Trimming Your Dog's Nails at Home, Calmly

If you can hear your dog's nails on the tiles as he walks, it is time for a trim. Long nails change the way a dog stands, and over time they put pressure on the joints of the feet. Start with the right tool: dog nail clippers sized for your dog, with styptic powder within reach just in case. Pick a time when your dog is tired after a walk, not when he is full of energy. Every nail has a living part, the quick, with blood vessels and nerves. In pale nails you can see it as a pink core, so cut well before it. In dark nails it does not show, so take very small slices at a time and stop when a dark dot appears in the middle of the cut surface. Keep it pleasant: one nail, then a treat, and one paw a day if your dog is nervous. A dog that links trimming with a reward will be offering his paw within a few weeks. If he stays frightened all the same, ask your vet or a groomer to show you the technique once in front of you.