Page 20 - Chow Life - Winter 2025

so the nails do not
touch the ground
causes the pad to
grow larger and
thicker as the pups
grows and ages. The
regular maintenance
of the toe nails each
week from 6 weeks
to 12 months of age
has been shown
to produce pups
with thicker pads
when they become
an adult. Thicker
pads function like
cushions that protect
not only their feet
but their joints. This
simple toe trimming
method, coupled
with the discipline
and willingness to
nip the nails weekly
is a secret that has
been overlooked.
Maintenance and
discipline on a weekly basis are the path to managing help build pads that are thick, protective and able to
a pup’s feet while it is growing. absorb shock on their joints. It also helps produce
better and softer movement.
For those who show dogs, it is easy to see why
dogs with long nails do not want to reach out, step ABOUT THE AUTHOR
forward and stab their long nails into the rubber
mats of a show ring (Figure 4). Most dogs with long Carmen L. Battaglia holds a Ph.D. and Master’s
toenails will compensate and avoid stabbing their Degree from Florida State University. He is an
nails into the ridges of the rubber mat. Most will author of many articles, several books, an AKC
either lift their feet up in a hackneyed motion or Director, judge and researcher. He is a well-known
throw their feet to the right or left to avoid stabbing lecturer and leader in the promotion of breeding
the carpet. These compensating movements are better dogs. Dr. Battaglia is also a popular guest
learned. In time they become bad habits that most on TV and radio talk shows including several
judges will see and fault as bad movement. All of this appearances on Animal Planet. His seminars on
can be avoided with maintenance and the discipline breeding better dogs, selecting sires and choosing
of trimming the nails on a regular basis. It does not puppies have been well-received by breed clubs.
take a dog long to learn how to compensate for its Those interested in learning more about his writings
long nails that are stabbing the rubber mat or hard and seminars should visit the website http://www.
concrete floor. They do this by developing a bad breedingbetterdogs.com
habit that is hard to unlearn. Trimming the nails
alone will not immediately change or improve their
movement. It takes a lot of time for dogs to figure
out how to change and unlearn a bad habit, so it is This article first appeared in Canine Chronicle
better to start them early with short nails and avoid -February 2025, page 122 and is reprinted with
the development of a bad habit. Combined it will permission. CanineChronicle.com
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