#420 – Dogs Need Pedis, Too!

I see nail trimmers, but where’s my treat?

If you decide to get a four-legged personal trainer, aka a dog, you’ll need to regularly give your dog a pedicure.

Keep in mind that you may be willing to trim your dog’s nails, but your hands may not. Some dog’s nails are very hard, so you may be unable to do it yourself. If you can’t find someone to help you out, you will have to take your dog to the vet or the groomer for a pedicure. This is an extra cost, which may be a factor in your decision to get a furry friend.

Another option is to use a Dremel tool to file down your dog’s nails. However, not all dogs take kindly to the sound and sensation. The Dremel rotates at between 3,000 and 37,000 RPMs. (The things you learn from the internet!)

#407 – Easier on the joints dog activities…

…for humans.

There are times when I’ve hurt myself, or my joint aren’t cooperating, and I’m too tired/sore to bring Holly here.  So,we may occasionally miss a dog walk. In order to keep Holly, or any of the previous fellows amused, we take part in some low-energy/movement activities (for me, not for Holly) such as:

• Go Sniff – hide biscuits around for Holly to find.
• Take off my socks.
• Haaaa! – she grabs her toy and races around the house.
• Fetch Ball! – in or outside the house.

We’re both lucky to have one of these Ball Launchers, courtesy of Maarten Meerman.

#389 – Therapy Dog?

When we first adopted Holly, I called Pacific Assistance Dogs to see if there was some sort of training we could both undertake to guide Holly into the role of a therapy dog. They explained that it was not their mandate to do so, which is understandable.

However, that didn’t preclude my working with Holly to teach her to do some of the things I might require assistance with; like fetching the phone and taking off my socks. She even knows how to put them into the laundry basket! I only wish I could teach her to take those wet, cumbersome items out of the washer!

It seems today has gone to the dogs. Please check out Mirthful Monday – Three dogs go into a bar … over at Auntie Stress Café.

Please help A Rheumful of Tips get to Page 1 of Healthline.com’s Best Health Blog of 2012 contest. It’s a lot to ask, so I  appreciate your voting as frequently as you do. The contest ends on Feb. 15th. 

#353 – Leashed

Long ago, I learned that arthritic hands and retractable leashes are a bad combination.

I’ve found the perfect way (for me) to hold on to the dog’s leash.

When I loop it over itself around my wrist, I use a stronger part of my body to secure the dog to me and me to the dog. I’m then free to loosely hold the leash in either hand to do corrections.