I'm sure this was discussed before, but any one know of any way of protecting ot toughening dogs nails. I took some dogs out training last night, and decided to try a dog we are fostering just now, running in a bigger team. He did great and worked fantasticaly, Only thing is his nails started bleeding after about 2 miles. He didn't seem bothered by it and wanted to keep running, so got back and gave his paws a clean up, and just about every nail on his front paws were worn to the quick and two on each of his back paws. The bleeding stopped quickly though and he doesn't seem to be in any pain.
He's never been worked or in harness before, so I think that may have something to do with his nails being so soft.
He's a bit temperamental about getting near his paws to boot him, anyone else had to overcome this?

I've ocasionally had a dog wear a nail down to the quick on their first run of a new season if they've been off for the summer, never seemed to really bother them and the quick seemed to receed to a safe distance within a few days, only happened on the first run and didnt seem to happen after that.

If he's never been worked before, I'd be a little cautious about introducing him to it by putting him in amongst a larger team and running him when his feet would seem to be a little soft.

The quicks will recede, but just because he's showing no signs of discomfort, doesn't mean they're not tender - remember how stoical these dogs are. I'd be inclined to cut his distance at the moment - it is only August and he's not been out. Shorter distances on a frequent basis would be the route I would go down.

The bootie/feet issue - that's simply a time and training thing - the more you do it, then he will come to accept it's something that he has to put up with. It's fun teaching them this - watching a  dog trying to keep all 4 paws off the ground at the same time.

Thanks guys,
Sorry Peter meant to say, before he came to us.   I started off with him jogging and went on to a scooter, then 2 dogs, just to get him used to it. We had been running around 2 miles on softer ground though. He seems to really enjoy it and thought he was ready for running with the "young team"  I think it was just the drier hard packed stuff we were running on, as the rest of them were fine. His pads seemed to have hardened up ok, just his nails seemed to be soft. 

Did the boot training thing with some of my older dogs.  yes it was fun at first. Although as soon as they start running, they seem to forget about them

glad you wrote that,  for a minute there i thought you had just put him straight in harness for the first time and asked him to run more than 2 miles!!     



our Norris had some bother with his quicks last season.  early on he wore them down at aberfoyle on their *new* and *improved* trail, then later, at the end of the seaon he wore them down at quithell.  he seems to do it when he is in wheel and i'm sure it has to do with his weight as well and the amount of effort he puts in.   

we were advised to cut tiny pieces of leather and glue them to the ends of his nails as a way of protecting them.  we have yet to try this but may give it a go as we struggle to get boots that fit him properly. 


when he wears them down we dont run him for a few days, or i will maybe take him for a short run on the scooter instead as he is much more calm about it on his own.  we tend to boot him for a good few runs after he has 'recovered' as well give the nail more opportunity to grow a bit.   

God forbid that anyone would dream of asking a sled dog to run more than 2 miles!!! 

I've only had this happen once, at Aviemore many years ago. I spoke to some more experienced folk at the time and their opinion was that it tends to happen to hard working wheelers - that was certainly the case with my boy.

I did try to boot him the next day, but he just kicked all four off and carried on as normal. After that he never had a problem again. In an odd way it did him good because the quicks pulled back and when his nails regrew he had much more distance to wear out that probably made his feet much better in the future.

I dont think she has a problem with sled dogs running more than 2 miles just for the first time which wasnt the case...so everyone is happy 

Very interesting topic. Everyone seems to have their own tips and ways of sorting these problems out

I know its been a while since this was last posted on but i have a wee suggestion...

you could try to inprove the overall condition of the nails with a zinc suppliment.  This should help improve the strength of the nails and since huskies can suffer from zinc defficiancy anyway it really woudn't hurt to give it a go.  It may not stop the wearing but it could at least improve it.

How do you know if they are taking in too much zinc though? Not going against your suggestion just wondering 

I've never herd of Huskies suffering from too much zinc however if zinc is given irresposibly a dare say it could cause big problems. 

I would say just to go with the vets reccomended dosage just like you would take any vitamin suppliment.

Where we train there are basically two types of trail - packed dirt that becomes soft and muddy after rain, and the harder forest "roads" that you can drive a normal vehicle on. Whenever we have had a problem with nails being worn it has always been when we have used the hard trails more than normal. I personally try to avoid the harder trails wherever possible, some sections are OK and quite smooth but the stonier sections are a no-go area, unless in an emergency.

Useful advice thankyou 
Have 3 dogs here with nails like iron, which need trimming despite working them on various surfaces and also dogs who wear them very short, though yet to have one go into the quick (which does seem well receded in the short clawed guys)
Is it advisable to rest a dog who wears to the quick for any time, or is booting the foot acceptable?

I would say a worn nail looks worse than it feels for the dog - although it may bleed the dog doesn't really seem aware of it, unless it's worn right down, so booting for a few runs should enable the dog to keep working but prevent the nail from further wearing.