How to Clip a Dog's Nails With Dog Nail Clippers

Dogs, like humans, have nails that constantly grow. Because of this, they need to be routinely clipped or they can grow too long and cause your dog to be extremely uncomfortable. In addition, dogs with long nails may accidentally scratch you when they are excited or when they are playing. Many dog owners, unfamiliar with how to properly groom their four-legged friends, take their dogs to professional groomers. You can, however, learn how to do this yourself and groom your dog at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Guillotine clippers
  • Nail file
  • Styptic pen
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check the mood of your dog before trying to clip his nails. If he is hyper or irritated, try again later. When your dog is calm and relaxed, take advantage of his mood and get to work.

    • 2

      Lay your dog down on a comfortable surface -- on his belly or on his side. If on his belly, lean your dominant arm over the back of your dog and your other hand on the back of his neck to keep him from wiggling around. If he's on his side, put your dominant arm over the back of your dog, resting on the rib cage, and place your other arm over the chest and forearm to keep the dog still.

    • 3

      Gently pick up your dog's paw. If your dog is nervous, speak soothingly to calm him down. If he begins moving around a lot, trying to get free, you may need to try again later.

    • 4

      Slip your dog's claw into the stationary ring on the guillotine clipper. If your dog has white claws, locate the collection of blood vessels and nerve endings, called the quick, in your dog's claw. Position the blade just beyond the quick and squeeze the handles of the clipper together. This will clip off the nail.

    • 5

      Place the claw into the stationary ring of the clipper if your dog has dark claws, but do not squeeze the handles yet. Instead, move the clipper to the tip of your dog's claw. Clip off just the tip of the nail and move the clipper back just a little, clipping off another tip.

    • 6

      Keep clipping small pieces of nail if your dog has dark nails. After each clip, look beneath your dog's claws until you see pale pink tissue beginning to appear. This is the quick. Do not cut any further or you will injure your dog.

    • 7

      Cut all of the claws on the front paws of your dog, including the dew claws, located higher up on the paw. The back paws need to be clipped only very rarely. File your dog's claws to smooth the sharp, newly clipped edges and reward your pet for his patience and good behavior.