Keeping your dog's nails trimmed is a very important grooming task, but unfortunately, it is also one that many dog owners struggle with. I also struggled with this when my Doberman female 'Zana' wouldn't tolerate nail clippers and my experience eventually resulted in the invention of the unique and FIRST of its kind in the World 'DiggerDog Nail File'. As they say 'Necessity is the mother of invention' and my own dog nail clipping struggle has resulted in a new product being introduced to the Dog Grooming market. No doubt, millions of dogs and their owners will benefit from this invention in the future.

So, let's have a look at why it is so important to keep your dog's nails trimmed.

The Whole Dog Journal article The Importance of Trimming Dog Nails - Whole Dog Journal (whole-dog-journal.com) by Denise Flaim explains why it is important to keep your dog's nails trimmed:

'Long, unkempt nails not only look unattractive, but over time they can do serious damage to your dog (not to mention your floors). When nails are so long that they constantly touch the ground, they exert force back into the nail bed, creating pain for the dog (imagine wearing a too-tight shoe) and pressure on the toe joint. Long term, this can actually realign the joints of the foreleg and make the foot looked flattened and splayed.

Again, this isn’t just an aesthetic problem, it’s a functional one: Compromising your dog’s weight distribution and natural alignment can leave her more susceptible to injuries and make walking and running difficult and painful. This is especially important in older dogs, whose posture can be dramatically improved by cutting back neglected nails.'

Donna Hill, a professional dog trainer from Canada Service Dog Training Institute | Online Dog Training explains that 'most dogs do better with the back feet because they can't see what's going on' in her video Is Your Dog Scared of Having His Toes #Nails Cut? #Clipped? #Dremelled? #desensitization - YouTube (at 3 minutes 32 seconds). In this video, Donna shows how to distract the dog with a "leave it" command, while clipping the back nails. 

The Digger Dog Nail File is designed for the more problematic front paw nails (as a general rule, these tend to grow faster and get less worn down during the dog's movement). However, once your dog has learned to use the Digger Dog Nail File, it can also be incorporated into trimming your dog's back nails, if they require trimming. Simply put a yummy treat into the file's food compartment, leave it open and tell your dog to "leave it" (or use any other command your dog is familiar with, to stop him or her taking food). Then, while your dog is focused on the food in the file, slowly clip the nails on the back paws. If your dog is not used to this, start slowly, clipping just a tiny amount off one nail, then gradually working up to doing two, three and so on.

Donna also gives the following tip:

'Your job will be easier if you try clipping after your dog has been exercised. She/he will be tired and have a higher pain threshold due to endorphins released during exercise'.

We are proud that the Digger Dog Nail File is recommended by several Professional Dog Trainers, including Chiara Perri, Senior Behavioral Trainer, mindDog Trainer and Assessor and Owner of Point Cook Dog Training and Day Care Point Cook Dog Training & Day Care) and Veterinarians including Dr Kate Lindsey, a Veterinary Behaviorist and founder of 'Kalmpets' in Perth, Western Australia www.kalmpets.com.au .