Cody & Duchess Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 My border collies have longish hair around their paws. Is this needed to protect their paws or can it be trimmed? It brings a lot of debris into the house. Thanks for your insight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patty Abel Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Some owners prefer it trimmed, others don't bother. It's good to be able to play with their feet whether you trim the hair or not, that way they are used to being handled. My dog Bob loves(?) to have his feet trimmed. Bert, you'd think he was being tortured just to trim the nails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizmo Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Like Patty said, it's personal choice With my rough coat, I trim her paw fur. But with my smooth coat, I don't trim any fur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoloRiver Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I trim the two rough coated dogs and it makes a huge difference. Fly has very little hair on her feet so I don't bother. Considering how muddy it is for much of the year around here, I could see the argument for having nothing but smooths. I find that I need to trim Solo's and Jett's feet at least once every week and a half or so for the hair to stay short. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Some owners prefer it trimmed, others don't bother. It's good to be able to play with their feet whether you trim the hair or not, that way they are used to being handled. My dog Bob loves(?) to have his feet trimmed. Bert, you'd think he was being tortured just to trim the nails! Sounds like my Kirra sees things the same way as your Bert, Patty. Fortunately, puppy Rory is like your Bob - doesn't mind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patty Abel Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Sounds like my Kirra sees things the same way as your Bert, Patty. Fortunately, puppy Rory is like your Bob - doesn't mind it. I learned to hold Bert on his butt, like you shear a sheep, to do the nails...he's much more calm when he can't flex against the floor/table/ or what ever.... with Bob, who is quite the sissy boy, we call it "playing beauty shop". They hate snow in their paws, and the trimming helps prevent the snow from packing in between their toes. Living in the country is TOTALLY lost on these two!!! Donald and the others are usually covered in mud, rolling in sheep poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Oh, that's a good idea - but I'm not sure I could hold Kirra even like that - she's incredibly flexible, and although she's not a big dog, she's also very strong. I always feel I need 3 hands - or 2 people. She eventually settles down and accepts it. by about the third or fourth foot. Yes, Rory is definitely like Bob - quite enjoys being groomed, and being told we're making him beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maya's mom Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 We trim the bottoms of Maya's paws, and in between her toes. It does help cut down on the ice/snow balls this time of year. She used to not like it, but every time, she gets better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Desert dogs need to have their feet checked after walks to see if they have picked up any cactus needles, burrs or anything else. Trimmed feet, pads and paws help when I check their feet. Do any of you have a problem working or holding your dogs feet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo Peep Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Bliss is the only dog I've had with long "toe fur". It looks so un-lady like. Do you use scissors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Bliss is the only dog I've had with long "toe fur". It looks so un-lady like. Do you use scissors? unlady-like I should tell hairy-foot Kirra that. I just lashed out and bought a nice pair of proper scissors with blades that curve out, so you can't accidentally nick their pads. Used them for the first time the other day - much easier to trim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo Peep Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Thanks- LOL. un-lady like is true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Bliss is the only dog I've had with long "toe fur". It looks so un-lady like. Do you use scissors? I use both scissors and an electric mousetache trimmer. That allows me to keep ears and feet trimmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLloydJones Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Desert dogs need to have their feet checked after walks to see if they have picked up any cactus needles, burrs or anything else. Yes, that's a regular routine here. I usually spot the change in gait and stop to get it out on the spot, but once poor Senneca went all day with a nasty long cactus spine deep into a pad; I just didn't see it because it blended into her fur. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertranger Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Cholla cactus are the worst because the needles have barbs that swell up from the moisture in their bodies pulling the spines in deeper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnLloydJones Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 Cholla cactus are the worst because the needles have barbs that swell up from the moisture in their bodies pulling the spines in deeper. I keep a respectful distance from those, thank you. I don't know what type of spine this is, but it was buried in Senneca's pad up to the kink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc friend Posted February 24, 2009 Report Share Posted February 24, 2009 I trim between pads and long fur around feet so Sara and Katie don't slip on the tile floor. Makes a big difference for an old dog unsteady on their feet on tile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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