I'm having a bit of a panic because I need to trim back my dobe pup's nails, but, being black, I can't see where the "quick" is. I don't want to hurt him. Should I just do a teeny bit each time? I had intended to take him to the grooming parlour (yes I know this is a little hysterical) but realized it probably wouldn't be safe because he hasn't had his jabs yet.

Jo

Just take a tiny bit of at a time, make sure you hold the nail firm as you do it.

The alternative is to get a diamond type nail file and file them down until you can just see a little black speck on the underneath that is the quick!!

Jayne

Hi Jo

It is a good thing to get him used to you doing it regularly (fortnightly if they grow fast) and I imagine his breeders have been doing it regularly up to now.

Have a good look at his nails - especially the underside and you will see the tip is a v shape, you can quite safely cut or file off the hollow bit.

I have various implements I use for various dogs (some prefer one thing to another). For novice trimmers then a file is the best bet as you can't cut too much off - at his age, as has already been suggested one of the diamond files or one of the rough ones of the set that have fine to course. As you gain confidence you could use a dremmel or clippers - little and often is the key to cutting Dobe toenails so that they retain those beautiful catlike feet.

Vet's never cut Dobes nails short enough - they say they are not touching the ground so they are okay - this is not so. If their nails are long enough to touch the ground when standing they are probably too long as then then start to tip the toes back a bit. They hit the ground when moving just not when standing - hope this makes sense!

Christine

Someone told me once that if you can hear the nails "clicking on the floor" then they are too long

I never had my last dobe's nails cut in 131/2 years of his life. Do some dogs wear them down more than others because they never grew long and he always had lovely tight feet. He did do a lot of road walking though so maybe this was what kept his nails short.

We did have another dog and his nails were clipped at vets but he was over 10 years when this happened.

Our present dobe - 10 months - have not been clipped either. Just looked at them now and there is only a tiny overhang from what i think is the quick. He does road walking everyday as well.

Karen.

You are just so lucky! Our dogs get 2 miles road walking as well as 2 or 3 miles off-lead every day, and still need their nails done every week! Mind you, I do like the nails to be really short.

Thanks everyone - that's helpful. Cam is absolutely fine about me messing with his feet - which is why I don't want to put him off the process. He's the apple of my eye!

Jo

There is a very informative page on Dobe's toenails on Dawn's site, just cilck on the "how to dremmel you dog's toenails" page. This shows what a Dobe's toenails should look like.

The quick and fleshy part will grow if the toe nails are allowed to get too long. Some Dobermanns, my male for instance, do not need their nails doing very often but most will need doing at least once a fortnight to keep them really neat.

Christine

Thanks Christine. :)

hi,

just looked at dawns dobes. My dogs nails not that short. Wouldn't like to use that electric file either. I'll ask at vets next time i go to ask their opinion whether harrys are ok or not. I thought they were but looking at the shortness of the dogs nails on aboe site having second thoughts.

karen.

Hi Karen

It is unlikely that your vet will consider Harry's nails long, most vet's don't know what a Dobes's feet should look like - would you like me to send you a photo of Rio's feet?

I wish I had taken photos of the claws on the boy I took back recently - I must have cut nearly an inch off them over the month or so I had him. He had problems walking when he arrived but moved much more easily as soon as his nails had been cut.

I have both a battery dremel and an electric one (or rather my husband has an electric one as I bought it for Christmas one year) I had one bitch who would not let me near her with the toenail cutters but would lay on her back for a manicure with the dremel in spite of the noise, dust, vibration, smell and heat.

Christine

My dogs didn't like the dremel so I passed it along to someone else, but what I use is a big foot file (for human feet) to do their toenails. If their nails are a bit longer I'll use the clippers to take the bigger bit off, then file up as close as I can (using the advice from the doberdawn site) with the foot file and it's fantastic. Also means no more cuts from sharp doggie nails! I have a permanent scar across my foot from where a dog launched off it just after nails had been done!

Wendy

I recently bought a mains 'Dremel' type - and the difference has been fantastic! I can do 4 dogs' nails in the time it used to take me to do just one, they don't struggle, and I can get the nails shorter, too. It's a godsend...how I managed before, I don't know.
:)

Have not had to cut Roscoe's (gsp) claws, apparently pointers start to walk on the backs of their feet as they get older so hence the need to trim more often - I just make sure he runs around on concrete and tarmac for a little while each day.

Terri

PS. Just seen the post on mangled pads - try to keep the running on hard surfaces to a sensible time, and check it's not too rough.

Does that mean you managed to coax the 4th out from under the table then?;-)

Wendy