How to Clip a Dog’s Nails

Puppies, adopted dogs of all ages, and adult dogs all rely on their human companions to keep them feeling and looking their best! One way we do that is making grooming a priority. For dog owners, it’s just as important as feeding our dog and exercising them.

One basic grooming skill that can be intimidating is learning how to clip a dog’s nails. Once you understand the importance of trimming nails, a dog’s nail anatomy, the necessary equipment needed, you’ll be confident in this basic grooming skill.

Importance of Nail Trimming

Before we learn how to clip a dog’s nails, we’ll learn about why it’s important to their overall well-being. First, understand that your dog’s nails are an extension of their foot and leg.

When the nails are too long it sets off the whole body. Dogs will have the feeling of walking uphill and it will decrease their balance. Long nails will affect their gait and how they move about.

Long toenails lead to long term degenerative changes and pain. The dog will experience pain in their knees, hips, and joints.

You might see the dog begin to arch their back to compensate or even limiting their mobility. Understanding the dog’s nail anatomy will help us with learning how to clip a dog’s nails.

How To Clip A Dogs Nails Anatomy of a dog's nails

How to Clip a Dog’s Nails by Understanding the “Quick”

If you’ve talked to other dog owners about how to clip a dog’s nails, they might have mentioned the fear of cutting the quick. The quick is the center of the nail. Inside the quick are blood vessels and nerves that supply blood to the nail.

The quick is sensitive therefore when the quick is cut your dog will bleed a lot and be in pain. No one wants to inflict pain or damage to their dog’s blood vessels.

Dog’s nails will be either white or black. The quick is seen easier in white nails. It can be seen by looking at the side and underside of the dog’s nail. When learning how to clip a dog’s nails, you’ll want to stop before the nail turns pink in color (for white nails).

Black nails can be more difficult however, when you see a black dot in the middle of the cut end of the nail, stop trimming. By looking at the underside of the dog’s nail, you can see the soft black tissue (the pulp), which is what you want to avoid trimming.

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What does it mean if my dog’s quick is long?

Once you begin trimming your dog’s nail, the quick will slowly recede. The quick grows with the dog’s nail and shrinks as the nails get shorter.

How to Clip a Dog’s Nails by Understanding the Dewclaw

The dewclaws are the nail that grows on the inside of the dog’s front feet. However, a few breeds are born with dewclaws on all four feet.

The dewclaw is often referred to as the dog’s “thumb”. It is considered an appendage and has tendons connecting it to the dog’s leg. Dogs can use their dewclaws to hold items while chewing.

Even though the dewclaw doesn’t touch the ground while the dog stands, it does offer stability and structural support while they run.

They are also useful for dogs that swim, as it helps them climb out of the water. If you live in an area that has snowy or icy conditions the dewclaw helps the dog move on slippery surfaces.

Keep the dewclaw nails short! Long dewclaws can cause uneven breakage to the nail. Another common injury to the dewclaw is the nail becoming torn and eventually leading to an infection.

In order to keep the dewclaws in excellent condition, you’ll need to learn how to clip a dog’s nails. The dewclaws will need to be routinely trimmed along with the other nails.

How to Clip a Dog’s Nails with Basic Nail Trimming Equipment

Acquiring quality equipment will be essential when learning how to clip a dog’s nails. In order to have your dog’s nails looking their best, you’ll want these common grooming tools.

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Nail clippers – scissors style or guillotine style

Nail file – manual or electric style
Styptic powder – for emergencies
Headlamp – to provide more light and visibility

It’s great to have treats or kibble on hand for reinforcing good behavior as well. When we get into step-by-step instructions, you’ll know best how to use treats for learning how to clip a dog’s nails.

Choose your equipment based on the size of your dog’s nails, your budget and what you feel is best for you and your pet.

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Nail clippers come in two styles: the scissors style or the guillotine style.

The scissors style clippers look like bulky sharp scissors or pliers with a blade. They have a spring near the blade for added strength in cutting the nail. This style is great for all size dogs, but especially works well for large dogs with thicker, bigger nails.

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The guillotine style clippers have a small opening for the nail and come in many sizes. The blade cuts through the nail when the handles are squeezed together. This style is good for all size dogs but is especially nice for working with small dogs’ nails. Bigger nails can be difficult to get through the opening.

Nail files are referred to by two styles, both the stainless steel file and the electric nail grinder can be used to give your dog healthy nails.

Stainless steel manual files are an economic but effective way to file a dog’s nail. They require a bit more time but make very little noise. Your dog will still need to get used to the filing sensation.

Electric nail grinders are a bit more expensive, but they are a handy alternative to the manual file. Technology has advanced in the area of dog nail grinders. There are many to choose from that vary in price, sound, weight, vibrations and effectiveness.

Styptic powder is a clotting agent that can slow the bleeding by contracting the blood vessels. It is also an antiseptic which reduces the risk of infection.

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Now that we understand the importance of nail trimming, a short anatomy lesson on the quick and dewclaw and the necessary equipment, we can now go into the steps of how to clip a dog’s nails.

