Euro Puppy's Blog

Many dog owners ask whether or not they should cut their dog's toenails (or paw nails). It's true that cutting the nails of dogs is very common though it requires a little bit of judgment as to how much to cut as it is very easy to cut a bit too deep and cause a lot of pain to your dog.

In my experience, dogs that get a lot of exercise on rough surfaces like a terrace or a road will not have claws that need trimming at all. This is because the nails naturally trim down due to rough usage. It makes sense if you think about it - after all, who cuts their nails in the wild? (You may ask the same thing about brushing their teeth as well, but that's slightly different).

However, if you feel that your dog's nails do need cutting, you can achieve this with a pair of clippers that you use for gardening. Also, you might want to trim your puppy's nails from the beginning otherwise they will be not too pleased to have it done to them later on, and keeping them still while you perform this delicate operation isn't easy.

How often do we stop to admire the unique qualities of our dogs? On the one hand, they are completely loyal to us and on the other, they put up with all our faults.

In the modern day world, the qualities of our dogs are to be greatly admired, and perhaps we can learn something from them too. Aren't you amazed at how easily they can relax and not worry about their problems? Even street dogs don't think about their next meal if they're full and you can see them relaxing on the pavement though their food supply is far from being set.

Let's look at what a dog owner has to say about our dogs.....

We all know that dogs have been with Mankind since time immemorial. However, did you know that far from being passive watchers of humans, they have instead sometimes helped shape human history itself?

Image Credit: Svadilfari

For example, they have served with distinction in several famous wars, as well as saved the lives of countless individuals under different circumstances. King Buck - a Labrador Retriever was the first dog to ever feature on a US postal stamp and Robot, another member of the Canine family discovered the cave paintings at Lascaux.

However, there is one documented case of a dog causing the extinction of a famous family. The last surviving member of the Bonaparte family Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte was killed when he tripped over his dog's leash! This was as late as 1945. A noble family that once dominated Europe and had survived for around 200 years came to an end (albeit accidentally) because of a dog. Perhaps the dog shouldn't have been on a leash :)

Dogs, just like us can feel pain. Sometimes it's obvious when they give a little yelp if the pain is sudden. However, when the pain is gradual and constant, like joint pain, or breathing trouble, the poor creatures never express it in any way that immediately alerts the owner.

Image Credit: reverbca

Nonetheless, owners should need to discern certain signs by means of which they can realize that a dog is in pain and take it from there. Dogs will keep the pain to themselves, and only by subtle changes in behavior will you know that they need care.

For example, a hesitancy to jump over a wall or onto furniture where previously they would have bounded up, or a slight slowness in circling or sitting down. Or even restlessness and heavy breathing - all of these can indicate that your dog is in pain and that it's time to pay some attention to what could be wrong.

One has to be sensitive to such changes, as your dog is not aware that you can help them and will not try and show it to you. By early detection, you can ensure that your dog is saved from suffering in silence.