Clipping Your Dog’s Nails: A Full Guide

Nail clipping is an essential part of the grooming process. But, clipping Fido’s nails can be very daunting. We’ve created a guide on how to cut your dog’s nails at home.

Gather Supplies

There are a few things you should keep handy when grooming your dog’s nails. Dog treats are important to keep your dog calm and docile while you are cutting their nails. It would help if you also had styptic powder on hand. This quickly stops any bleeding in case of any accidents while cutting Fido’s nails. You also need a nail clipper or nail grinder, of course!

Step One: Ease Fido into it.

If your pooch isn’t used to getting their nails done, it’s important to ease them into it. Let your dog sniff the clipper or grinder, and reward your furry friend with a treat. Once your pup has acclimated to the clippers or grinder, start clipping their nails.

Step Two: Pick up the paw & isolate the nail

While some prefer to pick up their dog’s paws head-on, looking at your dog’s claws from the side is easier. Then, decide which nail you will trim and isolate the nail.

Step Three: Start trimming the nail

When trimming Fido’s nails, the goal is to cut the nails as short as possible without cutting the quick. The quick is a soft cuticle that contains the blood vessels and nerves in your dog’s nails. It can be hard sometimes to identify a quick on a nail. For white nails, avoid cutting the pink part of the nail. On many other nails, the part that is safe to cut is thinner than the rest of the nails. On black nails, cut the nail a little bit at a time. Stop when you see a black dot in the middle of a white, chalky area. Make sure to cut your pup’s nail at a 90-degree angle.

Step Four: Reward your dog!

After the nail-trimming process, make sure to give your pooch lots of treats and love. Getting a dog’s nails trimmed can be very scary, so these treats remind them that it’s a positive experience.

The next time you want to cut your pooch’s nails, remember to check this guide. Good luck!