The best dog nail clippers to cut your pet’s nails at home

When the ancestors of our dogs used to roam in the wild, their claws would be worn down by running, hunting and other activities. Domesticated dogs, though, often live a life of luxury, laying on their cooling mat, in comparison, running on cushy grass, some pavements and indoors, which generally isn't enough to keep their claws in good shape. Which is why a good quality set of dog nail clippers is essential.

If you've never trimmed your dog's claws with a dog nail clipper yourself before, there's a lot to learn to make sure the experience is as comfortable as it can be for you and your dog.

Why do we need to trim our dog's nails?

If your dog often walks on hard surfaces, you may find that you never need to trim the claws yourself. However, if your dog spends most of its time on soft surfaces, the tips of the nails aren't worn down sufficiently and having overly long nails can lead to problems.

If your dog's nails are too long, they can get caught on furniture, their dog bed or in carpets, which can be really painful and might result in a visit to the vet. Long claws also make it uncomfortable for your dog to walk, which may cause issues for their joints later down the line.

Best dog nail clipper at a glance:

We've rounded up the best-rated dog clippers available to help you begin your claw-clipping journey. Keep reading for some top tips from the experts to make the process easy and stress-free.

Check out our full reviews below.

If in doubt, always speak to your vet or a professional groomer before undertaking the task yourself.

The best dog nail clippers

All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.

Looking for some nail clipping advice? We asked Sean McCormack, Head Vet at tails.com for his insight.

What are your top tips for making nail clipping as stress-free as possible?

"Some dogs really dislike having their nails trimmed, often because it freaks them out to have their feet handled, especially by a stranger. So my first tip is to get your puppy or older dog used to having their feet picked up, examined and nails inspected frequently using reward-based training. Plenty of praise and even some tasty treats are needed.

"Then, introduce your dog to the nail clippers, allow them to inspect them, sniff them, see them in your hands from time to time before you bring them near their feet. Again, reward for calm interested behaviour.

"Then, go through the motions that you are about to trim your dog’s nails but take it step by step and reward for each stage. Until you build up to actually clipping, just the tiniest tip off one nail. If your dog gets worried, go back a step. Having someone else to hold them gently and distract them with treats is a great way to take their mind off what’s going on. Then just do one nail at a time, especially if your dog reacts to it in a nervous way. Clip a nail, praise, reward, rest. An hour later, clip another, praise, reward, rest.

"It may take time but it’s all about training, repetition and positive reinforcement. And if you need guidance on how to clip, where to clip, and how to handle your dog safely for nail clipping your vet and nurse team at your local practice will be more than happy to help."

How often should you trim your dog’s nails?

"This totally depends on the individual dog. Some rarely need a clip, some quite often, and some just need their dew claws high up on the side of each leg trim. The reason the dewclaws get longer quicker is that they don’t touch the ground very often. For the same reason, a dog that is only exercised on grass or does very little exercise at all due to mobility issues may need far more frequent nail clipping than a dog exercising on concrete. The nails wear down quicker on hard surfaces.

"Generally you should be checking your dog’s nails every month or two and make sure none are becoming overgrown."

Clipping vs. grinding – which is best?

"Some dogs may have different coloured nails. Dark nails can make nail trimming a daunting task as the centre of a dog’s nail contains a ‘quick’ with blood vessels and nerves and can be hard to see. It is important to not cut the quick as it will bleed, is painful to the dog, and is counterproductive when dealing with a nervous four-legged friend. If too much of the quick is clipped, a styptic pen applied to the injured area works great to stop the bleeding. If in doubt, clipping the very tip of the top of the nail will be sufficient and won’t hurt your dog. Fortunately, light nails are much easier to clip, as the pink coloured quick inside the nail is visible.

"Guillotine clippers with a sliding blade and a safety guard are the best nail clippers in my opinion – make sure to choose an appropriate size for your dog! Once ready to clip the nails, align them carefully along with the piece of nail you wish to remove and snip it off without damaging the quick.

"If you or your dog are nervous about using clippers, you can use a grinding tool to blunt the ends of the nails and wear them down more gradually which will also help the quick to shrink and retreat inside. The only downside of grinding nails is it takes quite a while, and the tool itself can make a noise that dogs dislike too. So it still requires patient, reward-based training. "

What about dogs that just won’t accept nail clipping at home?

"For some dogs, perhaps those that have had a bad experience with clipping in the past, it is kinder and safer to bring them to the vet clinic and have them clip their nails. Instead of battling with them at home and damaging your relationship with them, your vet team is trained to handle them safely and trim them quickly without causing them injury or pain. And hopefully not too much fear either. If your dog is fearful of the vets, bring them more often for casual visits and ask the staff to make a fuss of them or give them treats like a dental chew. That way they will build some positive associations instead of just scary ones.

"There has recently been a very silly trend doing the rounds on social media where someone smears peanut butter on cling film attached to their forehead so the dog licks it while they clip their nails. This is a disaster waiting to happen because if the dog experiences pain when a nail is clipped badly, it may bite the owner in the face out of shock or fear. Please do not do this.

"For dogs with a real phobia, some sedatives or anti-anxiety medication can be given ahead of their vet visit for a nail clip."

Jade Moscrop is the Deputy Editor for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.

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