I committed to at least once a week, whether that was 5 days or 10 days between. I just have accepted she'll click to some degree!

I just did Rubie's today after going 4 weeks, then 3 weeks a few times, then 2 weeks a few times, and doing them last Friday (I'm trying!).



@Nora04 are you able to get some pictures? And yes, I do my Dobermans nails (with a grooming arm that attaches to the kitchen island and a regular old dremel) but I take my Lab to a groomer every few weeks for them to do his (clip and dremel). As much as he aims to please, that is the one thing I cannot do myself with him no matter what I've tried.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Yep, honestly, I do not make time for it once a week, or even once every two weeks. I put if off. If the dog would just HOLD STILL, I could have the job done in like 3 minutes – maybe even 2!

Dobermans have thick black nails (which of course means you can't see the quick). My current pup's nails, though he is larger than a Dobe, has about the same nails as one, including the color. So it is quite familiar.

One thing is that a dog's nails is that some of them get worn down more with walking and running, and some of their nails get a lot less natural wearing down and thus are almost always longer. On a given paw, you've got nails that are longer and nails that are shorter.

 

[Rits]

like 4 weeks... I was shocked hers weren't in contact with the ground but I'm REALLY surprised Rips were with how on-top of them, you are?

Her nails have always grown faster than my boys so this just confirms to me they do grow fast. Of course this is the case for the dog that least likes their nails done.

 

[JanS]

On a given paw, you've got nails that are longer

It's always been the outer and inner nails on ours and the center ones seem to stay shorter.

 

[JanS]

Her nails have always grown fast so this just confirms to me they do grow faster than my boys.

That's true of all of our females too. I wonder if Elroy's will have a growth spurt when his hormones are surging right now. LOL

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Do we all know about styptic powder here? It's this yellowish powder that you dab onto something like a nail that is bleeding, and it slows/stops the bleeding.

It's funny: I've had the same little jar of styptic powder for going on 25 years and it still works! The brand name is Quick Stop.

 

[Gelcoater]

If you are trying to get them shorter... With the doberman foot shape, you sadly have to Dremel them every 3 days. So twice a week. Once a week to maintain at current length

Well this makes sense now.

Your comment on Rocky’s nails didn’t go unnoticed a couple weeks back.
Went after the nails and for what ever reason was thinking 2 weeks between to let the quick recede before another trim.
Was perplexed when they grew back to same length in that time.
So looks like Rocky is going to endure it again day after tomorrow since I knocked them back yesterday. He’s going to love this.
And I’m going to tell him you said it was the way. Hopefully he holds the grudge against you and not me next time

My girl is almost four. When she was a puppy, I accidentally clipped her nail into the quick once. From then on, I could not manage her to trim. I used the conditioning, praise, treat trying to slowly get her used to the clippers and or dremel, but nothing worked. I have taken her to the vet and various groomers on a regular basis all of her life for nails. We currently go to a great groomer every other Thursday since last April, but apparently it’s not enough; her nails are awfully long. What else can we do? I think the nails are interfering with her running. I’m sick over it.

we usually entice them with peanut butter (check the ingredients list before you try this) and smidge a little on their nose.
Sort of distracts them from the horror and drama of rhats the reaction.
Rocky’s top 2 stressors are

Car travel. Shakes, drools, heavy panting, whines, a nervous wreck.

Nail trimming. Trembles, triy to withdraw, nervous.
Followed by a grudge, lack of trust, and a little self isolation after. Takes a day for him to shake it off.
Peanut butter helps, but he still holds the grudge.

I can’t find the video now but saw a guy trying to trim his dogs nails with a creative way of presenting the peanut butter.

He wrapped clear plastic wrap around his head like a headband and smeared the peanut butter on his forehead.

The dog sits there trying to lick it off while the guy buzzed the nails.
It was funny as all get out but seemed to get the job done.

 

[Rits]

Well this makes sense now.

Your comment on Rocky’s nails didn’t go unnoticed a couple weeks back.
Went after the nails and for what ever reason was thinking 2 weeks between to let the quick recede before another trim.
Was perplexed when they grew back to same length in that time.
So looks like Rocky is going to endure it again day after tomorrow since I knocked them back yesterday. He’s going to love this.
And I’m going to tell him you said it was the way. Hopefully he holds the grudge against you and not me next time

we usually entice them with peanut butter (check the ingredients list before you try this) and smidge a little on their nose.
Sort of distracts them from the horror and drama of rhats the reaction.
Rocky’s top 2 stressors are

Car travel. Shakes, drools, heavy panting, whines, a nervous wreck.

Nail trimming. Trembles, triy to withdraw, nervous.
Followed by a grudge, lack of trust, and a little self isolation after. Takes a day for him to shake it off.
Peanut butter helps, but he still holds the grudge.

I can’t find the video now but saw a guy trying to trim his dogs nails with a creative way of presenting the peanut butter.

He wrapped clear plastic wrap around his head like a headband and smeared the peanut butter on his forehead.

The dog sits there trying to lick it off while the guy buzzed the nails.
It was funny as all get out but seemed to get the job done.

Aw Rocky! You don't have to keep them show short but if you can get them to be only as long as a hair under his toe length I'm sure he will feel a little better! I hope the big guy gets a nice piece of cooked chicken after to make up for it! Ripley hates it too but the tasty snacks make things all better.

 

[Gelcoater]

Aw Rocky! You don't have to keep them show short but if you can get them to be only as long as a hair under his toe length I'm sure he will feel a little better! I hope the big guy gets a nice piece of cooked chicken after to make up for it! Ripley hates it too but the tasty snacks make things all better.

He got some goods once he came in from pouting

Always kept his nails a little long.
Between the stress and his outdoor activities it just was.
A desert trip years ago sort of shed light on a perceived advantage.
Among all the dogs in camp, all younger or his age and all more outdoorsy than he, (Colorado dogs) after a few days on the sand he was the only one not constantly licking his paws. The Rotts, the lab, the Chi, if they weren’t walking on them they were licking them.
He seemed unphased. Only real difference I could see was they all had short and tidy nails, he had almost 2x the nail.
Traction? A buffer? Not sure.

At his age he sure doesn’t need the long anymore.

 

[JanS]

Car travel. Shakes, drools, heavy panting, whines, a nervous wreck.

Nail trimming. Trembles, triy to withdraw, nervous.
Followed by a grudge, lack of trust, and a little self isolation after. Takes a day for him to shake it off.

Have you tried this CBD? Calming Chews For Dogs
I ordered some of this brand at @strykerdobe 's recommendation and it definitely helped Elroy with car rides. He was getting sick every time but aside from a little drooling, he was fine.

 

[GennyB]

What Sort of Viral, Stupid GenZ Beauty Trick Is This . . . Oh

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[JanS]

What Sort of Viral, Stupid GenZ Beauty Trick Is This . . . Oh

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LOL well at least it did the trick.