How To Clip Dog Nails – Professional Dog Training Tips

An important step in caring for your dog is making sure that their nails are clipped. This video will show you how to clip dog nails the right way so that It’s a comfortable experience for both you and your four-legged family member.

Do you want to trim your dog's nails? “Oh my word, NO!!!!” That was her response when I a student in our Puppy Head Start class if she wanted help with nail trimming. Clearly, she was terrified of the process. I asked her why. “My last dog used to fight so hard, we had to muzzle him and eventually had to resort to anesthetizing him to get his nails trimmed. It was awful!”

We hear these and other similar stories all of the time in classes and it's all the more reason to work hard with your puppy to get them used to nail trimming. With a little bit of knowledge and practice, nail trimming can be a simple part of grooming. Remember that even if you don’t want to do the nail trimming yourself, your dog will have to be a part of the process, so it’s essential that they are comfortable with it.

For a healthy foot, nails should be trimmed short on a regular basis. Care should be taken to avoid trimming too close and nipping into the nail’s blood vessel (the “quick”). Also, be aware that some dogs have dewclaws that will need trimming. If present, they will be on the insides of the lower leg (possibly front and back), though often, breeders will remove these at a few days old.

Here are the 4 steps we consider essential to creating a dog who is happy and calm when having their nails trimmed.

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42 Comments on “How To Clip Dog Nails – Professional Dog Training Tips”

  1. Dog keeps looking at her like “Hey, get away from me with those things!” 😀

    I always leave this part to the experts as I’ve never had the courage to clip my dogs nails. A bad clip or getting into the quick can easily make your pup scared of having their paws touched again. I’ve watched lots of grooming videos where you can tell the dogs have had bad experiences with getting their nails cut. I’ve just never wanted to put my pups through that, even if only accidental..

    1. Hey, SD Cruiser! All the more reason to do these handling exercises with your two! Simply working on some of the rewarding while handling their feet, will help them to feel even more comfortable when they’re having their nails clipped by the pros! Good to see you again, Happy Training! ~Ken

  2. I have been trimming my dogs’ nails since I was a teenager and I have learned ALOT. I have an 11 year old white German shepherd who I have cut the quick on more than once! It IS a dramatic experience, and I have had to smother him with love to overcome the guilt I feel. He has always forgiven me, and moments later it’s like nothing ever happened, because out of the hundreds of times I have trimmed his nails, it is a rarity that I have clipped a bit too far. He knows that, and he is desentized. He is the best dog ever, and he has taught me everything I know about raising a well-behaved and happy dog. Obviously, if it is something you are very uncomfortable with doing, then pay a professional. Personally, though, I find it very rewarding to put that time and energy into building trust and loving on my pooches.

    1. Hello, how are you suppose to trim up, down, left and right on a tiny pup’s nails? they’re so tiny… Should I just make one cut and change it when they start to grow as he grows?

    2. What to give for PAIN in case we touch that quick?

      Coconut flour ok to stop bleeding, or just Cornstarch?

      Can you list “high value” rewards?

      HOW do I CALM DOWNNN her when she’s completely in panic, squealing and squirming from anticipation alone, …

      the click sound and the going slow TRIGGER her… BUT I HAVE TO SEEEE what I’m doing?

      How do I HOLD HER DOWN, is there a thing I can sit her on? Anything???

      Drummel takes ages…

  3. This is probably the most informative, well spoken, thorough, detailed, and CLEAR video I’ve seen. Thank you. You are a fantastic teacher.

    1. Okay I’m ready for possible bleeding, I will compare it to head wound in child 5 years or younger. Small scrap can cause lots of blood fast because blood vessels are close to surface. (Don’t panic)

  4. Thank you so much! I have an extremely anxious rescue dog and using this technique I was able to trim a single nail for the first time since I got her a year ago without sedation. I never thought I’d be so excited to be able to trim just one nail! 😊

    1. Glad you’ve seen so much success already, Oxyanion hole! With a little repetition you’ll be able to do all 4 paws on no time! Thanks for watching ~Ken

  5. Tens of thousands of years ago, dogs grew frustrated at not being able to trim their nails. And so they befriended human beings to do the job for them. They called them Manicurists.

    1. @velvetpaws999 there’s much evidence to support that. Obviously not the dog’s favorite. It didn’t take long for dogs who helped hunt from tame dogs eating cast off food. Thing is often there wasn’t much cast off (unlike say cats later) in the Kalahari living among the ! Kung Dobe San the only “pets” were dogs and they were not pets and yeah they ate what they could when times were thin.
      Bet you weren’t expecting that response

  6. I love Ned. What a good dog. He just sat there and listened the whole time she spoke. He’s so pretty too!
    Oh and the video is helpful too… Love that dog.

  7. Ned is the super star in this wonderful informative video. He is just so lovable and well-behaved. Thanks a tons for the tips on “pre-cut” ritual so both dog and owner are at ease before making that very first actual cut.

  8. Omgness I had to stop and comment 11 minutes in, that sweet puppy looked right into camera, He definitely added extra reassurance telling ME “it’s okay, I’m safe it didn’t hurt.

  9. Instructor Shannon is excellent! In terms of voice tone, body language, fluent speaking -which gives me the impression that she knows what she’s doing- being positive and so on. Great employment! Thanks instructor Shannon!

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