How to Cut Dog Nails With a Hinged Clipper

Trimming a dog's nails, depending on the disposition of the dog, can be a challenging experience. With patience and technique, you can give your pooch a pedicure with a hinged clipper. Hinged clippers are made of two separate pieces held together with a hinge, like a pair of scissors. The guillotine style of clipper is a type of hinged clipper is used in dog grooming.

Things You'll Need

  • Hinged/guillotine style nail clippers
  • Dog
  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce your dog to the hinged clipper. Let it sniff the clipper and offer treats and praise as it remains calm and content with the presence of the tool.

    • 2

      Hold the dog's paw in your lap, touch its toes and nails and continue to give praise and treats. Keep the hinged clipper close by in your other hand. Touch its nails and between its toes to get it comfortable with this experience.

    • 3

      Touch the clipper to the dog's nails and continue to give praise for calmness. Depending on your dog's size, you may find it comfortable to hold your dog on your lap with its back against your torso and hold its paw in your non-clipping hand.

    • 4

      Slip the hole over the dog's nail just a little bit, being certain to stay a good one-half inch below the quick of its nail. The hinged clipper rests in the open position, squeeze it firmly to clip the nail. Offer treats and praise with every clip.

    • 5

      Move quickly from nail to nail, and err on the side of clipping your dog's nails too long, rather than too short. You can always return later while your dog is calm. If your dog feels pain with the clipping, however, you will have trouble next time.