How do dogs naturally trim their nails when walking and running on hard surfaces like sidewalks?

A dog’s nails are continuously growing, so it’s important to keep them trimmed. If left untrimmed, a dog’s nails will become long, impede a dog’s ability to walk comfortably, and even contribute to arthritis.

While it’s likely that you’ll have to trim your dog’s nails fairly regularly, taking your dog on walks outdoors can help cut down on the number of trimmings a dog needs. This is because hard surfaces like concrete and pavement can wear down a dog’s nails naturally.

Dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors walking on hard surfaces will have nails that are shorter and blunter than dogs who spend the majority of their days indoors and do not take long walks on hard surfaces. Dogs who don’t walk or run on hard surfaces will need their nails trimmed more often. If you want to keep your dog’s nails blunt and short, consider exercising him outdoors on hard surfaces a few times a week.