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Size
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The length of a dog's nails vary by breed, but in general the nails should be trimmed when you hear them click against a hard floor, or when they start to curve. The best guide is to cut them to within about 2 mm of the quick, or the live nerve ending in the claw that is visibly red or pink.
Time Frame
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Dog's nails need trimmed approximately every six to eight weeks, or every two to four weeks if the dog is not very active or spends most of his time indoors.
Benefits
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Making sure your dog's nails are trimmed properly and frequently will not only protect your skin and your furniture from accidental scratches; it will also greatly aid in keeping your dog from developing ingrown toenails or getting their claws snarled in carpeting and causing painful tears.
Warning
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If you cut your dog's nails too short, you will cut into the "quick," which in turn causes pain and bleeding for your dog.
Prevention/Solution
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Only cut to as close to the pinkish part of the nail as you can. If you do happen to accidentally cut into the quick, apply pressure to the wound until bleeding stops, or apply styptic powder to rapidly stop the bleeding.
If you have gone a while without trimming your dog's nails, trim a little at a time until the quick recedes back toward the paw. Attempting to cut much of the claw at once will just hurt your dog's paws and make him less likely to cooperate next time he needs a pedicure. Take it slowly, and over time his nails will be an acceptably short length that you can easily maintain.
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How Short Should a Dog's Nails Be Trimmed?
Knowing how to trim a dog's nails is only part of the learning curve that accompanies pet ownership. Other questions such as how much to trim and when to trim aren't quite as straightforward as the actual grooming process. Nail length is subjective according to the breed, but you should know the general guidelines that can help you determine how often and how short to trim your dog's nails to keep your pet healthy and happy.