How to Trim a Dog's Nails

My sisters and I all LOVE to get up on our grooming table, even if it means we have to get our nails clipped. Each of us gets our own special time to be brushed and petted. And praised for being sooooo good!

Personally, I don't like getting my nails clipped. But I put up with it long enough to get the job done, since I know I will get all kinds of goodies (brushing, petting, praise, and treats) during and after.

You should see Kia. She actually falls asleep when she is being groomed! Here's a picture of her dozing while Mama trims away the long hair on her feet before her pedicure. She opened one eye as soon as she heard Daddy getting his camera ready.

For trimming your dog's nails, these are some things you need to know.

Equipment Choose a good quality nail trimmer in the right size for your dog. If it is too small, it may not be able to clip thick nails on larger dogs. If it is too large, it may reach into the foot pad and injure it. Owwww!!!

A nail file may be useful for smoothing off the ends of any ragged or broken nails.

A folding table with a non-skid pad on it is very helpful. By grooming your puppy on a table, you teach him that when he is on the table, it's grooming time.

Preparation Before clipping your puppy's nails the first time, get him accustomed to having his feet handled. Days or even weeks beforehand, begin by picking up his feet one at a time and stroking them while "sweet-talking" your puppy. If you can do this numerous times before his first pedicure, so much the better. He will have good associations with his feet being handled, and that will make the nail clipping session go better.

Each time, before you clip your puppy's nails, brush his coat thoroughly. Being brushed helps him relax. Go easy on any mats you might encounter, even if you have to cut them out with blunt-nosed scissors. That is better than making your dog so uncomfortable that he won't want to be groomed. You don't want to cause him any discomfort, since the idea is to help your puppy begin to associate the nail clipping time with the pleasure of being brushed.

Clipping the Nails

• When you clip a nail, hold it firmly with your free hand. This causes less pressure, and your puppy is less likely to jerk his foot away.
  

• If your puppy tries to pull away, have him stand up while you clip the nails with his foot still on the table. Be extremely careful that the nail clippers don't dig into the footpad. If he still pulls away, have another person lift the opposite foot while you clip the nails of the foot that is still on the table.
  

• Only clip a little of the nail off each time. Don't forget to clip the dew claws if your puppy has any of those "extra" little nails on the sides of his legs.
  

• Be extremely careful not to cut the nails too much at once. If they are really long, wait two weeks after trimming, and then clip a little more off. Two weeks gives the "quick" inside the nail time to retreat further into the nail bed so the trimmer won't cut into it and make it bleed when the nails are clipped. On white or light-colored nails, the quick can usually be seen through the nail.
  

• In the event you accidentally clip into the quick, apply cornstarch or styptic powder to stop the bleeding. Some nail clippers have a nail guard that prevents clipping too far up the nail.

• If your puppy is extremely resistant, don't be tempted to fuss at him or "correct" him. He may be frustrated and uncomfortable. He may need more preparation, as outlined above. If the nail trimming session gets frustrating for either you or your puppy, it is best to stop and finish at another time.
  

• Always end the session with a little more brushing and lots of praise.

• Treats given at appropriate times make the grooming session more fun for everybody. Focus on praising your puppy at every opportunity.

To help your puppy want to be well-behaved during grooming (and all of the time, really), please, oh please, read The Loved Dog: The Playful, Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior, by Tamar Geller. I got my mama a copy for Mother's Day, and she loves it! Of course, she's started using some of Tamar's training tips on me. But I'm glad -- it's a fun way to learn!

Let me hear from you! (Click on "comments.")

Your friend,
Susie