Grooming professionals don’t just focus on fancy fur-dos. Complete your dog’s look with colorful nails! Here’s how to safely paint your dog’s nails at home.
Trimming your dog’s nails is a simple task and a basic element of grooming. If you don’t keep your dog’s nails trimmed short, they may become overgrown and it could affect his ability to walk normally – the risk for a painful breakage also increases the longer the nails get.
In addition to keeping your dog’s nails trimmed, you may wonder if there is a way to make them a little prettier. You’ll be glad to know that dog nail polish does exist! Keep reading to learn how to paint your dog’s nails.
Step-by-Step Guide for Painting a Dog’s Nails
Whether you’re dressing your dog up for a birthday party or you simply want her to look her best, painting your dog’s nails is a fun and harmless thing to do. You must, however, make sure that you do it in a safe way – here’s how to do it:
- Start by setting up space – you should do it in a room where your dog feels comfortable.
- Lay down a towel or an old blanket that you don’t mind getting nail polish on.
- Take a moment to think about what colors you are going to use and in what pattern.
- Next, make sure your dog’s nails are clean and give them a good trim – you may also need to trim the fur around the nails so it doesn’t get stuck in the polish.
- Apply the polish carefully, gently holding your dog’s paw as you do – offer your dog a treat every few minutes to encourage good behavior.
- Once you’ve painted all the nails, keep your dog still for a few minutes so the polish can dry.
When planning your dog’s pedicure, think practically before you start painting. If your dog has very dark nails, know that you might have to use a white base coat so the polish will show up well.
Alternatively, if you want to do an intricate pattern, try using nail polish pens or a paintbrush to paint the design. If you’ve never painted your dog’s nails before, start with a simple design that is easy to execute and quick to dry.
Precautions to Take
Before you even think about painting your dog’s nails, you need to know that he’ll be able to sit still for a few minutes – long enough for the nail polish to dry. Hopefully, by now, your dog is used to having his feet handled. Even so, the smell of nail polish can make some dogs nervous. You can make the experience better for both of you by talking in a calm, soothing voice to your dog throughout the process and give him some tasty treats for sitting still as well.
In addition to ensuring your dog is used to having his feet handled, you need to purchase the right products. The last thing you want to do is use a toxic product that your dog might accidentally ingest if he licks his feet. It is best to use a nail polish specifically designed for dogs so you don’t have to worry about toxicity – you can buy these products online and in some pet stores.
If you want your dog to look her best, painted nails are a fun and easy thing to do. Just make sure you use safe, non-toxic products and encourage your dog to sit still with plenty of treats and praise.
Source: petguide
