How To Cut Black Puppy Nails

Trimming your dog's nails tin can exist an feet inducing chore for both you and your canis familiaris. But knowing just the right identify to clip their nails to prevent injury doesn't have to be a guessing game. The Detroit dog groomers at Canine to Five have compiled the perfect at-home guide to trimming your dog's nails that'll walk you through every stride of the way.

What to use?
Not all nail trimmers are created equal, and purchasing the proper style and size for your dog will aid set you up for success.

For small dogs or tiny puppies, y'all'll need scissor style clippers.

Formedium&big dogs, you lot'll need large blast clippers.

You'll also want to be prepared with styptic powder in the event a smash starts to bleed.

When to trim?
A good rule of thumb is to trim your dog'south nails once they beginning touching the basis. Much like homo nails, a dog'due south nails will go on to grow and abound until they gyre outward, or worse – inward. Long nails can be uncomfortable for your dog to walk on, they take away your pup's traction making it easier for slips and falls, they're more susceptible to breaking or tearing off completely, and they tin grow into your dog's paw pads causing hurting and infection. If you hear your dog's nails clacking on the ground, it may be time for a nail trim!

Where to trim?
Arguably the most important question – WHERE? Most domestic dog owners know that inside of a dog's nail is a vein called the quick. This vein is the source of claret and all of your feet. If you're lucky, and yep – when information technology comes to dog nails, you tin actually get lucky – your dog will take white or clear nails that make it possible to see the quick from the exterior.

The quick is where the pink part of the smash begins – trim but below this line.

Only for many of u.s.a., our dogs either have one or more than nails that are all black, making it impossible to see where the quick is from the outside of the nail. In this case, the all-time method is to trim little by little, which we'll encompass in the side by side department.

How to trim?
So we know what to utilise, when to use it, and kind of where to cutting it, now – what is the best technique? If this is the first time y'all're trimming your domestic dog's nails, or you lot already know they're are a bit nervous when it comes to a pawdicure, yous'll want to contain some positive reinforcement grooming first before diving in. Here is a video that shows how to desensitize your canis familiaris to the idea of nail trimming and create a positive experience for them.

"If your domestic dog has nails that are naturally very dry and crack or flake oftentimes, information technology's best to clip the nails after a bath when they are all the same moistened, this can help prevent further neat" – Detroit Dog Groomer, Brittany

If you lot accept a pocket-sized canis familiaris or tiny puppy, the easiest way to cut volition be in your arms with nail scissors. This video below shows how to use nail scissors on a calm and nerveless canis familiaris.

"When clipping, e'er offset ho-hum and work your way up. A lot of the time you tin judge how much to take off by the neighboring nail you accept already trimmed. Sometimes, back nails need less off than front nails because of how dogs carry their weight." – Detroit Dog Groomer, Brittany

For dogs with blackness nails, trimming fiddling by little is the only way to go. This video will show you how to spot the quick from the inside of the smash.

Unfortunately, it is very piece of cake for a domestic dog to have a bad experience with nail trimming. Either they've had their nails cut too brusque in the past which acquired pain and bleeding, or they were restrained too aggressively instilling fear into the process. Any the reason for your dog's fear, know that is is very common and most dog owners struggle with nail trimming at dwelling house.

Groomer Brittany says,"The big thing to remember is that fifty-fifty i foot or one nail a day is a big achievement when working with a dog who doesn't similar having information technology done. In that location is definitely enough of time to work on building that trust with a canis familiaris in making this a positive and productive process, so don't rush and stress either of yourselves out. Try to arroyo it as confidently every bit y'all can because your dog will pick up on any and all of the free energy you put out there."

If your dog is very much opposed to having their nails trimmed, getting someone to assist gently restrain your canis familiaris while talking to them, or feeding them something yummy similar peanut butter, can make a big departure. Here are Detroit Domestic dog Groomers Lisa and Najee working together to trim a dog's nails.

If your canis familiaris is more than nervous with boom trims and behaves aggressively, you may need to incorporate muzzle grooming with them. This video below shows you how to first train your dog to tolerate wearing a muzzle, then how to safely restrain a fearful dog to trim their nails.

Finishing Touches
One time y'all've finished trimming your dog'due south nails with clippers, you tin move on to using a dremel. The sound of the dremel tin be scary for some dogs, and then a nail file tin can be used instead if needed.

"Ever make sure that the hair is pushed back on long coated/hairy footed pups. This can be done with pantyhose, or even a plastic purse and all y'all do is poke the nails through. This is all extremely important when using the bombardment operated blast filer to prevent pilus, body parts, or other objects from getting caught in the parts that spin." – Detroit Dog Groomer, Brittany

Filing your domestic dog'south nails volition aid you get closer to the nail's quick, and the closer you trim to the quick, the further this vein volition recede making it possible for shorter nails.

If your canis familiaris's nails are long, your dog will more likely tolerate dremeling if you clip them first, and then dremel as a finishing tool. But, if your domestic dog's nails are already short, or known to have long quicks, dremeling can help maintain that shortness and help the quick recede.

In add-on to achieving a shorter nail, the dremel tin can help with shaping and rounding out the edges, making information technology more than pleasant for us humans when our domestic dog jumps upwardly or sits on our lap. Allowing your dog walk or run on concrete tin have a similar effect.

Help! My dog'south nail is bleeding!
If y'all terminate upward cutting into your dog'due south quick, stay at-home. You'll want to accept styptic powder on manus to dip the nail into. Dipping the individual nail into styptic powder not only coagulates the blood and stops the flow, it helps creates a clog at the bottom of the vessel which will prevent bacteria from entering the blood vessel.

If your dog's nail was cut severely curt and it volition not terminate bleeding, contact your vet part for further direction.

You've got this!
At Canine to Five, nosotros believe in you and know that y'all tin trim your dog's nails at home! But if your dog has other ideas, our Detroit Grooming Salon offers nail trims with haircuts, baths, equally a walk-in service, or while your dog is with usa for doggy daycare or overnight domestic dog boarding.

Recommended Products

Master Grooming Tools Pet Nail Scissors (for minor dogs or tiny puppies)
Chief Grooming Tools Nail Clipper West/Teal Handle (for medium to large dogs)
Millers Forge Large Nail Clipper Due west/Orange Handle (for medium to big dogs)
Dremel 7300-Northward/v iv.8V MiniMite Cordless Rotary Tool
Coastal Pet Products DCPW6112 Stainless Steel Safari Diamond Dog Nail File
Cardinal Laboratories Remedy+Recovery Styptic Powder (1.5 Oz)
Miracle Care Kwik Stop Styptic Solution

Loved this blog post? Check out our At-Habitation Guide to Brushing Your Canis familiaris!