Trimming the nails of a Russell Terrier at least once a month, is highly recommended. If they are too long, it will make him uncomfortable when he walks, and if you have hardwood floors, you won’t appreciate the scratch marks untrimmed nails will make. If you hear a tapping sound when your Russell walks on your wood or tile floors, that means his nails need a trim. Generally, a dog’s nails need to be cut every three to four weeks. However, if your Russell walks on hard surfaces like sidewalks and concrete, he may not need his nails cut as frequently.
As with all grooming, you should get your Russell used to having his nails trimmed from puppyhood; otherwise he will be resistant. Be very gentle with him and make it a pleasant experience. Remember to trim only a little of his nail at a time so you won’t hurt him. That way he will not fear having a pedicure in the future.
To clip your Russell’s nails you’ll need:
- A nail clipper, which you can purchase in a pet store or in a pet catalog. They come in two types: the pliers and guillotine styles. Both get the job done, so choose the one you are most comfortable using, and select a small size. Do not use a human nail clipper on your dog.
- Kwick stop or other styptic powder or gel—just in case you cut the nail back too short, this will stop the bleeding immediately. Both are available at your pet store.
Begin trimming your Russell’s nail a little bit at a time. After each cut look at the inside of the nail. If you see a pinkish color, stop. You are close to the quick, the blood vessel inside the nail. If your Russell has light-colored nails, it’s fairly easy to see the quick, which looks like a pink line that runs up the nail almost to the end. On dark-colored nails, you need to look on the inside of the nail as you cut to see the quick. If you do cut the quick, immediately dip the nail into the styptic powder or gel and the bleeding will stop.
