The Fur and Feather Blog

About Beth Williams, PT, APT

Beth Williams, P.T., A.P.T. has been a licensed physical therapist since graduating with from California State University Northridge in 1985. Inspired by her heart-dog Nitro’s successful recovery from hip surgery, she opened K9 Wellness Center in 1999 to provide physical therapy and rehabilitation for dogs (and the occasional bunny/cat/goat/horse) in Reno. In 2004, Beth became one of the first two licensed animal physical therapists in Nevada, and has worked with many dogs recovering from injury/surgery, and those living with chronic neurological and orthopedic conditions. During her career as a physical therapist for humans, she served as a geriatric clinical specialist for 20 years, pursued advanced training in body work and movement education, was certified in Pilates, and earned a master’s degree in counseling and educational psychology. In 2021, she completed the Dancing Hearts Academy coaches’ training, and expanded her work to help people and dogs cooperatively live their best lives together.
Beth happily resides in Reno, Nevada with her beloved “pack”: husband Dave, Rottweiler KZ, several chickens and paint quarter horse Classy. She and her canine partner KZ enjoy training and competing in barn hunt and North American Sport Dog Association activities in their free time.

Requirements for Nose Work class

Is Nose Work Right for You and Your Dog? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Join Class.

We’re thrilled you’re considering joining us for Nose Work/Scent Work—it’s one of our absolute favorite dog sports. Whether your dog is a sniffing superstar or just starting to discover the joys of scent games, Nose Work is a fun, confidence-building activity that taps into your dog’s natural instincts. In short, it rewards your dog for … being a dog!

But before you sign up, there are a couple of important requirements we need to talk about, to make sure both you and your dog are set up for success.

🐾 One Dog at a Time, Please!

Nose Work is a solo sport—only one dog searches at a time. That means while one dog is working, the rest are chilling in their cars, awaiting their turn to shine. It’s an essential part of how the class is structured, and it keeps everyone safe, focused, and stress-free.

So here’s the biggie:

Your dog must be able to wait quietly in your car between turns.
This means:

  • No separation anxiety meltdowns

  • No frantic barking or pawing at windows

  • No singing the song of their people between every search

If your dog isn’t yet comfortable being alone in the car, that’s okay! But Nose Work class might not be the right fit yet. We’re happy to help you work on that skill separately, so you can join us down the line.

🌞 “But What About Leaving My Dog in the Car in Summer?”

We get it. There’s a lot of fear out there about leaving dogs in cars—and some of it is absolutely warranted. But in this case? You’re safe. Here’s why:

  • Our parking lot is shaded by the building in the afternoon and evening

  • We’re lucky in the desert that there is almost always a breeze in the evenings
  • You’ll be going back and forth to your car frequently during class

  • You’re more than welcome to leave your car running with the A/C on if you prefer

  • We keep class moving quickly so your dog won’t be waiting long

And just for peace of mind—our training center is located in a safe South Reno neighborhood, and we’ll never be far from your dog. Our instructors are dog lovers and Nose Work afficionados, too—we’d never ask you to do something that wasn’t safe.

🚶‍♀️ Human-Friendly and Dog-Tolerant, Too

Nose Work is a low-interaction sport, but your dog will still need to be able to:

  • Work safely and comfortably around unfamiliar humans

  • Pass by other dogs at a distance of about 15 feet without reacting

We’re not asking for picture-perfect leash manners or tail-wagging friendliness—just basic neutrality. Unlike most dog sports, in Nose Work, dogs will never come into direct contact with each other, which makes this sport open to dogs who don’t particularly like other dogs. That said, if your dog barks, lunges, or becomes stressed when seeing another dog from about 15 feet or greater, this might not be the right class just yet. (But we’ve got other options to help you get there!)


In short, here’s what your dog needs to be ready for class:
✅ Able to rest quietly in your car between turns
✅ Comfortable being alone for short periods (even in summer!)
✅ Non-reactive and relaxed around unfamiliar humans
✅ Able to pass by another dog at a distance of about 15 feet without barking and lunging

Got questions or aren’t sure if your dog is ready? Reach out—we’re always happy to help you find the right fit.

Nose Work is one of the most enriching activities you can do with your dog—and we’re excited to help you get sniffing!

How To Trim Your Dog’s Nails Without Any Drama

Trimming your dog’s nails is an important part of pet care that helps prevent discomfort and health issues. Did you know overgrown nails can lead to joint pain and infections? With the right tools and techniques, you can make this essential task drama-free for both you and your dog.

