Clipping and grinding are equally efficient and safe ways to trim your pup's nails. Clippers are cheaper and less noisy, while dremels are louder and more expensive but more precise and efficient.
Nail grinders are designed to reduce the risk of pain. The process of nail trimming itself likely won't hurt your dog, especially if you don't place the file directly to their nails for too long. Basically, if your dog is calm, and you make sure to trim the nail slowly, the grinder should never hurt your pup.
Clip only the tip of the nail, straight across. Include the dewclaws, located on the inner side of the paw. Avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting what is called the quick (the pink area of the nail that contains the blood vessels). A nick there is painful and will bleed.
A nail grinder is a fast rotating tool with a sanding head. The idea is that this files down the dogs toenail. This leaves you with a smoother, rounded edge. This means less chance of scratching you, or your furniture.
Listen out for your dog on a hard surface: if you can hear the nails clicking, it's time to get the grinder out. Dogs that don't regularly exercise on hard surfaces, such as older dogs, will need a trim more often, as their nails don't wear down as much.
Nail Care for Dogs. If your dog spends a lot of time outside on hard, rough surfaces, they will naturally have their nails 'filed down' for them by the ground.
The dog will usually not be able to grind all of their nails down evenly, so you may still need to use another method. Long walks can wear down your dog's nails naturally over time. In the wild, wolves and coyotes keep their nails short through digging and running after prey for hours.
It's best to use the nail grinder every 7-10 days for maintenance. For dogs with long hair, trim the hair around the toes prior to filing, and move the Dremel around constantly to avoid friction that can cause an uncomfortable warming sensation.
If your dog's nails are at a healthy length, twice a month is a reasonable goal to maintain the nails. If your dog's nails are overgrown, and the quicks are very long, you will need to trim or grind every few days to recede the quicks. Make nail maintenance a routine part of your dog's health care regime.
Luckily, most groomers and veterinary clinics offer nail trimming services, so the owner doesn't have to do it; however, this comes at an extra expense and some dogs are even more stressed out by getting their nails professionally done instead of by someone they already trust in their home.
Some dogs love a good scratch, especially if you have long fingernails. Many dogs enjoy petting from trusted people in the following areas: Lower back near the base of the tail. Belly and underside of the chest.
For overgrown dog nails, you'll need to clip long nails weekly. This gives the quick time to recede toward the paw. Once your dog's nails are finally at an acceptable length, keep trimming back his nails on a weekly basis. If you skip a week or two, your dog's nails will start touching the ground.
A dog's nails should be clipped often enough that they remain short enough to not click on the ground when a dog walks. Long nails that touch the ground may cause discomfort for your dog, and potentially cause problems down the road.
When Can I start Clipping my Puppy's Nails? Start clipping puppies' nails within the first week of bringing your puppy home, usually from around six weeks old, then clip them every week, even if it's only a tiny amount. This would get them used to nail clipping.
The growth pattern of a dog's nails forms a curved shape. If left untrimmed, the claws will eventually curve under the dog's paws and dig into the skin, creating pain when they walk. Anyone who has ever experienced an ingrown toenail can attest to the amount of pain this will cause.
A dog's nails can be cut by clipping or grinding just 1/16th off. A dog's nail has two parts: the outer nail and the inner quick. You can make nail trimming easier by acclimating your dog to it as a puppy.
Nails soften if soaked in water. Try trimming nails after bathtime or let your dog stand in a few inches of water in the bathtub for about 15 minutes.
Survival instinct
The main reason dogs hate getting their nails clipped is because of the pain. It doesn't hurt them if they are clipped correctly but if your dog has been cut too close to their nerve in their nail, even once, he will remember it.
Dog's nails should extend enough to be seen, but should not go past the paw. If your dog has long hair, you may not be able to easily see the nails. But if the nails extend over the bottom of the paw pad you'll know your dog's nails are too long.
Trimming black nails
Go slowly. Hold your dog's paw firmly but gently. Position the clippers to cut the nail from top to bottom (not side to side) Trim a very small length of the nail, about 1/16th of an inch.
Just like human nails, dogs do not have any feeling in the nail itself, but the quick contains a nerve that transmits sensations back to the brain. When trimming the nail, it is important to stay far enough from the quick to avoid causing pain or drawing blood.