Instructions For Clipping A Dogs Toenails

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Instructions for clipping a dogs toenails: Most dogs do not like having their toenails trimmed. Start trimming toenails in young animals so that they get used to the process. Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim their nails but many require some form of restraint.

One method to restrain the dog is to place her/him on a table. Stand on the side of the table opposite to the nails you are trimming.

Drape your arms and upper body over the dog. When trimming the front nails, keep your left forearm over the neck to keep the dog from lifting its head. Hold the paw in your left hand and hold the trimmer in your right hand.

If the dog tries to stand, lean your upper body over his/her shoulders to prevent him/her from rising. 

If your dog is too wiggly, try laying him/her on his/her side. Use your right arm and upper body to keep the dog laying on his/her side. Hold the trimmer in your right hand.

Use your left arm to keep the head on the table and use the left hand to hold the paw.

It is easier to perform this procedure if you have a helper. See the section on restraining a dog for some additional suggestions.

There are several styles of nail trimmers, including a guillotine type and a scissors type. The guillotine type is the easiest to use in dogs.

The scissors-type is used to trim a toenail that is so long that it is curling in a circle. Long toenails can grow into the toe-pad. This most often happens to dew claws, the claw on the inner side of the paw. Dew claws do not touch the ground so they are not worn down as the dog walks.

The dew claw is attached to the leg by loose skin. The dew claw can usually be bent away from the leg so that you can fit a guillotine type trimmer over the tip of the dew claw.

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Instructions for clipping a dogs toenails.