[Dailydrool] Nails and "lady" dogs

[Pamela McQuade]

I speak from experience on dog nails. I don't cut them because Jane had 
me trained. She would never let me do nails. Even for the groomer or 
vet, she did drama, but for me, it would have been even worse.
Recently we had an accident, and Horton's dewclaw got nearly removed. He 
was in such pain that I took him to the ER and spent a lot of money just 
to make him comfortable. But I don't feel it was wasted money, since I 
could never have borne him worrying at the painful claw until my vet was 
in her office. I can't imagine removing claws for anything other than a 
real emergency--that would be really painful! And claws do provide paws 
with a certain amount of protection, so I think leaving them there is 
best. Just find a good groomer, and you will never be sorry.
 
I'm late on the lady dogs subject. We have had three females, and only 
Alexis could have been called a lady--though Drew named her the Fairy 
Princess, which was even more appropriate because she was such a 
sweetheart. She was one real lady. Jane, our first hound, ruled the 
roost gently but with a paw of iron for many years. It took me a long 
time to train her, but once she had the rules down, she became merciless 
with any other dog, foster or adopted, who came into the house. She made 
them follow all the rules--even those she broke. When Holly came to us, 
she knocked Jane from her spot and took over with much less skill at 
ruling. She is a bossy, bossy old lady. Since she came from a home with 
two dachshunds, I theorize that the dachsies ruled, and she decided 
that, wherever she landed, she was going to be in charge. She has been, 
but it is the rule of a crabby little old lady (think, perhaps, an aged 
Queen Elizabeth I). Holly's pretty much fine with humans, as long as 
they don't get fingers holding food near her mouth, but the dogs and cat 
must bow to her every whim.
 
I am a firm believer in basset boys. My boys have been sweet and 
wonderful, except for Abner, who became cranky after he had back surgery 
and was in pain. But once we discovered this and removed the pain, he 
was his supersweet self again. My boys have been wonderful: Belvedere, 
Dexter and Horton have been universally sweet. When I adopt, I look for 
boys, but Drew loves the females. I think he'll always be looking for 
another Jane, who was his one true love (when we're talking bassets). I 
expect that our next basset, should we adopt again, will be a girl of 
his choosing.
Pam, food slave to the Dashing Bassets