How to Clip Dog Nails

How to clip dog nails?Trimming your dog’s nails can feel a bit daunting, especially if they have black nails. Here are some helpful tips to make your dog’s manicures and pedicures (or should we say “pet-icures?”) as stress-free as possible!

Clippers: Always use a dog-specific nail trimmer, as human nail clippers won’t do the job properly. The scissor-style trimmers are the easiest to handle and offer better visibility of where you’re cutting.

Styptic Powder: This is essential for stopping bleeding if you accidentally cut the quick. Cornstarch can also be used as an alternative. It’s smart to keep one of these on hand, as cutting the quick can cause significant bleeding!

The Nail: A dog’s nail structure is similar to that of cats and humans, with a small quick beneath the nail that grows outward. In dogs with clear nails, the quick appears as a pointy pink triangle, and the goal is to trim the nail without cutting into it. However, dogs with black nails make it harder to see the quick, which can only be revealed after cutting. If the nails aren’t trimmed regularly, the quick will grow longer, but with consistent trimming, it will shrink back over time.

Before We Start: We can only trim our dog’s nails if they’re comfortable with us handling their paws. It’s best to begin touching a puppy’s feet early on, so they get used to the sensation. For older dogs, start slow by lightly touching their feet, and teaching them to ‘shake’ can be a fun way to ease them into it. Use positive reinforcement with praise and treats, and keep sessions short and enjoyable.

Some dogs also need time to get used to the sight of nail clippers. Leaving the clippers out, playing with them when not trimming, and rewarding your dog with treats whenever they see the clippers can help them associate it with positive experiences. You can also gently tap the nail with the clippers before making any cuts to help your dog adjust.

If your dog isn’t fond of nail trims, start by cutting just a few nails at a time. It’s important to keep the experience positive so they’ll allow future trims. Forcing a full nail trim in one session can make your dog fearful of the process. If your dog becomes stressed, stop and continue desensitization training to ensure nail trims become a positive, stress-free experience.

Cutting: For clear nails, trim a few millimeters ahead of the quick. If your dog has a mix of clear and black nails, you can use the clear nails as a guide to estimate where the quick ends on the black ones. For black nails, start by cutting very small amounts at a time.

The nail structure consists of a hard outer sheath that covers a softer, flaky white interior (called the horn). The outer sheath grows further than the horn. As you trim, you’ll begin to see the white horn material in cross-section as a white circle beneath the black nail. Eventually, a small black dot will appear in the center of the horn—this is the quick. Once you see the quick, stop cutting!

When you’re more comfortable, you can also make angled cuts to smooth the top and bottom of the nail for a cleaner finish. Don’t forget to trim the dewclaw (the small ‘thumbs’ on the front and sometimes back paws) as well!

How often to clip dog nails

A general rule of thumb is to trim your dog’s nails once a month. However, dogs that frequently walk or run on pavement may need less frequent trims (excluding dewclaws), while those who spend most of their time indoors or on soft surfaces like grass may need their nails trimmed every couple of weeks.

Allowing your dog’s nails to grow too long can cause a lasting issue— the quick (the vein inside the nail) may grow longer, preventing you from cutting the nails as short in the future.

Types of Nail Grinders and Clippers

Guillotine-style clippers, like Resco dog nail clippers, feature a hole through which you place the nail. While they stay sharp for a long time, they can be trickier to use.

Scissor-style clippers, such as Hertzko Angled Blade Pet Clippers, look like small scissors with divots near the blade tips, making them ideal for small dogs and puppies.

Pliers-style clippers, like Mighty Paw Nail Clipper, resemble scissors but have a spring for added strength, making them more suitable for large dogs with thick nails.

Nail grinders, often referred to by the Dremel brand, file the nails down smoothly, offering better control and minimizing the risk of cutting into the quick.