TROUBLESHOOTING CLAWGS V3:
Always assess sizes and strap adjustments while dogs are standing. Toes and claws recede into Clawgs when dogs lay and spread when dogs stand.
It's best to tighten toe straps while dogs are standing so you can tighten toe straps according to dogs' natural standing toe splay without risking that toes are squeezed when dogs stand.
Clawgs Fall Off Paws Or Slide Onto/Below Paws' Sides' Bones:
Clawgs' heel straps' top edges' stitches should always be above dogs' paws' sides' bone prominence, which can be felt on paw sides.
When heel straps fall below dogs' paws' sides' bone prominence, they can hold together toe bones that want to spread when dogs stand.
(The above Clawg is the correct size but the heel straps are too low & loose.)
To solve this problem, ensure the heel straps are secured in the buckles' cinch slots.
If the heel straps were not in the buckles' cinch slots, wrap the heel straps above paws' sides' bone prominence, but below dew claws and fasten the buckle. Then, fully tighten the heel straps, then unfasten the buckle and take Clawgs back off. Then, secure the heel straps in the buckle's cinch slots.
Then, pull each heel strap into each buckles' cinch slots.
If the heel straps were already locked in the buckles' cinch slots, slightly tighten the heel straps by pulling one or two additional heel strap edge stitches through the buckles' cinch slots.
While Clawgs are off paws, if you pull hard enough, you should be able to slightly tighten the heel straps without removing them from cinch slots.
If heel straps' top edges' stitches continue to slide onto or below paws' sides' bones (which can be felt on paw sides near paw tops) while Clawgs' front edges are in the correct location, the Clawgs are too small.
(The above Clawgs are too small with heel straps too low, but the front edge makes the Clawgs appear to be the correct size.)
Please submit a return request within 30 days of delivery. Then, place a new order for the size(s) you'd like to try next.
FRONT TOES SLIDE THROUGH CLAWGS' FRONT CLAWS' OPENING
If toes slide through Clawgs' front claws' opening while heel straps' top edges' stitches are above dogs' paws' sides' bone prominence and dogs' heels are set back in Clawgs heels, the Clawgs are too small.
If front toes are sliding through Clawgs' front claws' opening slightly lower the slider, but do not let the straps under the slider press against claws.
If you can't lower the slider more without pressing claws and toes are still sliding through Clawgs' front claws' opening, ensure your Clawgs have slits cut in the excess sole between front toes and side claws.
Cutting a slit in Clawgs' excess sole under side claws/toes frees up Clawgs' front edge to hold front toes better.
If your Clawgs were shipped before September 8, 2024, we recommend cutting slits in the excess sole, as shown above.
If front toes continue to slide through the front claws' opening after lowering the slider to be just above front claws while dogs are standing and after ensuring there are slits cut between front toes' and side claws' location, the Clawgs are too small.
"PAW IS BETWEEN SIZES"
We've never seen a paw that is actually between sizes. In fact, in some cases, one paw can wear two sizes!
The lower two photos show the same paw wearing size 11 and size 12.
On the size 12 Clawg, the heel straps are slightly over tightened, which raises heel straps slightly while shifting the front edge back on paws.
On the size 11 Clawg, the heel straps are slightly under tightened, which lowers heel straps slightly and moves the front edge forward on paws.
Fine tune Clawgs front edge location by slightly adjusting heel strap tightness.
Pull one or two additional heel strap edge stitches through the buckles' cinch slots.
If Clawgs' front edge extends further than ideal (touches front claws), slightly overtighten the heel straps.
If Clawgs' front edge doesn't extend as far as ideal (front toe pad tips touch the ground or hover over it), slightly undertighten the heel straps.
CLAWGS ROTATE OFF-CENTER:
Clawgs' heels have two pockets that hug the two bumps on the back of dogs' heels, which is how Clawgs stay centered.
It's important that Clawgs are snug on paws from front to back so dogs' heels are set all the way back into Clawgs heels.
The most impactful way to keep Clawgs centered on paws is by setting dogs' heels back into Clawgs' heels while dogs are standing.
To do this, push Clawgs' heel straps down on paws until the paws' sides' bones' prevent the heel straps from sliding further down.
Then, ensure the Clawgs are centered without side claws stuck under front straps.
Pull Clawgs' front edge forward to set the dog's heel all the way back in the Clawg's heel.
Press and hold the slider against the front knuckles with one hand, then angle the front straps towards top straps and fasten the top straps to front straps as far back as possible while dogs are standing.
Note that the front strap tips may need to go under Clawgs' top sides' velcro-less area.
If you're putting Clawgs on a laying dog, leave the front straps a bit loose, then reassess the slider's position with respect to front knuckles.
If there is a gap between the slider and front knuckles, unfasten the front / top straps, press and hold the slider against the front knuckles with one hand, then angle the front straps towards top straps and fasten the top straps to front straps as far back as possible while dogs are standing.
If setting dogs' heels back into Clawgs' heels causes dogs' front (middle) claws' tips to touch Clawgs' sole rather than the ground while dogs are standing with heel straps' top edges' stitches above dogs' paws' sides' bone prominence, which can be felt on paw sides, the Clawgs are too large.
(The above Clawgs are too large)
If your Clawgs are too large, please submit a return request. Then, place a new order for the size(s) you'd like to try next.
An off-center slider can also make Clawgs shift off center.
Fold the sole along the middle of the tread to compare front straps' lengths that lead into sliders.
Tightening side straps to gently hug the front sides of side toes (near side claws) while dogs are standing in centered Clawgs will also help keep Clawgs centered.
Only tighten the side straps to gently hold side toes while dogs are standing if Clawgs' sides are on the front sides of side toes. Otherwise, overtightening side straps tends to squeeze behind side toes, which wedges toes/paws forward rather than holding them back.
It is normal for one or both side claws to touch the sole rather than the ground. We extended the sole under side claws/toes to ensure all pads are protected regardless of paws' shapes.
However, trimming the sole under side claws not only lets dogs' use all four claws for grip, but also helps claws stop Clawgs from spinning.
If you're confident your Clawgs are the correct size, we recommend marking and trimming the excess sole under side claws. Trimming the excess sole under the side claws can also help keep Clawgs centered because the sole snags on side claws, which prevents them from spinning.
DOG SEEMS UNCOMFORTABLE:
The most common reason why dogs feel uncomfortable in Clawgs is the side straps are too tight.
Dogs hate their paws being squeezed from the sides!
If you fully tighten side straps on laying dogs or lifted paws, they will be too tight when dogs stand because toes spread when dogs stand.
The side strap stretchiness is meant to let dogs spread their toes, not squeeze them together. It is better to leave side straps way too loose rather than slightly too tight.
When Clawgs' heel straps' top edges' stitches are on or below dogs' paws' sides' bones, which can be felt on paw sides bones that want to spread when dogs stand are held together, which is uncomfortable.
This may happen because heel straps are too loose and/or not locked in buckles' cinch slots.
When heel straps' top edges' stitches continuously slide onto or below paws' sides bones, the Clawgs are most likely too small.
(The above Clawgs are too small with heel straps on the paw side bone, but it appears to be the correct size due to its false front edge.)
BUCKLES FALL OFF HEEL STRAPS:
If buckles fall off heel straps, you'll need a thin tool, such as a Q-Tip cut in half to push heel straps back through buckles.
