 Barked: Wed Dec 12, '07 5:20pm PST |
 | |  | | Hey Lucy!
Again, not a professional groomer, but I've always done my own dog's nails and was recently (a few months ago) taught how to make "cat feet" by the breeder of my new Sheltie, Romeo.
For nails, I start as soon as I get the pup home. Manipulate the paws, teach them to offer me a paw as a trick (shake a paw), push my fingers between their toes and around the pads, hold the nails, etc. Then move to clipping the nails, do only a few at a time, giving a treat after each nail but only allowing the dog to get up when you say so, don't let them call the shots and get up on their own. Work slow and at the dog's pace, that means you need to read them well. If you see they are getting stressed, don't push it and give them the release to get up BEFORE they get to the biting point. It's not normal (though it is common) for dogs to growl or snap during nail clipping so that should never be an acceptable behaviour from them and you should start working to curb that. But it takes time, especially if it is an established habit.
As for trimming the pretty "cat feet" you need a small slicker brush and a pair of thinning shears. Use the slicker to brush the hair on the top of the paw backwards so it stands straight up, be sure to get the long stuff between their toes as well. Use the thinning shears to trim all the hair to an even length, be careful not to go too short as you can pinch the skin in the shears. I then take a round-tipped small pair of scissors and trim the hair along the edge of the paw straight, clipping it straight across the nail so the paw looks round. For the bottom of the paw, I use a small battery operated razor intended for female grooming needs. You can pick them up for about $20 at a pharmacy store or any place that sells human hygiene products. Then I just use those to clip the hair between the toes and pads. When you get the razor home for the first time, try it on yourself ... run it along your arm or leg or something and see what angle you need it to be at to clip properly, also what pressure you have to apply before it will pinch. The good thing about those cheap razors is that they don't get hot (they are intended for human use right up against the skin) and they aren't sharp enough to cut skin, though they will pinch if you try hard enough).
And that is how I groom feet!  |  |  | |  |
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Even though they aren't show dogs. Rogue toe hair on 
