Trimming a dog’s toenails is a basic part of grooming and maintaining basic canine health, but it can also be incredibly frustrating. Most dogs don’t like to get a nail trim, so starting the habit early with puppies will get them used to the ritual. In fact, you will certainly reap the benefits of training a pup early to allow its feet to be handled. When your pup is young, spend a little time handling the pads of your dog's paws and getting them used to being handled. Dog's paws are actually very sensitive, and the sooner they get used to having them handled, the better of you will be when trying to trim the toenails or even wiping muddy feet!

It is a good idea to have a vet tech, veterinarian or dog groomer show you how to trim nails first before you start clipping away with abandon. These are the basics of giving doggy a divine pedicure:

• Get a good pair of clippers made especially for dog pedicures. Many recommend a “guillotine” type of trimmer where the top of the dog’s toe is inserted into an opening above the cutting blade.
• The nail should be cut from underneath, not from the top downward.
• Dog nails are either white or brown/black depending on the color of the skin and hair surrounding the nail. The pink area of the nail is the fleshy part of the nail bed and should not be cut.
• Be conservative when cutting dark claws and make several small cuts to avoid cutting the fleshy part of the nail.
• The most important nail to trim is the one at the back of the paw, called the “dew” claw. If left alone, it can grow into the dog’s paw, causing pain and infection.
• To cut the nail, be decisive and make a smooth, quick squeeze on the handle while holding the trimmer steady.
• It’s not necessary to file the nail after trimming, but it can be done with a regular nail file if desired.

Cutting to the quick

Some people will accidentally cut the nail back until there is a slight amount of bleeding in an attempt to shorten the nail back further. This means they have probably cut the “quick”, which is a small blood vessel running through the center of the nail.

If bleeding occurs, place a tiny piece of tissue paper tightly against the end of the nail and hold it for a few minutes or have some clotting powder on hand to stop the bleeding. The bleeding will stop in about five to seven minutes. If it lasts longer than that, it’s time to call the vet.