Dog Nail Clippers- How To Choose Them and How To Use Them
A lot of pet owners are scared to cut their dog’s nails. Whether it’s because the dog gives you a hard time or it’s because you’re afraid that you’re going to hurt your best friend, follow these simple tips and you’ll be a pro in no time!
First off, you need to purchase a pair of nail clippers that are specifically designed for use on dogs. Growing up, I had a miniature Chihuahua. My Mom, bless her heart, would go after that dog’s nails with a pair of toenail clippers and totally split my baby’s nails. No wonder the pup peed herself every time those things came out! That’s why you need to use the proper tools when grooming your dog. Clipping a dog’s nails doesn’t have to be unpleasant for you or your dog.
There are 2 types of dog nail clippers that are readily available in stores and online:
- Traditional Dog Nail Clippers- This type of clipper comes in 2 styles. One type resembles scissors and is typically a bit easier to use. This particular variety is great if your dog has longer, thicker nails. There are also dog nail clippers out there, and probably the one‘s you‘re most familiar with, that act very much like a “guillotine“. They’re a bit harder to get used to, but they will stay sharper for much longer than the scissor-style.
- “Peticure” and Other Battery-Operated Dog Nail Trimmers- This style of trimmer sands off the tips of your dog’s nails. This is great, especially for dogs with dark or black nails because you’re not taking off too much at one time. However, because it doesn’t take off very much at a time, it is best used for trims and not if your dog’s nails need a serious clipping.
Now that you have a great pair of dog nail clippers, you need to learn how to use them.
Here’s some tips to get your dog to take nail clipping in stride:
- The very first step is to get your pooch to sit still. This is easier said than done, so get your dog to sit and reward him with treats if he can make it a couple of minutes.
- If your dog is not used to having anyone touch his paws, then this will be your next hurdle. Practice this before you ever go near him with the clippers. I’ve gotten a lot of advice, in the past, about how to go about this. Surprisingly, most groomers have told me to use the “shake” trick to get your dog used to having his nails clipped. Personally, I don’t mix my dog’s happy tricks with grooming sessions. That’s just me, though. I find that you can easily get your dog used to having his paws touched by doing it whenever you think of it. When he’s sleeping, when he’s hanging out with you, etc…It should not be associated with anything remotely unpleasant.
- Next, bring out the clippers and just let your dog have a sniff. Don’t use them. Wait until he shows no signs of fear or discomfort.
- Cut just 1 nail. Just the very tip, at that. If your dog does really great, reward him. If he freaks, put the clippers away. That’s enough for one day.
- After a couple of days have passed, clip a few of your dog’s nails. If he behaves, give him a treat. If you can clip them all, go for it.
This may seem a bit silly to you, the baby steps of it all, but in the long run, you’ll be able to do this very basic grooming yourself without any fear on the part of you or your dog. Clipping your dog’s nails is an essential part of taking care of your dog. If you find that after following the above steps, you still can’t do it, then by all means get a groomer or your vet to.
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