How to Trim Dog Nails Safely

If you can hear the clickety-clack of your dog’s nails on the floor, that’s a good sign that your dog needs their nails trimmed. Similarly, if their attempt to snuggle up on your lap feels like you’re being used as a pincushion, it’s also time to trim those claws, uh, nails.

For dogs who have had a bad experience getting a nail trim, the mere sight of the clippers can send them running in the opposite direction. So whether you’ve decided to try nail trimming yourself as part of your at-home grooming sessions or you’ve tried and it didn’t go so well (for either of you), we’ve got some tips for giving your dog a pawdicure without the drama.

How Long Should Dog Nails Be?

As we mentioned, if your dog walking across the floor sounds like a tap dancing routine, their nails are too long. Similarly, if they can’t grip the floor well and every fast turn ends in a slide, it’s time for a trim. Keeping your dog’s nails short reduces the risk of a torn nail. Additionally, long nails can force their paw pad to spread out, making it more likely for snow and ice to build up between their toes during winter adventures. It’s also a good idea to trim long hair around their paws for the same reason.

Nail trimming frequency won’t be the same for every dog. If your dog regularly walks on pavement, their nails will likely need trimming less often than a dog who mostly walks or plays on grass. The bottom line is it’s time to trim your dog’s nails when the nails touch the ground.

Trimming Your Dog’s Nails Should Be a Positive Experience

You don’t want you or your dog to dread every nail-clipping session, so make sure every experience with your dog’s nails is a pawsitive one. Start with lots of treats, especially their favorite treats, cut up into small pieces, about the size of a pea. Then use the treats to keep your dog distracted throughout the process and to reward them for staying calm. It’s best if you have a human helper to be in charge of handing out the treats until your dog is at peace with having regular nail trims.

What Type of Dog Nail Clippers Should I Use?

There are two types of dog nail trimmers that are generally used to cut dogs’ nails — nail clippers that look similar to scissors, and guillotine-style clippers. The guillotine clippers are the ones that have a hole the nail goes into and then you press the handle to activate the guillotine. You could also try using a grinder, but some dogs will find the noise and vibrations scarier than quiet clippers. It just depends on the type that you find the easiest to use and your dog is the most comfortable with.

How to Cut Dog Nails

When starting to get your dog used to having their nails clipped, it’s important to go slow and keep the session positive. It may take several weeks for your dog to be completely comfortable with having their nails cut, and that’s OK! Keep the sessions positive, and as soon as your dog starts getting uncomfortable, stop and try again later — even if you only get one nail done at a time.

Start by having your dog get used to you handling their paws. Hold each paw and give your dog lots of praise and treats for staying calm. Stop the treats when you let go of each paw and start again with the next paw.

Next, introduce the clippers. Let your dog smell them and surround them with treats, so they associate the clippers with good things. Then, tap each nail gently with the clippers while — you guessed it — giving your dog treats. This gets them used to the clippers touching their nails.

If your dog is comfortable with this, go one step further and place the clippers over the nail, but don’t cut your dog’s nails just yet. If it goes well then cut one nail, making sure your helper is distracting your dog and giving them plenty of treats. If that was too much for your dog, then stop and try again at another time. If not, continue on with the pawdicure!

How Short to Cut Dog Nails

Cut your dog’s nails to just below the quick which is the pinkish area in the middle of the nail. You want to avoid cutting the quick because it contains a nerve and a blood vessel, so cutting this can be painful and can cause bleeding.

How to Trim Dark Nails on Your Dog

If your dog has a dark nail, it can be challenging to know where the quick is and when to stop cutting. Start by clipping about 1/16 of an inch at a time (about the height of a penny). When you see a darker dot at the center of the nail, that’s when you need to stop.

Help! I Cut My Dog’s Nail Too Short and It Won’t Stop Bleeding

If you accidentally cut your dog’s nail too short and it starts bleeding, you can sprinkle some styptic powder on the nail to stop the bleeding. Styptic powder is available at most pet stores. If you don’t have any on hand, you can also use cornstarch to stem the bleeding.

What Do Unhealthy Dog Nails Look Like?

If you notice your dog licking their paw a lot, you may want to look at their nails and check for an infection. Signs of a bacterial or fungal infection include redness and swelling around the nail, yellow or white discharge, nail discoloration, peeling nails and a strong odor. The best way to prevent a nail infection is to keep your dog’s nails trimmed to the correct length.

If you have repeatedly tried unsuccessfully to trim your dog’s nails, it’s time to seek professional help. Never hold your dog down to trim their nails as this will just cause them stress and may result in aggressive behaviors. Ask your veterinarian or a groomer who is experienced in dog nail trimming to clip your dog’s nails instead.