Whiskers and Feet

[MagnoliaFly]

Does anyone here actually bother with trimming the whiskers and paw hair?

I'd consider doing the feet since it does get muddy in Florida if I could get Bernie to hold still, but not sure how she would look without whiskers.

[adkmehrman]

Whiskers I don't bother with but paw hair I have attempted a couple of times. I think it would be helpfull to clip his paw hair but Koda will simply not let me do it. It is enough of a stuggle just to clip his nails.

[Louwants]

Same here with Duncan. I usually take him to the vet and let them fight with him getting his nails clipped. He sounds like he is being killed! It's rather embarassing. So, now, I just dump him and Chloe off and have their nails and ears cleaned at the same time.

[BannaOj]

I do paws pretty religiously, and trim them most of the times I do their nails with the dremel tool. Having less hair around their pads definitelys help with the tracking stuff in. I've never done muzzle whiskers. I know they don't use them like cats do, but they do use them for sensing things and I can't see taking that away. I do have one Cardi that has one long white eye whisker, with all the rest brown/black, and I do pull that one, because it looks so wierd otherwise.

[C Mocho]

Nail clipping is very important to keep a good finger structure. Sometimes, if they play often on an abrasive soil, it can be unnecessary, but if nails are touching the soil we should consider it as a need… If do it with calm and care, they can accept it, but they really never enjoy it.

Paw trimming is more a visual then functional operation, however for a show dog it can help to keep a close finger foot, if done with regularity, mostly wend dogs are growing.

Whiskers are a natural element in all dog breeds, as like in cats they are useful for the sensitive system. Usually the nature makes the things the way they need to be, so if all dogs have whiskers it probably means that whiskers are useful (maybe if they are too long we can trim a bit). I’ve had some experiences with my dogs that prove me that without whiskers they probably had some serious accidents (mostly in winter with the heating system).
I also feel that whiskers amputation is much more shocking and unnecessary ten a tail amputation, but that is only my personal feeling…

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MagnoliaFly

Does anyone here actually bother with trimming the whiskers and paw hair?

I'd consider doing the feet since it does get muddy in Florida if I could get Bernie to hold still, but not sure how she would look without whiskers.

I trim the hair on the feet, but don't trim whiskers.

When I first started in corgis 28 years ago, they did trim whiskers on the show dogs, but they don't even do that any more. There is no need to trim the whiskers.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

There is a lot of variations in the responses to this thread.

Whiskers on dogs are not as vital as for cats but they are still important for play, for balance, for finding their way around. However to trim a Corgi's whiskers a little if they are excessively large, is not doing any harm at all and the dog still retains all of his/her abilities. And the whiskers do grow back.

Regular trimming the hairs around the pads of the feet of a dog is important for two reasons: A dog sweats through his/her feet so trimming of excess hairs enhances this process; a dog can better retain balance and not slip so easily on slippery surfaces if his/her hairs around their pads are trimmed to the level of their pads.

[MagnoliaFly]

Since several people suggested paw hair trimming... anyone got tips?

Should I just use some sharp scissors or some clippers?

[BannaOj]

I use children's Fiskars. They are smaller and easier to angle and maneuver than larger scissors, but also have blunt tips so you aren't going to stab the squirming dog in the process.

I also reccommend sitting on the floor with your dog, and using your own legs to help pin the dog down while you do the trim job. Roll the dog over on it's back and from the underside, trim the hair back from around the pads, so that the dog will be able to use the pads for traction and grip without the hair interfering. Be firm and don't let them squirm out of it while you are trimming but also give lots of belly scratches at the end.

[Michael Romanos]

Without doubt high quality scissors without sharp pointed ends are the best, eg a sewing type pair of scissors.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Regular trimming the hairs around the pads of the feet of a dog is important for two reasons: A dog sweats through his/her feet so trimming of excess hairs enhances this process; a dog can better retain balance and not slip so easily on slippery surfaces if his/her hairs around their pads are trimmed to the level of their pads.

And 3) cuts down on the amount of dust and dirt they can track in.

Scissors for trimming the pads, sewing scissors I wouldn't recommend, can be too large and bulky. The Fiskars (children scissors) work well. Others that do a good job, inexpensive short human hair ones from a beauty supply store. (Sally's Beauty Supply in the US is a source of many grooming supplies for dog people. <VBG>) The ultimate tho' (or at least for me this week) are my new short curved blunt pointed ones I got from the scissor guy this past weekend at the dog show. Just the size of corgi feet, conform to the pad and cut like a knife through butter. I LOVE 'em!

Debbie

[pmavrich]

We use my husband's beard trimmer to shave the hair on the feet. There is no opportunity to cut anything, because it is guarded. Both dogs ly still while we shave them.