Pembroke & Cardigan Welsh Corgi

Jane Austen · 12-29-2005, 09:28 AM

My vet said that Duchess should have her nails clipped about every week. She doesn't walk on concrete or abrasive material enough to wear her nails down. I find the vets charges are too high to keep that up so I have tried to clip them on my own. My dog puts up a real fuss to be groomed and especially to have her feet touched.
I got a muzzle on her and just clipped her front paws slightly and gave her a treat after. I will clipped her back feet tomorrow and do this routine until she gets used to having me work on her, clipping, combing and cleaning.
I want to take a poll of how often you have your corgi's nails clipped? Jane

Cardiguy · 12-29-2005, 07:31 PM

I haven't had my Cardigan's nails clipped in over a yr since I walk her on the sidewalk and on the street. Before that I used to go in every 3 months even if she didn't need it and finally the vet said if she walks on asphalt/cement that will keep her nails trimmed. I haven't brought her in since.

Michael Romanos · 12-29-2005, 07:54 PM

I last used dog nail clippers some 30 years ago. My conformation champion Corgis at the time had to have their nails just so for a show but I would not have had to use the clippers weekly or fortnightly. It was a tough assignment for awhile until the Corgis and I had reached an understanding - one that benefitted both sides. But I wouldn't want a vet to do any nail clipping of my Corgi for two reasons - a vet is not your dog's best friend and vets charge heaps. If you take your Corgi for regular walks that includes sealed roading or footpaths, then that should be sufficient in keeping your Corgi's nails short and unpointed.
Some vets are very fond of building mounds of money and to have a vet clip your Corgi's nails weekly - by a quarter of a centimetre - is a means for the vet retiring young and living the remainder of his/her life down in easy street.
I never have to clip Taylor's nails and he needs them short for agility - but I do have to trim the hair between and around his pads so that he can run and walk with confidence that he won't skid, and so that he can use his feet properly. Of course, all Corgis should be trimmed in this way.

Jane Austen · 12-29-2005, 09:19 PM

Trimming the long hair between the toes is one thing I did not know about. I will walk Duchess more on concrete and show her off in town. That will take care of wearing her nails down, between trips to the beach to run off leash. This feedback has been very beneficial.

Michael Romanos · 12-30-2005, 02:42 AM

This conversation compelled me to look at Taylor's feet - and all his nails couldn't be any shorter or with straighter lines at the tips. A la nature in the concrete jungle. It's not really trimming between toes that solves any problems - though a straight line of hair between toes(nails) is an intricate aspect to grooming a Corgi for championship show status. What's important is keeping the hair between the pads and around the edges of the pads, just below the level of the pads. This allows the Corgi to use his pads like feet that grip rather than have, as it were, slippery soles - as in hair. Further, dogs sweat through the pads of their feet so you wouldn't want to have dollips of hair that eventually could cover all or most of his/her pads.

Michael Romanos · 12-30-2005, 06:24 PM

Just a further reflection on Jane and the vet and nail clipping : If I was Jane, I'd go and find another vet - one who wouldn't have the cheek to suggest that she books a weekly visit to have her Corgi's nails clipped professionally. This business did make me very cross and kind of amused at the same time.

If it was me, I'd lay a complaint to the veterinary association (or maybe a consumer institute) on the grounds that the vet was providing incorrect,misleading,unsound and unfounded advice and whose conduct was unprofessional.

Jane Austen · 12-30-2005, 07:51 PM

Cool down Mike! I may have gotten that a little out of context. The vet did say the nails may have to be clipped once a week but I never bit on that. I had them done once and the vet made one bleed. Now I am trying for wearing them down on hard surfaces. We walked three miles today on tar. (tarmack to you) So far I like the vet although they are all expensive the breeder uses this one. She is good with the dog too she seems to love animals. Please know I keep a keen eye out for my dog's health and would not do anything to jeapodize her interest. I appreciate knowing that I don't have to clip ever again.

hugs91882 · 01-09-2006, 03:17 PM

On the clipping of nails...

Dylan has always dragged his front left paw when walking. Therefore that paw has irregular nails, and I can not walk him far as the nail will wear away and bleed. This makes for an interesting short walk around the block which is all he can muster without hurting himself. And bless the dear he never complains. Okay, here's the question, the back nails are getting long, is there a shoe, or bootie or paw covering that I can put on Dylan's front paws to protect them for those much needed long walks?

