How To Cut a Dog’s Nails

There are a few things you should have handy when you’re ready to cut your dog’s nails: 

• Dog treats 
• Lick mat 
• Dog safe peanut butter 
• Styptic powder, such as Miracle Care Kwik-Stop, or cornstarch/flour 
• Nail clippers or a nail grinder 
• An extra pair of hands (optional) 
• Calm nerves and lots of patience! 
• Good lighting to see what you are doing 

There are a few types of tools for cutting dogs’ nails: 

• Guillotine-style clippers have a hole that you poke the nail through. They stay sharp longer but are harder to use. 
• Scissors-style clippers look like small scissors with divots toward the end of each blade. These are best for small dogs and puppies. 
• Pliers-style clippers resemble scissors style clippers, but they have a spring, making them stronger and better for large, thick nails. 
• Nail grinders, commonly referred to by the Dremel brand name, file your dog’s nails smooth while also making it easier to avoid hitting the quick. 

Ready to get started? Here’s how to cut dog nails. 

If you’ve never trimmed your dog’s nails before, start small with these steps. If at any time your dog seems uncomfortable with a step, immediately stop and try again another day: 

• Regularly touch your dog’s legs, feet, and toes while using treats and praise, so your dog becomes comfortable with you handling them. 
• Let your dog sniff the nail clippers or grinder, then reward them with a treat. 
• Turn on the nail grinder or cut a dry spaghetti noodle to get your dog used to the sound the tool makes, then reward them. 
• Cut one nail and give your dog a treat. 

Only do one nail a day at first until your dog gets used to it. Gradually start doing more nails at each sitting until your dog holds still for all four paws. 

While it’s tempting to pick up your dog’s paw from the front and look at the nails head-on, there are easier ways to trim your dog’s nails.  

Some pet parents find it easiest to sit to the side of their dog and reach under and around their dog’s arm to hold the paw, like in the photo above. Then, with your free hand, you can trim with clippers. 

For other dogs, it’s easier if you sit behind the dog and flip their paw backward to look at the bottom of the foot. (This is my preferred method.) This gives you a great view of what you’re doing while keeping your dog’s leg in a natural position. 

Decide which toe to start with and expose the nail. 

If your dog has furry feet, you’ll need to push or trim hair out of the way to see what you’re doing. This is especially important if you’re using a nail grinder! The biggest downside to nail grinders is that they tend to grab fur and yank. 

Next, place your forefinger on the toe’s pad and your thumb on the top of the toe on the skin above the nail. Push your forefinger up and backward on the pad while pushing your thumb forward to extend the nail away from the foot. 

The cut edge of your dog’s nail should run parallel with the floor. To do that, cut at a 45–degree angle rather than straight across. 

Most dogs have dewclaws on the inside of their front legs. The claws are up the leg a little farther than the rest of your dog’s toes. 

Some dog breeds, like Saint Bernards and Great Pyrenees, have double dewclaws on their back legs, so be sure to check all four feet. 

Always give your dog a treat, playtime, or another big reward after a nail trim. You want them to associate nail trimming with something positive. Using a lick mat with dog–safe peanut butter can be a great distraction, and a positive reward during nail trims. 

The goal is to cut your dog’s nails as short as possible without making them bleed. That’s relatively easy when your dog’s nails are white: Just avoid cutting the pink part. 

But what about black dog nails, which don’t let you see where the quick starts? 

Start by cutting off a tiny bit at a time. When you’re getting near the quick, the inside of the nail will look chalky and white. Stop when you see a black dot in the middle of the white area—that’s the end of the quick. 

Your goal is to cut your dog’s nails short enough that they don’t touch the ground when your dog is standing. In most cases, that means getting close to the quick—but take caution not to cut the quick, which can be painful for your dog and potentially messy if it bleeds. 

If you cut your dog’s quick, it will hurt and bleed. Since not all pups hold still for nail trims, even professional groomers cut the quick sometimes, so don’t beat yourself up if it happens! 

Keep cornstarch, flour, or styptic powder handy. While cornstarch and flour can stop the bleeding, only styptic powder can also help ease pain, because it contains Benzocaine. 

The best way to avoid cutting the quick is to cut little bits of the nail at a time rather than going for a big chunk.  

If you happen to cut the quick, stay calm. Scoop up some styptic powder, flour, or cornstarch, and press it to the bleeding nail for a few seconds. If the bleeding continues for more than several minutes, contact your veterinarian. 

A good rule is to trim your dog’s nails once a month. Dogs who run or walk a lot on pavement may need their nails cut less than that (apart from their dewclaws), while dogs who spend most of their time inside or on the grass may require nail trimming every couple of weeks. 

Letting your dog’s nails get too long isn’t just a temporary problem—the quick, aka the vein inside your dog’s nail, can grow longer, meaning you can’t trim your dog’s nails as short next time. 

If you notice any of these signs, that’s a good indication that your dog’s nails are too long: 

• You can hear them clicking on hard floors or the sidewalk 
• There’s a long, slender curve coming off the nail 
• The nail extends far past the quick (visible only on dogs with white nails) 

Long nails can have many negative impacts on your pup’s health and happiness. 

Short-term effects of long nails: 

• Each toe is pressed up or twisted to one side, causing pain when your dog walks. 
• Long nails can grow into the paw pad, causing pain and the potential for infection. 
• They can get caught in carpet, blankets, and even their collar. 

Long-term effects of long nails: 

• The quick can grow out, making it impossible to get the nails short enough. 
• Chronic long nails can cause arthritis in the feet. 
• The unusual stance caused by walking with long nails can cause numerous joint problems. 

Q: What happens if I cut the quick? 

A: If you accidentally cut the quick, stay calm. Cutting the quick will be painful for your dog, so be prepared for them to react. Scoop up some styptic powder, flour, or cornstarch, and press it to the bleeding nail for a few seconds to stop the bleeding. 

Q: How do you grind dog nails? 

A: To grind your dog’s nails, hold the grinder toward the top for the best control. Make sure your dog’s hair is out of the way, to prevent it getting tangled in the grinder. Use short strokes with light to medium pressure to grind your dog’s nail down. Stop when you see a pink or black dot in the middle of the nail tip, which is a sign you’ve gotten to the quick. 

Q: How do you clip puppy nails? 

A: Puppy nails can be trimmed the same way as adult nails. Take caution not to cut the quick, and heap on the rewards after you cut them to teach your dog that nail trimming is a positive experience. 

Now that you know how to cut dog nails, you should feel comfortable keeping your pup on a regular nail trimming schedule. Dog nail trimming and puppy nail trimming is a critical part of keeping your pup healthy, happy, and pain-free, so put these tips into use today.