How to Hold a Dog to Clip Their Nails

Overgrown nails on a dog can lead to the pet feeling discomfort while walking, inside or outside, and can also increase the odds of a person being accidentally scratched by an overly-friendly dog. One must be cautious while clipping a dog's nails, however, to avoid accidentally hurting the dog or even causing bleeding due to cutting the nail too deeply. Holding the dog the right way before and during the process prevents injuries and keeps the pet calm as you clip his or her nails.

Things You'll Need

  • pet nail clippers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the dog either on your lap or next to you on the ground. Make sure both you and your dog are in a comfortable position before moving on.

    • 2

      Guide the dog onto his or her side. This makes accessing the dog's paws easier.

    • 3

      Take one of the paws in your hand. Hold the paw so that your index and middle fingers are on the center part of the inside (the "padded" portion) of the paw.

    • 4

      Press down gently on the paw. This extends the nails fully, preventing you from accidentally cutting too far down a nail.

    • 5

      Beginning clipping each nail one at a time.