Lancaster K9 exists to preserve and protect the dignity of the moving dog through world-class mobility products. Our educational initiatives, including Unguis Canis, extend this same commitment — fostering the knowledge and practices that support sound canine movement throughout life.

What I didn’t understand — until experience taught me — is that the smallest things can matter most.

My late dog, Olaf, meant the world to me. If I had practiced consistent mindful nail care throughout his life, I am confident that some of the joint pain he experienced as he aged could have been reduced. Like many, I didn’t fully realize how much nail length affects posture, gait, joint strain, and even a dog’s sense of agency — until I had to watch him grow older.

This initiative is not about shame or perfection. It is about attentiveness and quiet responsibility. It is about seeing what we once overlooked, and choosing to care more deeply — for them, and for ourselves as their companions.

Nails may seem small. But they are the foundation of movement. They are the quiet interface between the dog and the earth.

Sound movement depends on unseen foundations. Nail length is one of them.

Best,
Shane A. Burkholder
Team Principal, Lancaster K9