Biting Nails

Let's talk about nail biting. First, see your vet, because chronic nail-biting in dogs is often linked to anxiety, allergies, or pain in the nail bed. Step one: get the nails professionally trimmed short, including the dewclaws, so there is less for the dog to grab.

Step two: rule out a food allergy with a vet-guided elimination trial. Step three: increase structured exercise. A tired dog does not click nails at eleven p.m.

Step four: provide a long-lasting chew so the dog has a legal outlet for the jaw stress. Step five: train the dog for your family and your neighbors, not just yourself. That means the dog does not chew himself bloody in the crate while you are at work, and the dog-sitter is not afraid to handle the paws.

Now, the deeper fix: the dog is not being naughty, the dog is anxious or allergic. Treat the cause, and the nail-biting goes with it. Now here's Steve's notes.