All Things Dog Blog |
- ASK THE VET: Strategies for Caring for Your Dog's Nails
- Big Dogs Can be Lap Dogs too, but Should they Be?
- Porch, Please? The 'Odd Duck' Communication Methods of My Goofy Golden Retriever
| ASK THE VET: Strategies for Caring for Your Dog's Nails Posted: 02 May 2010 01:00 PM PDT  Dear Dr. Jacki: Oxnard,--my mastiff, has very heavy nails. I get them clipped at a groomers because they are so hard to do. Anyway, when they are clipped they are very sharp for a long time. Sometimes he scratches himself and creates scrapes that get inflamed. A couple of times recently he scratched so much he opened up a wound and it took a long time to scab over. The groomer told me to use Bactine on it. My question is this. Should I get his nails ground. I hear it leaves them smoother, but I don't really know if it is safe. I also wonder if it will scare him. What do you think? Thanks, JJ *************************************** Hi JJ….I have a few ideas that may work for Oxnard. After the nails have been clipped at the groomer, it would be nice to walk him on asphalt or concrete as this will help to smooth them a bit. Actually, walking dogs on concrete (sidewalk) or asphalt really helps the nails stay nice and short. Some groomers offer 'Dremeling' which is done using a type of tool. This is probably the best way to grind the nails down but it has to be done by someone who knows what they are doing. The tool can get very hot and cause pain on the nail for the dog.He may be scared initially but he will get used to it. Maybe you could call around and ask different groomers if they Dremel nails or not. If you cannot find anyone, continue walking on the concrete. Good question! Good luck, Dr. Jacki  Dr. Jacki, D.V.M. ASK THE VET on All Things Dog Blog For more information on Dr. Jacki and her practice, you may find her at 4 Paws House Calls. A personal appointment will likely provide more specific information on your dog and your specific questions. Dr. Jacki's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian. *************************************** If you are interested in doing this yourself, please be sure to get proper instruction: Want to read more of Dr. Jacki's ASK THE VET columns? Here's a few links:   
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| Big Dogs Can be Lap Dogs too, but Should they Be? Posted: 02 May 2010 12:33 PM PDT by Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved Find me on Facebook Follow me on Twitter Write to Dr. Jacki, ASK THE VET ASK THE DOG TRAINER at All Things Dog Blog  Tanner Snuggles In for a Snooze on Alan's Lap At 68 pounds, Tanner really doesn't look much like a lap dog, huh? On the other hand, he does look comfortable and sleeping soundly. The flash didn't even budge his dreams. Not a twitch! So, what do you think? Should big dogs be allowed to sit on our laps? This has been a subject of great controversy in many of the dog forums, and among trainers and other dog experts. I happen to agree that too much of this could lead to a dog believing he is the Top Dog, if you know what I mean. Fortunately, with Tanner, we're in pretty good shape. He's a fairly submissive boy who generally listens and follows instructions well. As I looked on, Alan asked him to get down. There was no pouting, no pushing and no problem. Tanner just did it. I think that's the key. He knows who the real boss is. Me! Occasionally when my husband is out of town, Tanner will lie right up against me in bed. It's sort of like puppies that enjoy snuggling with their litter mates. He seems to get something from the connectedness with me. I have to admit that I rather enjoy it, as well. Knowing he is there is like a feeling of safety--my alarm system is sleeping beside me. Now it's your turn. What do you think about this? Do we send the wrong message when we allow a bigger dog to lie on our laps or our couches or beds? Do you think small dogs get that same message, or are they aware of their smaller size and feel it is more acceptable? Here is your chance to sound off...hit that comment link and go for it! 
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| Porch, Please? The 'Odd Duck' Communication Methods of My Goofy Golden Retriever Posted: 01 May 2010 04:00 AM PDT by Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved .JPG) Tanner's Way of Requesting Porch Time Tanner, my goofy, lovable Golden Retriever, has a few quirky behaviors. He's a master of Houdini-style escapes from all manner of containment. However, when he cannot open a door (i.e. the old fashioned round doorknob seen here), he has a habit of staring it down, or simply looking outside, as if OUTSIDE will come to him, if he waits long enough. When he concentrates like this, he looks like a statue. I've found him staring down an outside doorknob, after wondering when he would bark to come back inside from a potty run. He just doesn't do that--bark to get my attention. Strange, huh? Yesterday, he was outside on the porch playing with pool toys when he decided he needed a fetch partner. His approach was to stand at the door and stare inside. Who knows how long he was standing there before I discovered him. Even though he had other options, what he really wanted was ME. As soon as I caught sight of him, his ears perked up and he did a little "I'm happy to see you too" maneuver. What was I to do, but play Fetch. It's great training time for us, as we get to do this alone. We practice sit, stay, leave it, take it, fetch and swim--all commands he knows and loves. Perhaps this summer we'll work on Jump! Oliver watches from inside, while Xena keeps her distance. These days she's the typical old lady in the pool, "Don't splash me and get my hair wet, you adolescent, you!" Have you got a lovable doggie story you would like to share? My forum is open to guest posts. You can reach me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. Tell me your dog's tale.........Meanwhile, I'll get to work on trying to elicit a bark that says, "Come on, door. Open!" Visit Adopt a Dog Park Help protect our precious dog parks © Carrie Boyko, all rights reservedFollow All Things Dog at Twitter Find me at Facebook © copyright Carrie Boyko, all rights reserved 
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