If your dog's nails click on the floor, it's time for a trim. Long nails can change the way a dog stands and walks, and they're more likely to snag or split. The good news: with a little patience, most dogs can learn to tolerate nail care at home.
How often should you trim?
Most dogs need a trim every 3 to 4 weeks, but it depends on how active they are and what surfaces they walk on. A simple rule: if you hear clicking on hard floors, the nails are too long.
What you'll need
- A clipper, a grinder, or a 2-in-1 tool that does both
- Good lighting
- Small, high-value treats
- Styptic powder or cornstarch, just in case
Step 1: Get your dog comfortable first
Before you trim anything, spend a few short sessions just touching your dog's paws and rewarding them. Then let them see and sniff the tool, and turn it on near them if it's a grinder so they get used to the sound. Keep sessions short and positive.
Step 2: Find the quick
The quick is the blood vessel and nerve inside each nail. Cutting into it hurts and can bleed. On light nails you'll see it as a pink area. On dark nails it's harder to spot, so trim tiny amounts at a time and look at the cut surface: when you see a small dark dot in the center, stop.
Step 3: Trim a little at a time
Hold the paw gently but firmly and clip just the tip of the nail at a slight angle. It's fine to do only a few nails per session. Reward your dog after every nail or two.
Step 4: Smooth the edges
Clipping can leave sharp edges that snag carpets and scratch skin. A few seconds with a grinder rounds them off. Grinders are also a good option for nervous dogs or dark nails, because they remove small amounts gradually.
If you cut the quick
Stay calm. Press a pinch of styptic powder or cornstarch onto the nail for a minute or so until the bleeding stops. If it doesn't stop, contact your vet.
A tool that makes it easier
Our 2-in-1 Nail Grinder & Clipper combines a clipper and a low-noise grinder in one rechargeable tool, with LED lights that make it easier to see the quick, especially on dark nails.
If your dog is very anxious, in pain, or has injured nails, a vet or professional groomer is the best place to start.