Posted by Suzanne McMinn | Permalink
Double rear dew claws are common in Great Pyrenees. With most breeds of dogs, if they have dew claws, they are on the front, so Great Pyrs are a little weird that way. (A dew claw is sorta like a dog thumb, only higher on the paw so it doesn’t touch the ground.) If you’re worried about the dew claw catching on something–if the dew claw seems particularly loose–you can have it removed by a vet. It is, however, fairly major surgery, like having a thumb amputated. It’s always an individual decision, but if you leave your dog’s dew claws, it’s important to keep them trimmed.
And so, goat farmer friends Pete and Missy came out to show me how. First, they plopped the Giant Puppy on her back like she was a gnat. They are tough goat farmers.
My problem is I don’t know where to cut.
Luckily, Great Pyrs have light-colored claws, which are easier to cut than dark ones.
You can see the blood vessels and nerves that show you the difference between the quick and the nail more readily. Cut just below the quick. If you cut too far, into the quick, a dog will let you know!
Of course, Pete didn’t do that. Lucky for Coco I was just observing.
I’m sure Pete won’t mind coming back in a few months to do it again.
And a few months after that.
Okay, okay, I’m going to do it myself next time. Swear!
So then Coco, who didn’t protest a bit because she thought she was there to get her belly rubbed, finally got her wish….
….and got her belly rubbed for being such a good, brave Giant Pup while her nails were clipped.
And rubbed some more. Cuz she’s got a hard life and all.
Honey: “I think she’d like some vinegar!”
Click 