Michael Romanos · 01-09-2006, 09:51 PM

There are two things you can do for Dylan and his foot problem (sounds like the foot or bone structure must be a little deformed). Walk and run him on soft terrain as often as possible. (Corgis need at least 40 minutes a day of fast walking). By this I mean grassy areas like parks, and hiking areas. Sled dogs who train and/or compete on dryland (as opposed to snow) usually have their feet covered with "booties" to prevent damage to their feet while they run or race for anything up to 100 miles or so. Therefore, you should contact a dog sled club or a Malamute/Siberian Husky club and they will surely be able to give you details of these training/racing "booties." If no such clubs exist in your area, contact (through the internet) the American Kennel Club.
By the way, my eldest son is named Dylan. He's 18 and when he was born, Dylan was almost an unheard of name in NZ. Nowadays the name here is very popular for boys(humans).

hugs91882 · 01-10-2006, 09:15 AM

Thanks Michael, I will scoop out some clubs on line. The only problem I happened to think about was the fact that his paws are really big and with their little legs, I really wonder if the strap will hold around the leg part. He's also a "gutter" dog, loves to walk in the gutter and picks up everything! When he was just a wee one, we realized he did have hip dysplamia and from that moments on he was very spoiled and coddled. We always did everything for him. Now a days, why should he do anything when he knows we will do it for him! Yes, he has us trained very well.

Michael Romanos · 01-10-2006, 07:44 PM

The word is improvisation. You may need to improvise to alter manufactured sled dog booties to fit Corgi's legs or when you see what they look like, have a set made specifically for your Corgi - perhaps in that way you can also get by with just the one or two at the most instead of a four-legged set.

In the meantime don't worry about what he's use to -stick to soft terrain. Corgis are adaptable and actually love changes - including environmental and diet. Sad to hear of Dylan's hip displaysia. I hope you can keep getting around any problems this presents.

hugs91882 · 01-17-2006, 02:10 PM

Hi, just wanted to let you know that my husband thinks I rocks in my head, but I sat and trimmed the 8 feet of excess hair. Both Dylan and Newt were really good about it until that last paw. Okay, I was taking my time and they were tired of laying on their back, but it is done. Maybe not as short as they should be, but better.

As far as the booties for Dylan, we are checking into all sorts of styles, and colors, can you believe it? You can get matching colors for the kennel! I think that is a hoot!

Michael Romanos · 01-17-2006, 04:15 PM

HI
Keep those hairs around your Corgis pads well trimmed. It's one of my Taylor's pet peeves but I'm careful not to "dig in" with the scissors. Anyway it's only a monthly task.
You must have visited a pet accessories store to find such a large range of booties. We stock very little clothing for dogs in our pet stores in NZ and I've never seen dog booties for sale. I did a story for both a magazine and my book "Amazing Dog Stories" - which will be published in March, 2006 - on a Dalmation who among several credits, was a champion sled dog and one of the photos for the story was one of her - all black spots on a white coat - pulling a (single dog) sled complete with bright orange booties. That's where I got to learn about protective foot cover for sled dogs when training and competing on dryland.

The colour co-ordination thing sounds a bit like buying toilet paper to match the decor in the bathroom.

hugs91882 · 01-18-2006, 10:12 AM

Oh Michael, what a comparison....

Anyway, thanks to the internet I just searched for dog booties and came up with an array of products. Then I searched at good old Ebay! And they listed several of the same products. We just might have to have 2 booties special order has Dylan has large round paws.

After reading the page about Corgi's on the AKC site, Dylan is not a very good show dog even though his mom and dad were big champions. Newt on the other hand would have made a great show dog. My intentions when buying them were to bred them, but at an early age we learned Dylan had the hip dysplasia, just about broke my heart as his markings are just beautiful. But I wasn't about to pass a bad gene on to his kids.

And the hair trimming on his feet is working well, he no longer struggles to get up from a laying down position. See, I thought it had to do with his hip. It just makes sense to keep the hair trimmed. Thanks for that tip.

Michael Romanos · 01-18-2006, 03:38 PM

Hi
I hope you contacted Dylan's breeder/s. If they have show champions then you would think that they would have taken all steps to ensure hip dysplasia would not be a problem for any offspring. It's a genetic thing and you're wise not to pursue with using Dylan for stud duties. Not that it would help poor Dylan, but the breeder should offer you a refund of at least some of what you paid out in obtaining a pup from show champs. That at least would help to offset your vet bills etc.

It's amazing what a tiny action - such as hair clipping from around Dylan's pads - can do to assist him to be more mobilised. Imagine what these booties will achieve. He'll be a new, invigorated Corgi. Let me know how it pans out.

