It is important to start training a dog to have his nails trimmed as a puppy. However even an adult dog can be trained to accept nail trimming with the proper approach. You do this by first getting him accustomed to having his paws touched. If he resists, try touching his paws for short, frequent periods of time, such as during commercials while watching TV. The touch should be gentle but not so soft as to tickle the dog.
When trimming a dog's nails, first make sure he is comfortable. If possible, have someone who is familiar to the dog assist you, and be sure to have some treats nearby. Also, make sure you have a good-quality nail trimmer. Some have a safety mechanism that prevents you from clipping too much of the nail and cutting the quick.
Begin by holding the dog's paw and touching it gently with the clippers. Do not clip the nail yet. Instead, praise the dog and give him a treat. Repeat several times with each paw until the dog is relaxed. Then clip a very small portion of the tip of the nail. Work quickly and gently. Be sure not to hold the paw too tightly; squeezing the paw can cause more distress for the dog than the actual process of trimming the nails. When you have trimmed one or two nails, give a treat and take a break. Start again and move ahead slowly. If you only trim a very small bit of nail each time, you should not have to worry about cutting the dog's quick and causing it to bleed. However, if you do accidentally cut the quick, dab some styptic powder on the nail to stop the bleeding. This is available at most pet supply stores or from your veterinarian.
Some people prefer to use a small rotating grinder to sand the nails down. Some dogs find this less stressful as well. A small handheld grinder can be found at a hobby shop. Use a similar approach to the grinder by turning it on and holding it near the dog's paw, accompanied by praise and a treat. Then proceed slowly to allow the dog time to become comfortable with the instrument.