How To Clip A Dogs Nails dog with paw in owners hand

6 Preparation Steps Before Learning How to Clip a Dog’s Nails

Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed is a simple procedure when done correctly. The following steps will take you through the first few weeks of introducing your dog to nail grooming.

Step 1: Begin handling your dog’s paws several times a day. If your dog is feeling uncomfortable, offer a small high value treat after you handle the paw. Touch the dog’s pad, between the toes and feel the nails. Continue to praise and treat your dog.

Step 2: Introduce your dog to the trimming equipment. Dogs like to smell new items, especially ones that get used on them. Let them sniff both the clippers and grinder. Turn on the grinder so they can hear the sound. Continue with praise and treats.

Step 3: After they have sniffed the clippers, gently touch the clippers to your dog’s nails. Squeeze the clippers so they hear the sound but do not cut. Praise and treat your pup.

Step 4: Introduce actual trimming of the nail. Start with the back feet and trim off a small tip. Continue to give them lots of praise and a treat. Stop with one nail.

Repeat with gently trimming a small tip off each nail in the days that follow. Continual praise and treats will let your pup know they are doing great.

Step 5: Once your dog is comfortable with the nail trimming, begin trimming two nails each day. Praise and treat your dog.

Step 6: Continue to increase the number of nails you are trimming each day. Move slow if your dog is hesitant and not comfortable. Praise and treat as you practice trimming and filing the nails.

4 Simple Steps for How to Clip a Dog’s Nails

Gather your clippers, styptic powder, treats, headlamp (if needed) and lots of patience! Find a comfortable spot for both you and your dog. A firm dog bed works well for most dogs.

Step 1: Begin with the back foot; and gently but firmly pick up a paw. Place your thumb on the pad of the toe and your forefinger on the top of the toe above the nail. (Note: make sure the dog’s fur is not in the way.)

Step 2: Continue holding that position, and then begin to gently push your thumb slightly up and backward on the pad, while pushing your forefinger forward. This motion will extend the nail and make it easier to trim.

Step 3: Using your clippers, trim the tip of the nail at a 45-degree angle. Be sure to include the dewclaws on each front paw. Do not trim past the curve of the nail or you will be too close to clipping the quick.

Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 making sure to trim all the nails on each foot.

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Dog standing on owners paws showing off nails

Commonly asked Questions about How to Clip a Dog’s Nails

When should I begin trimming my dog’s nails?

Regardless of the age of your dog, you want to begin the nail clipping preparation steps right away. Generally, you want to trim a puppy’s nails once a week, even if you just go through the motion so they will see this as part of the grooming routine.

Note: Quality breeders will have already begun the desensitization process of handling the paws and nails. Puppies will have had their first nail trimming as well.

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How often should I clip my dog’s nails?

The amount of time between clipping your dog’s nail depends on your dog and your lifestyle. A dog that walks on concrete will be able to go longer between trimmings than a dog that walks on soft grass/dirt.

* The rule of thumb for clipping nails is you don’t want your dog’s nails to touch the floor while they are standing.

Do I have to use a grinder or file on my dog’s nails?

No. Filing or grinding your dog’s nails is optional. Use quality sharp clippers to give you a cleaner cut on the nail, meaning less jagged edges.

What should I do if I clipped too close to the quick and nail begins to bleed?

Stay calm. Pour some styptic powder into a small dish. Dip your dog’s nail (or paw) into the powder. Hold the paw so that dog is unable to walk around on it. You’ll use a small amount of powder as only the bleeding nail needs the powder on it.

Allow 15 seconds for it to work and if necessary, repeat the process until bleeding has completely stopped.

How to Clip a Dog’s Nails with Confidence

Nail trimming is an important component when grooming your dog. Dog’s nails need to be short to prevent joint and back issues as they age.

How your dog feels will be evident in their composure, meaning the less pain they experience, the more they can enjoy their human companions.

One tip from the American Kennel Club is to have your dog lick peanut butter off of a spoon while you are trimming their nails. However, we recommend a (affiliate link) Lickimat.

You will find that you need both hands to hold your dog’s paws safely. Otherwise you will need a second person to hold the spoon filled with peanut butter. The Lickimat has suction cups to hold it steadily in place, so it can be placed on a wall or the floor without moving.

Once we learned about two important areas in the dog’s foot anatomy, the quick and dewclaw, we are better equipped to learn how to clip a dog’s nails properly.

You’ll make important decisions on the common equipment needed to keep your dog’s nails feeling their best! Choose between the two clipper styles and what kind of file is most effective for you and your dog. And lastly, remember to have styptic powder handy in your canine first aid kit.

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Follow the steps to preparing your dog to be comfortable with routine nail trimming. You want a dog that is not fearful of the sound and feel of clippers and grinders. Once your dog is used to the activity, you’ll carefully be able to trim their nails with confidence.

Dogs like routine, so establish a comfortable location for nail trimming. For small dogs it could be in your lap or bigger dogs might enjoy the familiarity of a dog bed.

Hopefully now that you learned how to clip a dog’s nails it will take the stress out of this necessary dog grooming skill.

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