12-29-2005, 09:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jane Austen Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: .Massachusetts Posts: 844	nail clipping My vet said that Duchess should have her nails clipped about every week. She doesn't walk on concrete or abrasive material enough to wear her nails down. I find the vets charges are too high to keep that up so I have tried to clip them on my own. My dog puts up a real fuss to be groomed and especially to have her feet touched. I got a muzzle on her and just clipped her front paws slightly and gave her a treat after. I will clipped her back feet tomorrow and do this routine until she gets used to having me work on her, clipping, combing and cleaning. I want to take a poll of how often you have your corgi's nails clipped? Jane

01-10-2006, 07:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	The word is improvisation. You may need to improvise to alter manufactured sled dog booties to fit Corgi's legs or when you see what they look like, have a set made specifically for your Corgi - perhaps in that way you can also get by with just the one or two at the most instead of a four-legged set. In the meantime don't worry about what he's use to -stick to soft terrain. Corgis are adaptable and actually love changes - including environmental and diet. Sad to hear of Dylan's hip displaysia. I hope you can keep getting around any problems this presents. Last edited by Michael Romanos; 01-15-2006 at 08:11 PM.

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12-29-2005, 07:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cardiguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 250	I haven't had my Cardigan's nails clipped in over a yr since I walk her on the sidewalk and on the street. Before that I used to go in every 3 months even if she didn't need it and finally the vet said if she walks on asphalt/cement that will keep her nails trimmed. I haven't brought her in since.

12-29-2005, 07:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	I last used dog nail clippers some 30 years ago. My conformation champion Corgis at the time had to have their nails just so for a show but I would not have had to use the clippers weekly or fortnightly. It was a tough assignment for awhile until the Corgis and I had reached an understanding - one that benefitted both sides. But I wouldn't want a vet to do any nail clipping of my Corgi for two reasons - a vet is not your dog's best friend and vets charge heaps. If you take your Corgi for regular walks that includes sealed roading or footpaths, then that should be sufficient in keeping your Corgi's nails short and unpointed. Some vets are very fond of building mounds of money and to have a vet clip your Corgi's nails weekly - by a quarter of a centimetre - is a means for the vet retiring young and living the remainder of his/her life down in easy street. I never have to clip Taylor's nails and he needs them short for agility - but I do have to trim the hair between and around his pads so that he can run and walk with confidence that he won't skid, and so that he can use his feet properly. Of course, all Corgis should be trimmed in this way.

12-29-2005, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jane Austen Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: .Massachusetts Posts: 844	Trimming the long hair between the toes is one thing I did not know about. I will walk Duchess more on concrete and show her off in town. That will take care of wearing her nails down, between trips to the beach to run off leash. This feedback has been very beneficial.

12-30-2005, 02:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	This conversation compelled me to look at Taylor's feet - and all his nails couldn't be any shorter or with straighter lines at the tips. A la nature in the concrete jungle. It's not really trimming between toes that solves any problems - though a straight line of hair between toes(nails) is an intricate aspect to grooming a Corgi for championship show status. What's important is keeping the hair between the pads and around the edges of the pads, just below the level of the pads. This allows the Corgi to use his pads like feet that grip rather than have, as it were, slippery soles - as in hair. Further, dogs sweat through the pads of their feet so you wouldn't want to have dollips of hair that eventually could cover all or most of his/her pads.

12-30-2005, 06:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	Just a further reflection on Jane and the vet and nail clipping : If I was Jane, I'd go and find another vet - one who wouldn't have the cheek to suggest that she books a weekly visit to have her Corgi's nails clipped professionally. This business did make me very cross and kind of amused at the same time. If it was me, I'd lay a complaint to the veterinary association (or maybe a consumer institute) on the grounds that the vet was providing incorrect,misleading,unsound and unfounded advice and whose conduct was unprofessional.

12-30-2005, 07:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jane Austen Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: .Massachusetts Posts: 844	Cool down Mike! I may have gotten that a little out of context. The vet did say the nails may have to be clipped once a week but I never bit on that. I had them done once and the vet made one bleed. Now I am trying for wearing them down on hard surfaces. We walked three miles today on tar. (tarmack to you) So far I like the vet although they are all expensive the breeder uses this one. She is good with the dog too she seems to love animals. Please know I keep a keen eye out for my dog's health and would not do anything to jeapodize her interest. I appreciate knowing that I don't have to clip ever again.

