How to Cut Your Dog’s Nails

One of the hardest things about grooming your dog is cutting his nails. You know how it is, you get the clippers out and he runs a mile.

The best thing to do is get your dog used to having his nails clipped when he’s a pup. That way you won’t have problems when he’s older and huge.

But if you’ve never really gotten around to getting him used to trimming his nails, or relied on those long walks on the asphalt to do the job for you, you’ll be in for a shock later on.

Dogs don’t like having their nails cut. They strain and pull and do just about anything to avoid it.

If you’ve got a struggler on your hands, get one person to hold the dogs head, talking to him calmly and reassuringly. Meanwhile, lift the dogs paws, one at a time, as if you were a vet checking a horse’s hoof.

The nail should be cut from underneath, not from the top downward. Slide the opening over the end of the nail while staying in the whitish part of the nail. The pink area of the nail is the live part and has blood vessels throughout.

When you are ready to cut, and you are sure you aren’t at the live, pink part of the nail, just squeeze the clippers in one swift move.

What To Do If You Cut Too Short
Place a tiny piece of tissue paper tightly against the end of the nail and hold it for a few minutes. Or, have some Quick Stop Powder available and put a small amount up against the bleeding end of the nail. If you do nothing the bleeding should stop in about 5 minutes.