Things You'll Need
- Styptic powder
Instructions
Place your dog on a sturdy table. If your dog is large, another person can stand in front of it to hold it steady or distract it while you're clipping its nails. If your dog is moving too much, it may be necessary to hold your dog down while clipping its nails. Get the dog to lie down on its side, and use your right arm and upper body strength to keep the dog's movement to a minimum.
Hold one of the dog's paws in your hand so you can clearly see the nails. With your other hand, place the clippers at the end of the nail you will be cutting. In general, just clip the rounded head of the nail, or approximately 1/8 inch, to avoid cutting into the quick, which is painful and will cause bleeding.
Firmly squeeze the handles of the clippers together to cut the nail. Afterward, give your dog one treat as a reward. Giving your dog a treat after successfully cutting each nail is a positive reinforcement that can eventually make this grooming process easier.
Dab styptic powder on the nail if you accidentally cut into the quick and it bleeds. Gently apply pressure with a clean cloth for approximately five minutes until the bleeding stops.