01-09-2006, 03:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
hugs91882 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 12	On the clipping of nails... Dylan has always dragged his front left paw when walking. Therefore that paw has irregular nails, and I can not walk him far as the nail will wear away and bleed. This makes for an interesting short walk around the block which is all he can muster without hurting himself. And bless the dear he never complains. Okay, here's the question, the back nails are getting long, is there a shoe, or bootie or paw covering that I can put on Dylan's front paws to protect them for those much needed long walks?

01-09-2006, 09:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	There are two things you can do for Dylan and his foot problem (sounds like the foot or bone structure must be a little deformed). Walk and run him on soft terrain as often as possible. (Corgis need at least 40 minutes a day of fast walking). By this I mean grassy areas like parks, and hiking areas. Sled dogs who train and/or compete on dryland (as opposed to snow) usually have their feet covered with "booties" to prevent damage to their feet while they run or race for anything up to 100 miles or so. Therefore, you should contact a dog sled club or a Malamute/Siberian Husky club and they will surely be able to give you details of these training/racing "booties." If no such clubs exist in your area, contact (through the internet) the American Kennel Club. By the way, my eldest son is named Dylan. He's 18 and when he was born, Dylan was almost an unheard of name in NZ. Nowadays the name here is very popular for boys(humans).

01-10-2006, 09:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
hugs91882 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 12	Thanks Michael, I will scoop out some clubs on line. The only problem I happened to think about was the fact that his paws are really big and with their little legs, I really wonder if the strap will hold around the leg part. He's also a "gutter" dog, loves to walk in the gutter and picks up everything! When he was just a wee one, we realized he did have hip dysplamia and from that moments on he was very spoiled and coddled. We always did everything for him. Now a days, why should he do anything when he knows we will do it for him! Yes, he has us trained very well.

01-17-2006, 02:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
hugs91882 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 12	Hi, just wanted to let you know that my husband thinks I rocks in my head, but I sat and trimmed the 8 feet of excess hair. Both Dylan and Newt were really good about it until that last paw. Okay, I was taking my time and they were tired of laying on their back, but it is done. Maybe not as short as they should be, but better. As far as the booties for Dylan, we are checking into all sorts of styles, and colors, can you believe it? You can get matching colors for the kennel! I think that is a hoot!

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01-17-2006, 04:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	HI Keep those hairs around your Corgis pads well trimmed. It's one of my Taylor's pet peeves but I'm careful not to "dig in" with the scissors. Anyway it's only a monthly task. You must have visited a pet accessories store to find such a large range of booties. We stock very little clothing for dogs in our pet stores in NZ and I've never seen dog booties for sale. I did a story for both a magazine and my book "Amazing Dog Stories" - which will be published in March, 2006 - on a Dalmation who among several credits, was a champion sled dog and one of the photos for the story was one of her - all black spots on a white coat - pulling a (single dog) sled complete with bright orange booties. That's where I got to learn about protective foot cover for sled dogs when training and competing on dryland. The colour co-ordination thing sounds a bit like buying toilet paper to match the decor in the bathroom.

01-18-2006, 10:12 AM	#14 (permalink)
hugs91882 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 12	Oh Michael, what a comparison.... Anyway, thanks to the internet I just searched for dog booties and came up with an array of products. Then I searched at good old Ebay! And they listed several of the same products. We just might have to have 2 booties special order has Dylan has large round paws. After reading the page about Corgi's on the AKC site, Dylan is not a very good show dog even though his mom and dad were big champions. Newt on the other hand would have made a great show dog. My intentions when buying them were to bred them, but at an early age we learned Dylan had the hip dysplasia, just about broke my heart as his markings are just beautiful. But I wasn't about to pass a bad gene on to his kids. And the hair trimming on his feet is working well, he no longer struggles to get up from a laying down position. See, I thought it had to do with his hip. It just makes sense to keep the hair trimmed. Thanks for that tip.

01-18-2006, 03:38 PM	#15 (permalink)
Michael Romanos Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Silverstream (near Wellington, the capital of NZ) Posts: 5,188	Hi I hope you contacted Dylan's breeder/s. If they have show champions then you would think that they would have taken all steps to ensure hip dysplasia would not be a problem for any offspring. It's a genetic thing and you're wise not to pursue with using Dylan for stud duties. Not that it would help poor Dylan, but the breeder should offer you a refund of at least some of what you paid out in obtaining a pup from show champs. That at least would help to offset your vet bills etc. It's amazing what a tiny action - such as hair clipping from around Dylan's pads - can do to assist him to be more mobilised. Imagine what these booties will achieve. He'll be a new, invigorated Corgi. Let me know how it pans out.