The Vizsla requires the same grooming any other breed dog would, except when it comes to his nails. Vizslas are rambunctious dogs who do not particularly care for their nails to be cut but whose nails grow incredibly fast and incredibly long. There is a period of time where cutting his nails will be especially difficult, but there are tips on how to handle this time and safely trim the Vizsla claws. They have to be trimmed regularly so as to prevent an accidental injury to himself and those in the household.
The Vizsla nails should be cut when they can be heard tapping the floor as he walks. Painful hangnails and even arthritis can result from poorly taken care of nails. So, Vizsla owners should always trim the nails as often as possible to prevent splitting of the nail or it getting damaged by becoming hooked onto something.
The best way to clip the Vizsla' nails is to first tell him to "stay" then take one of his paws into your hand. Position him so that he cannot pull away from you by placing his paw in between you knees to still it. Make sure to encourage him in a quiet voice as you are doing this. Find the quick of the nail and shave slowly and carefully down to it.
Let your Vizsla familiarize himself with the clippers. Do not necessarily let him play with hem but let him see and investigate them. Try to cut before meals at the end of the day. That way your dog is tired and will not fight you. If the clippers nick the Vizsla, apply flour to the cut. Cut the nails after you have bathed the Vizsla because then they will be soft and easier to clip.
Begin clipping your Vizsla's nails when he is a puppy. Handle the feet as often as possible so that they are used to you touching them. A Vizsla's natural nail color is on the spectrum from white to brown. For the dark nails it is important to use a flashlight to steer clear of clipping the blood vessels by mistake. Make sure to not cut higher than the quick. When your Vizsla puppy or dog complies and cooperated during a nail trimming, reward him with praise and treats.
An option available to make the Vizsla nail cutting session easier is the grinder. It does not sharpen the nail the way a clipper might and you have such tight control over what you are doing, so as not to injure the Vizsla or yourself. The only drawback of Grinders is that they tend to be nosy and they take longer to shave the nail to a decent length.
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