I know this particular problem as well.
I try to wash the paws of my two
at least 5 times a week by standing them in the utility room sink (this ups to 14x per week in the winter!) and whilst holding their paws under the water I work my fingers in between the pads, gently breaking up any muddy/furry clumps on the way. By doing it under water it is a very gentle procedure and all the 'bits and pieces' fall out naturally. This is for the most part successful in preventing the development of large clumps - (and Helen, I totally agree, it must be like walking around with gravel in your shoe - it is amazing how sharp and hard they can become
) - but on the odd occasion when they do develop we use blunt-nosed scissors for what in this family is referred to as 'open paw surgery'
. Both Alice and Louis are fine with this routine - and are much braver about it than our old boy, Harvey, who would pre-emptively howl and scream the place down