The Best Way To Trim A Dog's Toenails Is Not To Need To! How Not to Trim a Dog's Nails

I have had dogs all my life, and I have never trimmed a dog's toenails!  Not once!  The reason is that my dog's toenails don't need trimming  - ever!  I keep my dogs healthy and active, and they wear down their toenails naturally.  There are a lot of benefits to this method, not the least of which is never having to struggle to trim a dog's toenails!

I hope my suggestions for natural dog toenail maintenance are helpful to you and your dog! 

...and your thighs!

I take my two big dogs out for a two-mile bike ride every day if it is not too cold and/or windy.  It is great exercise for them and for me, and it gives us a nice break to look forward to every day.   

I have almost never met a dog who didn't love a frisbee! Running, jumping and catching is great physical and mental exercise for your dog. Throwing a frisbee is good exercise for you! If you choose an illuminated or glow-in-the-dark frisbee, you can even take frisbee breaks at night! Of course, be sure that you and your dog are always safe!

Taking 15 minutes to throw a frisbee for your dog will give you and your dog a nice break, a time to bond, and an opportunity to spend some time out in the open and the fresh air.

And of course, it is a greatactive way to trim your dog's toenails!

And great, active toenail trimming, too!

Dogs love bouncy balls and toys for catching, fetching, chasing and chewing.  A good quality dog ball will give your dog and you nice variety from frisbees.  Playing with a ball is a little bit different than a frisbee and takes a different set of skills for both you and your dog.  You can play a lot of bouncing, catching, and tag games with a ball. 

Bouncing a ball is good exercise for hands that have been busy typing or doing other fine motor type work all day.  Throwing is excellent exercise.  Just watching the ball fly is a nice break for your eyes if you spend a lot of time on close work or even just watching television at the same distance continuously.

Your dog will wear down his toenails nicely if you take the time for a bouncy ball break several times a week! 

Walking is wonderful moderate exercise for you and your dog! By taking a brisk walk for 15 minutes every day, you and your dog will get valuable exercise that will stimulate your lymphatic system and boost your immune system. It will help you and your dog burn off excess fat and energy. It will give you a nice break from the indoors and give you and your dog a chance to spend some quality time together! On days when it is too cold or windy to take my dogs for a bike ride, I take them for a ride in the car to a heavily populated area like the downtown square.  It is usually warmer and less windy around lots of buildings.  We take a nice walk, and they have the opportunity to practice their manners around lots of people. 

And, of course, it does a great job of trimming their toenails!

When you spend active, quality time with your dog every day, everybody wins.  You and your dog will be happier and healthier.  You will have more control over your dog because you will have a closer relationship and better communication.  Your dog will be more socialized and well behaved around others just because he has spent some time learning how to behave on walks, bike rides, in dog parks, and so on. 

And of course, everyone will be happier because you will never actually have to trim a toenail! 

A bored dog is an unhappy dog. At the very least, he will gain weight and develop unpleasant habits like constant attention seeking and overeating. At worst, he will become destructive, tearing up your belongings and your home. Your relationship with your dog will suffer if you don't take the time to play with him, bond with him, and exercise him. If he is always chained, he will be highly likely to become aggressive out of sheer fear and helplessness, and then you will have an unsocialized, dangerous dog on your hands.

So, if you have a dog, please take the time to be active with him! You and your dog will benefit in healthy, happy minds and bodies...and toenails!

(At least for the dog! ;)

Copyright:SuzanneBennett;December 13, 2008