Nails
- A Boxer's nails needs to be clipped or filed down about every 6 to 8 weeks; much of this depends on how much walking he does outside and the type of surfaces that he walks upon. Though, even with dogs that are outside much of the day and are super active, you can't depend on this to keep the nails short enough.
Your local groomer or vet can take care of the nails; it's not that much money, about $15 to $20.
If you want to do this at home, we recommend an electronic filer. It's much easier than clipping.
Nose
- A dog's nose is naturally pretty vulnerable to all of the elements it encounters. From arid air to cold winds to sun exposure. A big mistake is to only put something on the nose once it starts to look really dry or start peeling, because while a good product can indeed heal a chapped or cracked nose, it's better to be ahead of the game and prevent it in the first place.
Every month or so, apply a quality nose butter and then keep it on hand for when you need to apply it more often, which is typically in the dead of winter and in during long, hot summers.
Paws
- You don't want to baby the paws, because they toughen up as a puppy and then dog walks on a variety of surfaces. However, if they become damaged this puts you back several steps and can even morph into serious issues.
Hot pavement, freezing ground, snow packed roads with 'snow balling' (tiny ice wedges that get stuck between toes and/or paw pads) can all do a number on the paws.
This is why a quality paw wax should be part of the supplies you have for your Boxer, it's a vital part of
year-round paw care. Look for a good wax that allows the paws to breath and is absorbed quickly in just a couple of minutes.