Nail Trimming Can Be Scary

Many dogs feel nervous about having their nails trimmed. Their paws are very sensitive, and even the calmest dogs can be timid about them being touched. Desensitizing your pet to having his paws touched is helpful, not just for routine nail maintenance but checking for things like foxtails, too!

Nail Trimming Tools of the Trade

There are a few different methods for trimming nails which can be used depending on your dogs’ preferences. Most commonly, a guillotine style nail clipper is used. A Dremel grinder can also be
used in combination or alone to grind the nails down. Lastly, it can be advantageous for some very nervous dogs to learn how to use a scratch board in the comfort of their own home.

If your pet is hypersensitive to their paws being touched, they may benefit from calming or sedating medications in combination with training and desensitization. Ask your veterinarian for help with this.

How to Get Started with Nail Trims

These steps are broken down based on where your dog is in the nail trimming process. If you are unsure where to start, start at step one and watch your dog’s body language to see how they feel.
 
Remember to practice on all four paws at each step, and only move on to the next step when your dog seems to be calm and happy with the step you’re on.
 
Reward your dog with a small but extra tasty treat for each repetition – this is how we change their perception from a negative to a positive one!

Step 1 – Reaching for your Dog

  • Begin by reaching toward your dog. Do not touch them at this point; simply retract your hand, then reward with a treat.
  • Reach for and touch your dog’s shoulder. With an open hand, gently pet down the leg. Remove your hand when you get near the paw and reward.
  • Repeat the above step, but this time loosely wrap your hand around your dog’s leg. Remove your hand when you get near the paw and reward.

Step 2 – Holding Your Dog’s Paws

  • Always starting at the shoulder, use one hand to pet down the leg while loosely wrapping your hand around the leg. “Scoop” the paw up but do not hold the paw yet! Simply scoop, drop/ release, then reward.
  • Next, hold the paw at the end of the scoop and let your dog remove their paw from your hand. Keep your hand open to allow them to retract the paw when they make the choice. Once they retract the paw, reward.
  • Once your dog will let you hold the paw for a few seconds on your hand, then you may gently squeeze the top of the paw before you release and reward.
  • Always starting at the shoulder, work your way down to each toe, give a gentle squeeze, release and reward.

Step 3 – Introduce the Nail-Trimming Tools

  • Whichever tool you decide to use, begin with having it on the ground and letting your dog smell/look at it. When they look at it, reward them.
  • Next, pick up the tool and reward if they look at it or move towards it. If you are using a Dremel, turn the Dremel on briefly. Make sure to immediately reward so your dog begins to learn the sound of the Dremel = treat!
  • If your dog seems calm, you can begin to reach towards your dog with the tool in your hand. Just like in the first step, pause, retract your hand, then reward.
  • Next, tap the tool to your dog’s paw, then reward. If using a Dremel, turn the Dremel on and tap with the base of the Dremel so they can feel the vibration (be careful to not tangle their hair if you have a long-haired dog).

Step 4 – Putting it All Together

  • When putting it together, return to step one (reaching for your dog) while you have the tool in your hand.
  • Finally, trim one nail per training session. Slowly add more nails per session based on your pet’s comfort, until you can complete the nail trim on all four paws. Alternatively, you can get into the habit of doing one or two nails, but more frequently – a few times per week.

A Note on Using the Dremel for Nail Trimming

A reminder when using the Dremel – nails can heat up quickly from the friction! Do not Dremel a single nail for more than 3 seconds at a time otherwise it will cause discomfort. Do a short amount on each nail and repeat as needed to get to desired length.

A Note on Using a Scratch Board for Nail Trimming

A scratch board is quite simple to build. It consists of a flat piece of wood covered with sandpaper. There are also many options online to buy.

To use the scratch board, teach your dog to shake hands/paws while the board is resting at an angle in front of them. When you drop the paw, it should drag across the board to file the nails.

Think a scratch board is the right solution for you and your dog? Check out this detailed tutorial on scratch board use.

Thank you to Jasmine Bingham for the generous use of her work!

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About Beth Williams, PT, APT

Beth Williams, P.T., A.P.T. has been a licensed physical therapist since graduating with from California State University Northridge in 1985. Inspired by her heart-dog Nitro’s

Requirements for Nose Work class

Is Nose Work Right for You and Your Dog? Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Join Class. We’re thrilled you’re considering joining us