Tips and Tools for an At-Home Pawdicure

Trimming your dog’s nails isn’t necessarily a difficult job; it’s more of a stressful one. There’s always the fear of clipping too far and hitting the quick of their nail, causing them to bleed and not feel very great. However, if you learn how to approach this task calmly with the right technique, cutting your pooch’s nails will soon become a breeze.

First, Make Sure You Have What You Need

Before even looking at a nail, you need to be sure you have the right tools handy, and all within reaching distance when you’re cutting your pup’s nails. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Clippers: to cut the nails, of course!
• A tea towel: to collect the nail trimmings for disposal.
• Cotton gauze or tissue: in case there’s any blood.
• Styptic powder: to apply to the quick if you accidentally cut too far.
• Treats: to help show Fido that this is not a punishment and to reward them for being good after everything is done.

Be in a Calm Environment

Now that you have all your tools handy, it’s time to pick a location. You want to be in a spot that both you and your pooch can be relaxed in; setting the tone like this can make a massive difference in how things go later. You might want to have you furry friend lay on a towel or blanket while providing them with a peanut butter filled Kong toy or some other type of treat so that they’ll be occupied. As for yourself, make sure you put aside time for this so you don’t feel rushed and pick a location where you can close the door like a bedroom, office, or bathroom (if your dog doesn’t hate bathrooms, that is). As long as you choose a place with an ample amount of light, you should be alright.

Start Things Off Slowly

If you’ve never trimmed a dog’s nails before, then allow them some time to get used to the tools involved and the new sensations they’ll be feeling. Allow Fido to sniff the nail clippers, then try lightly touching their paw with the clippers. It’s also helpful if you go through the motion of clipping a nail, without actually doing so, so that they can hear what the device sounds like before you’re using it on them.

How to Trim Your Pup’s Nails

Now that the moment has come let’s walk through the basic steps of trimming your canine’s nails.

1. Start by taking one paw in your hand. Place your thumb under the pad of one toe and your forefinger on the top of the same toe, above the nail.
2. Gently apply pressure with your thumb up and backward, while pushing your forefinger slightly forward – this should cause their nail to extend.
3. With your other hand, take the clippers and clip the tip of the nail straight across. Stray away from cutting near where their nail starts to curve downwards – this is where you’ll start to get too close to the quick of their nail.
4. Repeat the steps for each nail.

If you’re still nervous about cutting Fido’s nails, that’s okay. At-home nail trimming isn’t the right choice for every pet parent, and again, that’s completely alright. You can always leave it to the professionals and schedule regular grooming visits instead.