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How to Clip a Dog's Nails

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Summary: Clipping your dog's nails is important. You can do it without having to go to a professional groomer. It's important to take just a little off each nail. Your dog has a vein in the nail called the quick. You want to be careful not to cut the quick. Here are steps to clipping your dog's nails.

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Presenter
By Eric Letendre
eHow Presenter

Eric Letendre, author of the book "The Amazing Dog Training Man," has been professionally training dogs for the past 20 years and has helped literally thousands of dog owners learn...read more

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    When you are trimming your dog's nails you need to be careful not to cut the vein in the nail. It is better to take a little off your dog's nail than to cut too deep.

  2. Step 2

    If your dog does not like you handling his paws, you can start to train your dog to accept his paws being handled. This can be done with some treats. An easy way to do this is to hold a treat close to your dog's nose as you handle his paws. You are trying to get your dog to associate the treats with handling his paws. You want to make it a positive experience.

  3. Step 3

    Once your dog accepts you handling his paws, use the clippers to take just a little of the nail off. Be careful not to cut the quick.

  4. Step 4

    Once you have cut your dog's nails you can use a file to wear down the sharp edges. Taking your dog for a walk also will help take off any sharp edges.

Comments  

Meri said

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on 4/13/2008 Thanks, Eric. I appreciate knowing which tool to use. I have always used a dremmel to keep my dog's nails short but it has to be done every other day it seems. How often should you cut the nails?

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on 4/10/2008 Hi Eric,
this is an excellent article. And the video is superb. I have always wondered how this is to be done & i was actually very scared to do it to my dog, have got confidence with the ease with which you did it in the video.
Thanks.

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