learn how to clip my dog's nails

My dad surprised my dog and me with a special nail trimmer. It files the nail instead of actually cutting it so I feel a lot safer using it on my pup than regular clippers. I used it a little over the weekend, but my dog is going to take some time getting used to it. One paw at a time! :) 3 years ago

on the way home from church and bought a pair of clippers. I found the style the vet technicians recommended.

The next step is to try trimming my dog’s nails when they grow a little more.

Almost there! 3 years ago

Took my dog to the vet office today and the nice vet technicians showed and explained to me how to trim his nails, and showed me the type of clippers they recommend.

Next step will be to buy a pair of clippers so when his nails grow a bit I can trim them for the first time myself. Making progress! :) 3 years ago

I called the vet’s office and made an appointment for this weekend to have my dog’s nails trimmed and for them to show me how to do this. Yippeee! That wasn’t too painful! :) First step down! 3 years ago

This goal has become more important. His nails are getting longer and he is biting them (normal for him to groom himself, but I don’t like that he feels the need to). I’m looking into how to do this, and what kind of clippers to use. I hear there’s something very similar to a nail file for dogs and I wonder how he would like that. It will be great to figure all of this out and for both of us to feel comfortable with me trimming his nails. 3 years ago

When we were at the vet’s the other day I got our lovely vet to show me how to do this properly. Why not learn from a professional? And thankfully she did as my dog has black nails which makes it hard to see the quick. But now I actually know where the quick is on a dog, what to look for, how long roughly a nail should be, and thankfully the nail clippers I got were the same ones our vet had.

She did one paw, and with one nail tucked away for length reference, we went home. My go was a little but trickier. I didn’t want to cut her entire leg off and of course she knew I was nervous which made her nervous. But I managed to do clip two nails before she pulled her paw away and said “No more mommy you’re evil… Oh look, Kong!” and off we went to play.

I’m not marking this as done yet, as I’m not comfortable with it fully, but paws crossed that in a few months both of us will be fine with it! 3 years ago

My dog needs me to learn how to clip her nails. She never used to need this, but for some reason she naturally isn’t getting her claws to a level of comfort. I had noticed them getting longer but I did think that more running around would help, but it hasn’t so I have ordered a pair of clippers. I have no clue how to use them so I will be doing a lot of research, and already what I have looked into doesn’t sound too hard. I certainly won’t be hacking at her. Just trimming to start with. I have a feeling she may freak out anyhow as she isn’t a young dog but she is quite tame and will do most things for treats. I just need to be very confident of what I am doing, which will calm her down.

First though, I need the clippers and to read more about how to use them. Perhaps by then she will have run around enough for her nails to have rubbed down but given that this hasn’t occurred already, I’m pretty sure that this is yet another thing for me to learn, which is great as I love animals and working with them. More to the point, I don’t want her to be uncomfortable or to hurt herself from her nail getting stuck and pulled… that hurts enough in a human, let alone in an animal, especially when I can prevent it.

Just have to wait for my clippers to arrive, and meanwhile I have to research, research, research!! 3 years ago