Your veterinarian can give you a good idea of when it's time to trim your dog's nails. In fact, one option is to relegate the task to your veterinarian or groomer; many will take care of nail clipping for a small fee.

Even if you decide to follow the do-it-yourself directions below, you may want to have your veterinarian or groomer show you how to do it the first time.

Before You Begin

• Start preparing your dog or puppy for this part of the grooming routine when you bring him home. Massage his feet and look at his nails, and offer praise when he's still. The experience will reduce his fears of the activity later on.
• There are several kinds of nail trimmers available. Have your veterinarian, groomer, or other pet professional recommend an appropriate clipper for your dog's nails.
• Buy some styptic powder where you purchase your pet supplies - it's used to stop bleeding should you cut a nail too short.

Trimming Nails

• Gently hold and squeeze your dog's paw, which will help extend the nail. Find the "quick" by looking for the pink line coming from the base of the nail. The quick is a vein in the nail that feeds the nail bed; this, you do not want to cut.
• Wait until your dog is still before you make a cut.
• Start conservatively. It's better to cut a little twice than cut too much and hit the quick.
• If you cut a nail and it bleeds, immediately apply some styptic powder and a small amount of pressure to the end of the nail.
• On darker nails, it can be a bit more difficult to detect where the quick begins. If your dog has darker nails, make sure you get appropriate instruction before you clip.
• Always praise your dog for holding still

Keep Nails Shorter Naturally

One side benefit to regular exercise, particularly if you walk on a sidewalk, is that the action of walking keeps the nails trimmed as they brush against the concrete. This doesn't mean that you don't have to worry about nail trimming, but you will be able to go longer between trims.