Red and Rover by Brian Basset for January 24, 2022

He won’t. Just trim his nails.

Our dogs have always hated to have their feet touched and it’s hard to trim nails without touching the feet. We could take them to the groomer’s, but I hate to spend the money when I can do it myself. The dog we have now is much better about it.

Aww, he’s a real sweetheart.

Walk them daily on firm to hard dirt paths, even cement footpaths if not hot. That’s how nature does it. Worked for this little fella until my ill health forced me to have him adopted, to acreage with dogs, kids and other animals.

Yes Red, love him!! Everyone from my three sons had a bicycle. Nearly every day they came, it is ruined. One day we had enough and said, you must repair it for yourself. From this moment on it was better!!

Rentler is spot on. Self reliance, get on it and do it. No more Nanny State victim thumb sucking!

It’s time for Rover’s spa day and pedicure!

Red has a good, logical reason. But this based on my experience with my shiba. She screams and carries on, jerking her paw out of my hand. I simply can’t get a good grip and clear clipping opportunity. Even the professionals have trouble. I don’t know how if Rover carries on this way. Shibas are notorious for it.

I take my dog to the vet to get his nails clipped. I would MUCH rather pay the €20 ( I would pay anything needed, even more,) than run the risk of hurting him. Especially as he hates getting them done. He just pulls and tries to get away and if I were to do it I could really hurt him and it would kill me to do that.

Have to keep Rover one happy fearless puppy

One of my dogs loved the battery-powered sander/trimmer. They come under many names like “Pedi-Paws”. He wasn’t sold on the idea until I turned it on and petted his back, letting the vibration ‘massage’ him for a few minutes. After that he was a big fan.

It’s tricky not to cut the vein….vets do it best!

Just have Rover walk you to and from the bus everyday. And those periodic races home on the sidewalk should do the trick. But, if you hear the click click click of his nails on the floor or other hard surface it might be time.

This is a touchy subject for me and my Lizzie. Putting it off until her claws get so long! I did it just the other day, with no hurts, thank goodness!

My room mate’s dog bites anyone who attempts it. I was petting him a while ago and put the clipper near by to try the good-association thing, but he ripped my finger open when I picked it up. Poor, little guy is probably in constant pain due to the length of his nails. At some point I guess she’ll find a vet who will put him under to do the job.

We had poodles when I was growing up and my mom did all the grooming and toenails and stuff. They got used to it real quick. Start early and don’t make a fuss about it. We don’t have dogs right now, but my daughter has a cat that was difficult to do solo. But we discovered that if we double teamed her it worked well. I hold her like a baby (which she LOVES) and my daughter clips her claws. Took her a few times to get used to it (with treats afterwards), but now it is like nothing (even with no treats anymore).

I went through something similar with my cat when I had to give him shots and feed him through a syringe. Toward the end, I think he knew that I was trying to help him.

Do you fear your Mom, Red, when she helps trim your toe nails??

It’s better to fear the hand that feeds him?

I agree with Red! But the reason I don’t trim Newton’s nails is because I’m afraid I’ll do it wrong and hurt him, so I leave it up to the pros.

My St Bernard so many years back saw that I was holding his paw to trim his nails. He put his jaw around my hand. We had a polite understanding from that point on that I would never trim his nails. Best dog that I ever had and miss him still 40 years later. He died in his sleep. Best way to go….

And he would do anything for love…but he won’t do that.