Monday, March 8, 2010

To Clip or Not Too Clip

According to the dogs, the answer would be simple. Not!
Like most dog owners, I shied away from clipping my dogs nails, for fear of hurting them. Bubbles nails have been sorely neglected as they were also so hard to clip through. My dad has been the only one to attempt Bubbles nails in the past, and I had a groomer dremmel them at one time, but she never went down too far.

Bubble's nails are RIDICULOUSLY long.
{This photo is inaccurate as this is after I worked on them....well keep reading :)}
Since then I learned how to clip my dogs nails, but for some reason never attempted Bubble's nails. A couple of months ago, Ben's former owners gave me a PediPaws dremel like tool, that they'd never used.
Speaking of Ben, I heard from his new family, and they say he's doing great, and "his boy" always wants Ben to be involved in everything he's doing. How cute is that?!
Anyway I began desentizing the dogs to Pedipaws while I still had Victoria with me, but  found it was easier to clip my more active pups nails with a clipper, as they didn't like to stay still long enough for me to properly grind their nails. I began desensitizing Bubbles to this new device as well,and she didn't really have much reaction too it, but since I'd never done her nails before, I was a little hesitant as too how far I could go.As I believe its true that the quick grows too the length of the nail?? I don't know.
{But Mom I love you? Why do you torture me like this??}

Well....Saturday night I was playing with the Pompsters, when I was "attacked" by one vicious claw. I immediate jumped up and grabbed my nail tools, and went too work on his nails. I started off with the clippers, but moved to the Pedipaws when he tried to wiggle out of my lap. (which he placed himself in willingly) He actually calmed down, and laid still while I 'buzzed' his nails..then he got bored and wanted to leave, which I let him AFTER I was finished with the nail I was working on.
{Pompei wins the shortest nails award}
{Texas's nails are pretty short, but his dew claw is really extending itself. :}
I looked up from that too see Bubbles snoozing on the couch, and decided to work on her longer nails.....for Bubbles its best to work on her if she's already in a relaxed position. Sure enough, the only visible sign I saw that she was uncomfortable with what I was doing, was the change in her breathing, from deep sleep, to the faster awake.
I probably worked on her back feet for about 10 minutes, (one negative of the pedipaws is how SLOW it turns) and she barely shifted positions. 

Course now I'm going, why didn't I do this before??

I'll be working on her feet, at least once a day, to get them back to a nice short size..but I'm happy to find a non intrusive way of doing her nails!!

The weather this weekend, was beautiful! The dogs spent as much time as possible sunbathing on the porch.  Now if only I could get Pompei to stop bringing me dead stuff!!! We also had a lot of visitors this weekend, as RoomieC was moving more of her stuff in...Texas did excellent with all the people coming in and out. He'd bark but that would be the end of this. Can I see the light at the end of the tunnel??
{Saturday Pompei hit the 4 month mark!! }

Erin and company