Dog Community

How often do your dog's nails need to be trimmed?

Posted : 9/22/2012 11:34:57 AM

I just read an article in Bark and they said their one dog's nails stay at an ideal length just from walking a couple of miles a day on mixed surfaces and that their other dog needs theirs done every couple of months from the same exercise.

I know a ton of people that get them done by a groomer 1x a month or less frequently

I dremel Bugsy's nails 2x a week in an attempt to keep them reasonable AND our norm is to walk/run 3-5 miles a day in which he chooses to be on asphalt for most of it. He's a huge dog so weighs plenty, you would think the walks would keep them short.

So how often does your dog get their nails trimmed?

cakana

Posted : 9/22/2012 12:01:35 PM

Wow Karen - 2x a week? I'm guessing Bugsy is really good with the dremel? Do you like it better than clippers?

I'd say Shane's need clipping about 1x a month, maybe a smidge earlier and he doesn't get nearly the distance walks that most dogs do. Fortunately, he's really good for it and he has light colored nails, so it's relatively easy.

Jewlieee

Posted : 9/22/2012 12:48:40 PM

We could prob use it once a week but I only do it once every 2 or 3 weeks because I really hate doing it. Because i hate doing it, I never get them short enough. I have a dremel but don't use it all that often

JackieG

Posted : 9/22/2012 1:41:48 PM

Rex and Gabby's nails grow like crazy and I dremel them once a week but should do it twice weekly. I have never been able to get Gabby's nails as short as I'd like. Belle's nails rarely need trimming more than once a month. Twister's about every two weeks. I use the dremel on all the dogs. It took a long long time to get Gabby to tolerate it but now she does well once she see's that it's happening whether she likes it or not.

Freedom

Posted : 9/22/2012 1:46:11 PM

I think much of this varies by breed. Growing up we had a rough coat collie, we never trimmed her nails! We didn't "walk" her per se, but she was out and about with us kids all the time.

These bichons make me nuts, I walk them 2 miles daily, at least 3 times a week we are on the road - asphalt. Yet their nails MUST be trimmed every 3 weeks. Willy and Tasha don't permit me, so we have an appt with a groomer every 3 weeks for them. All the rest, deceased and present, I have been able to do myself.

kpwlee

Posted : 9/22/2012 2:31:12 PM

I feel better now :)

Yes Cathy I really try to do them 2x a week, and have never gotten them as short as I would like. I have asked at the vet and a couple of groomers and they say they are at a normal length so I am not doing too much LOL

I did them 3 straight days after getting home from Cancun to make-up for 10 days of no trimming and no walks. I suppose now that he's off long walks for a while I'll have to do it more often Crying

He tolerates the dremel, some days more than others

oranges81

Posted : 9/22/2012 3:21:29 PM

Maze I do once every 6 months.. She chews her nails. Dodger, it's every week but it's not needed, I'm just training him. Sandy it's once a month and Dipstick is twice a month.

FrisbyPI

Posted : 9/22/2012 5:43:41 PM

Sinbad is every week or two. The nails on his front feet seem to grow faster than the back feet, but that could just be my imagination. He's very good with the Dremyl. Mozey is about once a month, but should maybe be every 2-3 weeks. I use clippers for her. She's really good with those--the Dremyl noise is just too scary still.

griffinej5

Posted : 9/22/2012 8:52:48 PM

I do Luke's front nails once or twice a week. I keep them super short. I do the dew claws and back nails maybe every other week. I let the battery wear out a little bit before I do those nails, because his hair is long, and I have occasionally caught it in the dremel while doing those nails. I find it to be better if I let it get slowed down first. I put him up in the bathroom sink to do his grooming. He doesn't mind any of it too much, and pretty much just stands there and lets me do it. Callie's nails, I have no idea. I need to train her to let me use the dremel, and I have been lazy about it.

tiffy

Posted : 9/23/2012 4:31:11 PM

Tootsie, goes to the groomer 1x a month. So its done then.

Myra

Posted : 9/27/2012 7:08:20 AM

kpwlee
I really try to do them 2x a week, and have never gotten them as short as I would like.

My Brittany's nails are the same way. He's 12 now, I've had him since he was 14 weeks old. For all those years I've Dremeled his nails a minimum of twice a week, and weather permitting we walk at least 30 minutes a day on asphalt. But no matter what, his nails stubbornly refuse to shorten. They grow incredibly fast and his quicks are apparently just naturally long. A few years ago I decided I was fighting a losing battle, so I gave up on getting them to a normal length and have just concentrated on keeping up with the maintenance twice a week Dremeling. Thankfully he's extremely good about having his nails done (no doubt because it's such a common occurrence). All the other dogs I've had only required normal nail clipping, every three to six weeks, to keep their nails at a good length.