Here's an awkward cocktail party question: How often do you trim your nails?
You may not know this, but nail care for dogs isn't just about aesthetics-- or about keeping them from scratching the skin off your thighs when they hop on your lap. (Though man, that hurts, doesn't it?!)
Here's the deal, in a nutshell: your dog's nails need to be trimmed at least every three or four weeks because if they get too long, they can cause the following problems:
1) They can grow underneath and into the pads, causing punctures and other wounds.
2) A dog may end up putting his weight on the back of his paws if the nails are too uncomfortable, causing joint and ligament pain or injury.
3) The nails can actually split, crack, bleed, and grow infected, and even cause your pup's feet to splay out and become deformed.
That being said, you'll want to allow your dog a bit of nail past "the quick" (which is the vein underneath the nail that will bleed if clipped) because they need some nail for traction. (Dude's gotta be able to take off after that squirrel, after all, or round that corner without falling over!) It's also okay if the nails on the front tend to be shorter than those on the rear paws, because the rear paws are what they spring off from, causing the nails to be worn down more naturally.
There are plenty of resources online and in print that can help you learn how to trim your dog's nails, but if you prefer not to deal with it or feel like it's too scary to attempt, remember that we at the Groomerie can totally handle it! We have the proper tools and training, and really, doesn't your dog deserve a little pampering now and again?