Just leaving this here to link to because every single time I post a picture of my dog that shows her claws, I get comments asking about them. Some comments are just innocent questions by folks wanting to be educated. Some are accusations that I’m basically abusing my dog. Here are the facts.
- My dog is a rescue who lived at a refuge for almost 11 years. She only got the most basic care there. They never trimmed her claws.
- Because of this, her quicks are very, very long. Cutting the claws down to a level that Americans and Canadians would deem acceptable would cause her unnecessary pain and distress.
- An animal behaviourist and groomer comes to trim and file down the nails as far as possible on a monthly basis. This gentle method of grooming is tolerated by my very anxious dog who now clearly enjoys here monthly pedicure. The resulting nail length is absolutely fine — she can walk naturally and does not “skate” on tile floors like she did when she arrived. My dog is outdoors most of the time and I do not have floors that could be damaged by her claws, so there is no reason to essentially mutilate her to bring her claws to NOTB (north of the border) standards.
As well-meaning as the comments are, I find them distressing as they imply that I am not taking care of my dog properly. I took on an enormous responsibility when I brought her home almost 13 months ago and she has never lacked for any necessary care and grooming. I have an amazing support team in place for her.