How to trim your dog's nails
Long nails can be uncomfortable and affect how your dog walks. Here's how to clip them a little at a time, avoid the quick, and what to do if a nail bleeds.
- Time
- 10 to 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Cost
- Low cost
- Steps
- 7
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Dog nail clippers Search Amazon for dog nail clippers
- Cornflour or styptic powder Search Amazon for styptic powder pets
- Cotton wool
- Treats
- A helper, for wriggly dogs
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Safety first
- Don't force a frightened dog: it can lead to bites and makes future trims harder.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Check if they need doing
If you can hear your dog's nails clicking on hard floors, they're probably too long. Dogs that walk a lot on pavements may hardly need trims; others need them every few weeks.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Pick a calm moment
Choose a time when your dog is relaxed, such as after a walk. Have treats ready and keep the session short.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Hold the paw comfortably
Hold the paw gently in a position that's comfortable for your dog but lets you see the nail clearly. A helper can hold and reassure the dog.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Find the quick
The quick is the pink part inside the nail with blood vessels and nerves. On light nails you can see it; cut a few millimetres away from it. On dark nails, use a light nail as a guide or take off tiny slivers at a time.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Clip each nail, including dew claws
Use proper dog nail clippers, not scissors or human clippers. Take small amounts and don't forget the dew claws on the inside of the legs, which don't touch the ground and can overgrow.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Deal with any bleeding
If you cut the quick, don't panic. Dip the nail in cornflour or press cotton wool on it until it stops. Call your vet if it doesn't stop.
Next: step 7 -
Step 7: Reward your dog
Give treats during and after so your dog learns nail time is a good thing.
Tips
- If your dog is nervous, just handle the paws and reward for a few days before you clip.
- Ask your vet or a groomer to show you the first time.
When to call a professional
Ask your vet, vet nurse or a professional groomer if all the nails are dark, your dog won't tolerate it, or a nail is split, infected or growing into the pad.
Questions people ask
How short should I cut?
Just the tip, keeping a few millimetres away from the quick.
Can I use a nail grinder?
Yes, many owners do. Introduce the noise slowly and grind a little at a time.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- PDSA: How to clip your dog's nails (pdsa.org.uk)
- Dogs Trust: How to clip your dog's nails (dogstrust.org.uk)
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Printed from howtoguides.uk/guides/how-to-trim-a-dogs-nails/ · Checked 9 October 2026 · General information only. For gas, electrics, structural work, medical, legal or money decisions, use a qualified professional.