Types of Dog Nail Clippers

Keeping your dog's toenails short are one of the most important grooming routines. Many times it is easiest to take your dog to the dog groomer for a trimming, but there are numerous techniques and tools you can use at home to save money.

  1. Guillotine-Style

    • Guillotine-style nail clippers fit in the palm of your hand. You place the dog's nail in the hole at the top of the gadget and press down on a lever to assert the blade through the nail. This is one of the most common types of nail clippers because it is initially the cheapest. However, it is important to change the blade regularly for a clean, painless cut. The replacement blade is an added expense. This type of clipper is best fit for smaller breed dogs with lighter nails.

    Pliers-Style

    • Pliers-style nail clippers are most often used by groomers because they work on all dog types. This type of clippers looks like a pliers and has notched blades that the nail fits in between. These are the easiest to use because you can see where you are cutting. Pliers-style clippers are the ideal choice for dogs with thick, dark nails.

    Scissors-Style

    • Scissors-style nail clippers look like scissors with notched ends. This type of clippers is not very durable and should only be used on dogs with small, light colored nails. Ideally this type of clipper should be used on small, toy dogs. In no situation should it be used on a dog with thick, black nails. Using this type of clippers could cause pain to the dog or the strength of the nail will break it.

    Pet-icure

    • Pet-icures are the latest fad in dog grooming. This gadget works like a razor that shaves off your pets' nails. Although the idea is a good concept, it is important to pay attention to how short you are trimming your pets' nails so you do not draw blood. With this type of clipper it is easy to cut too short.

    Tips

    • Trimming your dog's nails at home can be easy and inexpensive if you do it correctly. Make sure your dog is calm before beginning. Pay attention to what type of clipper you are using and how short you are cutting the nail. It is more difficult to cut a dog with dark nails because you cannot see where the end of the nail is.