REARVIEW LIVING

Dogs are kind of like men… simple. If it’s not in front of us, we’re probably not thinking about it (despite what women humans think). We’re a lot like three year olds, if we want it, we go after it; if not, we tend to ignore it.

This brings me to the point of rearview mirrors. Human women tend to use the rearview mirror to see what’s gaining on them whereas human men look at it as a way to confirm they’ve passed something. For a man, it’s gone. Out of sight, out of mind. Simple. - Like a dog. For a woman, if she can still see it in her rearview mirror, it’s still present in the mirror and in her mind.

So, here’s my lesson of the day… If you’re driving a car, a rearview mirror is a good tool. If you’re using the same method to drive your life, it’s probably (according to my foster mom) one of the best times to be man-like and let what’s behind, stay behind you.

Okay, here’s the question of the day from Simpson who asked: Can you please tell my humans how to properly cut my nails? They are relatively bright about most things but relatively stupid about cutting my nails.

Hey Simpson:

I hope the information below, from Marion Herbertson will help. (See more details at: http://dogs.about.com/od/dogcarebasics/a/nail_trimming.htm
Per Marion, my new best pal:

First: understand the anatomy of a dog's nail. It is constructed of a hard outer cover, which protects the quick, the inner soft part containing blood vessels and tender nerve endings. In dogs with light-colored nails, the quick can often be seen as being faintly pinkish so it is easy to avoid cutting into.

Second, when you can’t see the quick, (in the case of black-nailed dogs) trim off little nibbles instead of large slices. Keep checking the clipped part of your dog's nail and look out for a dark spot in the middle of the newly clipped area, indicating the start of the quick. Do not cut too far into this.

Third: taking just tiny nibbles, you will then start to see a pale third inner circle. Stop there - or else you are likely to hurt your dog.

Four, don't forget your dog's dew claws. Growing on the inside of his legs and not in contact with the floor, these do not get worn away and will sometimes curl completely over causing your dog to get snagged in undergrowth, his bedding, etc. This can be very painful so keep them neatly trimmed.


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