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August 4th
Nail trimming is often a Lab’s least favorite part of the grooming process. Many dog owners dread having to trim nails, as it can end in blood and tears for both the human and the dog.
But trimming your Lab’s nails doesn’t have to be so difficult. With the right preparation, as well as plenty of patience, you can teach your dog to tolerate the process.
Here, we’ll show you everything you need to know to safely trim your Lab’s nails.
Before you get started on grooming, make sure that you have all of the supplies you’ll need. Here’s a short list of what you should have on hand:
Make sure you invest in a decent pair of nail trimmers that are designed for dogs. Don’t try to use your own clippers on your dog, as they are designed for a different purpose.
Even if you’re careful, you may still cause a few minor bleeds a you trim. Keep some styptic powder around to stop the bleeding and prevent it from making a mess
Never underestimate the power of a good treat. Keep plenty of treats around as you trim to reward your Lab and keep them calm
Once you’ve assembled all of your supplies, you’ll need to find the right place to trim. Choose an area that has good lighting and is free of distractions.
Depending on the size of your Lab, you may want to place them on a table to get better access to their paws. If they are a puppy, you can hold them in your lap as you trim.
Trimming is often easier if you have another person around to restrain your Lab and keep them calm.
It’s important that you stay patient throughout the trimming process. Don’t rush it, as you’ll increase the risk of a bleed and possibly cause your Lab a lot of pain.
Start by making small cuts to the nail, always cutting at an angle to preserve the shape of the nail. As you cut, keep an eye out for the quick, the area where the blood supply and nerves end. If you cut into the quick, you can cause quite a bit of pain, as well as heavy bleeding.
The quick often appears as a small black dot in the center of the nail. If you see this, put the trimmers down right away.
If your Lab has long nails, you may need to file them down to prevent cracking. Take a file and work your way up from the base of the nail, gently applying pressure to smooth the rough outer surface.
Labs are very possessive of their paws, and they may not like if you try to grab them. It can take some time for them to get used to the nail trimming process, so start slow and be patient.
You may only be able to do a few nails at a time before your Lab gets anxious. Although you may want to get the trimming done in one go, you’ll just make your life harder down the road if your dog is anxious.
If you notice that your Lab is getting worked up, stop trimming and give them plenty of praise and treats. Once they’ve calmed down, you can continue the trimming process.
At first, it may take you a few days to get through all of your dog’s nails. However, they should eventually adjust, making it easier to get trimming done quickly.
If you notice that your Lab is very sensitive, you can start out by only holding their paws in your hands. This teaches your dog that there’s nothing scary about you touching their paws.
Try to trim frequently so that your dog gets used to the process. The more you trim, the deeper the quick recedes into the nail, lowering the chances of a bleed.
Trimming more frequently also means that you won’t have to make large cuts, which lowers the risk of nicking the quick and causing a bleed.
If you’re still having issues trimming your Lab’s nails, you may need to reach out to a pro. Although a groomer can be expensive, they can safely trim your dog’s nails without causing bleeds. They also have access to a wider range of tools, making trimming much easier.
Ready to bring the perfect Lab home? Then head over to our puppy finder. At Uptown Puppies, we work with some of the best Lab breeders and companies around to find you the perfect puppy.
We never work with puppy mills, and only you to breeders who follow the highest ethical standards.
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