Why cut your dog's nails at all?
With some dogs, the nails wear down on their own. If your four-legged friend, for example, walks a lot on hard sidewalks or concrete in the city, the nails will automatically wear down. However, many dog owners find that they need to help by cutting the nails to prevent them from becoming too long.
Reasons for increased nail growth could be that your dog walks a lot on soft surfaces like forest paths or is less active because they might be sick or already old. A particularly rich diet can also promote nail growth.
What is best: nail scissors, clippers, or grinders?
With the right tools and some practice, cutting your dog's nails can be quite simple and quick. Just like →brushing teeth, it is part of dog care and should be practiced early on. But which tool is the right one? Numerous pliers, scissors, and trimmers are available in pet specialty stores. Let's take a closer look at these:
- Nail scissors or nail pliers: There are special scissors and pliers that have a rounded cutting surface and are specifically designed for cutting dog nails. The tool should definitely be adapted to the size of the dog's paw and applied at the correct angle to avoid splintering. Commercial nail scissors or clippers should not be used!
- Nail trimmers or nail grinders: Others prefer electronic trimmers or grinders for shortening dog nails. These are small electronic machines that gently grind the nails down. They are particularly suitable for small animals or very anxious dogs.
- Nail file: For the final touch, a manual nail file is suitable. Especially when working with nail scissors or pliers, you can use a file to round everything off and gently remove any horn remnants.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Neben einer Krallenschere sind auch Krallenschleifer gut geeignet, um die Nägel deines Hundes zu kürzen.
How to properly cut your dog's nails
To prevent your dog from hiding under the sofa at the sight of the nail cutting tools, you should slowly get them used to nail cutting. If your dog has difficulty with close contact or being touched and is →very anxious, you should safely put on a well-fitting muzzle. Because sooner or later, the nails need to be cut.
1. Grab your dog and your tools.
These include: nail scissors, grinder or other tools, a fur scissors, and possibly a flashlight. If your dog reacts to close contact by snapping, it’s better to put on a muzzle (Safety first!) and have your veterinarian inform you about nail cutting!
2. Enclose the paw with your hand and hold it firmly.
Of course, you should not hurt your dog. However, it is important that you have the paw firmly in your hand in case they want to pull it back suddenly. If your dog is already struggling with this, practice it. Praise them a lot with treats or say "Suuuper, you’re doing great".
3. First, remove any excess fur around the paw pads with the fur scissors.
If your dog has difficulty with this, practice it and reward them a lot!
4. Cut/file the nails without injuring the nerves.
Now cut the nails up to 2 mm before the quick (pink tissue in the nail). With light-colored nails, you can easily see how far you can cut. Where you can see a bit of pink in the nail, the nerves begin, and injuring them would be extremely painful for your dog. Therefore, cut the nail up to a maximum of 2 mm before the pink tissue. With black nails, you can use a flashlight (a phone flashlight is sufficient) to illuminate the nail and mark with a pen where the nerves end. Or you can work your way forward piece by piece until you can see a small dark spot in the middle of the nail. This is a sign that the nerves begin behind it.
Important: By holding the tool at a right angle to the nail, you avoid splintering the nail!
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Damit sich dein Hund entspannt die Krallen schneiden lässt, lohnt sich ein frühzeitiges Üben ab Welpenalter. So lernt dein Hund, dass du ihn überall berühren und deine Pfoten länger halte darfst.
5. Positive conclusion: Don’t forget the reward!
If your dog has handled everything well and the nails are all trimmed, it’s time for a tasty snack! This way, you conclude the nail cutting positively. Many dogs do not like nail cutting and →can quickly feel stressed. Here, especially during the first few times, it is important to convince them with lots of praise and even more treats. If you are two people, one person can also distract the dog by, for example, licking a →liver sausage tube while the other person quickly cuts the nails.
Leckere Belohnungen für tapfere Hunde
How do I know if my dog's nails are too long?
If your dog walks through the house and you can hear the clattering of the nails on the floor, it’s time to trim the nails a bit. Alternatively, you can also place your dog's paws in front of you and then look sideways to see if the dog's nails touch the ground. Ideally, the nails should hover slightly above the ground when standing (rule of thumb: A piece of paper should fit between the ground and the dog's nail).
If you are unsure, you can also have your dog's nails cut by veterinarians, for example, during your →annual routine check-up. Mention this at your appointment in advance so that the veterinarians can plan accordingly.
