photo credit: raybdbomb

Depending on where your German Shepherd walks the most, nail care may be needed often or only very rarely. Long walks on city sidewalks can slowly wear down a dog’s nails to an acceptable level. But if you live in the country, or the dog spends almost all its time in the house or the back yard, you may need to trim his nails about once a month.

Learn everything you need to know about your shepherd -
From Caring To Training - German Shepherd Handbook

As with any dog, it’s important to use the proper tools and technique. Dogs have a small blood vessel called a quick that runs from the foot out to about midway into the nail. If you nick that quick while cutting the nail it hurts the dog and produces blood. Keeping the nail trimmed, while avoiding injury requires some care and practice. Start conservatively.

There are three different types of tool to use and personal preference varies.

Guillotine cutters slice the nail like a guillotine, but from the opposite direction. They clamp it on the top and slice it from the bottom. It’s possible to reverse the direction, just one of the problems with using this type of tool. They also tend to put more pressure on the nail, potentially squeezing the quick uncomfortably. Scissor-style cutters, if properly sharp, can do a great job of slicing cleanly and quickly with just a little practice.

An alternative to cutters is some type of grinding method. A nail file is an option, but a slow one. Dremel tools, which operate like a small wood grinding drill, have to be used with great care, however. They have a round end on an attachment and a drill that can grind the nail down to the desired length.

But at high speed they can become too hot too quick. Test one by grinding something nail-like, then touching the end after it’s stopped spinning. If it’s too hot to hold, it’s too hot to apply to your dog’s nail.

Get your German Shepherd on the floor on its back. If the dog is over six months old and you’ve developed a good bond, fussing is usually minimal. It’s important they stay calm and don’t jerk a foot at the wrong moment.

One way to judge where the dog’s quick begins is to make it more visible. Washing the nail makes the pinkish vessel stand out more against the dark nail. Never get closer than about an 1/8th of an inch. Even if you don’t clip the quick, pressure from walking can cause pain if the nail is cut too close.

Clip or grind each nail in turn, taking special care with any dew claw nail, if your dog still has them. To keep any hair out of the way (the dog’s, not yours), you can take a baby sock and poke a hole for the nail, then slide it over the foot. That will push the hair back away from the nail. With most German Shepherds, though, it won’t be necessary.

Proceed carefully and give your dog a reward afterward. Or, go to Pet Smart, where I live, they only charge $9.00  And That Is Reasonable.

Remember, this article is to inform you, and never to recommend. Always ask a professional for help if you can, or read the German Shepherd Handbook!

Technorati Tags: german shepherd care, german shepherd nails

photo credit: gopal1035

Guest Article

Even if you don’t bath your German Shepherd often, regular grooming is essential. By maintaining proper grooming procedures you can reduce your dog’s chance of having skin problems while keeping the coat shiny. It is best to maintain grooming every night, but first do eight to twelve weeks of moderate grooming. To manage the double coat present on a German Shepherd it is best to comb at least twice a week.

During the shedding season the normal shedding of a German Shepherd becomes much worse so you should consider using a shedding blade or similar tool since you will need proper training before you can use a shedding blade. When grooming your German Shepherd you should use a metal rake to take out the mats in the undercoat around the neck, chest and thigh areas. After bathing it is best to use a modern high velocity dryer to remove excess water instead of the hand fluff method. Always go in the direction of hair growth when you are brushing your dog.

When grooming your German Shepherd you may want to give them a haircut. You can use a pair of scissors to remove the long hairs that you find under the feet as well as the stray hairs around the feet. Rather, if you want a fluffier or fuller looking coat, you should brush the hair in the opposite direction of growth and then do light brushing in the direction of hair growth.

An alternative to the haircut is to use thinning shears to give the dog an overall neater appearance. Selective thinning is a good way to make your German Shepherd look heavier boned. Grooming isn’t just limited to the coat because you also need to focus on the toenails, ears and teeth. While brushing be sure to check the nails and trim them regularly as needed in order to avoid split or broken nails that will occur when they are left unattended and grow too long.

Grooming your German Shepherd allows you to make sure that the oils in the fur are evenly distributed which helps prevent matting and tangles from occurring. It also helps to remove the dead skin cells and loose hair, which can clog the coat and take away from the neat appearance. Just be careful not to cut or scratch your dog’s skin while you are grooming them. Use a combination of brushes and brush heads in order to make sure you tackle all parts of your dog’s coat.

For the German Shepherd it is best that you select the right shampoo as well, since they can be easily affected by wheat and may have other allergies as well. Oatmeal shampoo is one option but it can cause material to build up faster, which means you will have to bathe the dog more often. If you don’t have to worry about fleas then a shampoo with aloe is a good idea. By constantly using proper grooming techniques you can keep your German Shepherd looking well-groomed all the time.

Jan Ryan has spent a lot of time researching proper grooming procedures for many breeds of dogs. German Shepherd grooming doesn’t require a lot of work, but you need to follow the right procedures. Your dog will look great all year round if you follow proper German Shepherd grooming tips.

Technorati Tags: German Shepherd Obedience -German Shepherd Handbook