Choosing the best dog nail clippers comes down to finding one that you are comfortable using and that your dog can tolerate. A higher price means higher quality, but you can get a quality dog nail clipper that will last your pup’s lifetime for about $10 or less.
I have a pair of small Millers Forge scissors that I have had for 15 years and a cordless Dremel with a basic sandpaper bit. I use these weekly on my three medium-sized dogs, but your choice still needs to be based on what you think is easiest to use and best for your dog.
Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly to ensure that his nails do not touch the ground. If you can hear nails clicking across the bare floor, it’s time to trim his nails. NOTE: Technically, a dog’s nails are “paws” because they have nerves and blood vessels inside them. Not so with nails.
There are three main types of dog nail clippers:
- Scissor style
- guillotine
- grinder
scissor clippers
Dog nail clippers look a bit like pliers, but have two short, sharp curved blades. You use them like scissors, squeezing the two handles together so that the blades come together and cut your dog’s nails. Most pairs have a spring that automatically opens them, and a locking mechanism that keeps them closed during storage.
These are the main tools for cutting your dog’s nails. Its simple design makes it sturdy and easy to use.
In addition to cutting your dog’s nails directly, you can also use scissor-style clippers to round off the sharp edges. This is especially useful for large dogs with thick nails.
There are many, many brands, but Millers Forge is the brand of choice for many veterinary clinics. Orange is suitable for medium and large dogs, red is suitable for small dogs, but can also be used for medium-sized dogs. Even with regular use, these babies will allow a family of dogs to enjoy high-quality pedicures for years.
guillotine clipper
Guillotine style scissors have two handles and a metal ring where you can place your dog’s nails. When you press the top handle, the guillotine blade closes the ring to cut the nail. The spring then reopens the handle and retracts the blade.
Depending on your preference, you may find that guillotine scissors fit your hands better because they are angled differently than scissor-style scissors.
A good pair of guillotine scissors can last a long time if taken care of properly. That said, there are a lot of small moving parts in these scissors that can break and cause them to stop working properly. Over time, a single blade may dull or separate from the ring, resulting in jagged, irregular cuts.
You can use guillotine clippers on any size dog, but choose one with rings that fit the size of your dog’s nails.
The Best Dog Clipper: Nail Sharpener
Nail grinders are great because they get rid of those nasty sharp edges that can scratch your skin. They’re also cauterized when ground, so if you accidentally hit your dog’s quick spot, it’s less likely to bleed.
The grinder can be used alone or with other styles of dog nail clippers – start with the blade clamp and then use the grinder to smooth the edges. To use a grinder, you need to get your dog used to the sound and then the feeling of vibrating nails.
There are various types of nail grinders out there. You can find the basic model at any pet store. If you want a Rolls-Royce nail grinder, go for the Dremel with a diamond wheel bit, but a standard sandpaper bit will have enough octane for most of us.
However, care must be taken when using a grinder to ensure that your dog’s hair does not get tangled in the wheel. This includes the hair on the paws, but also the ears or tail, basically anything that could accidentally hit the wheel.
For dogs who don’t like having their nails trimmed, we have no-force training methods that require time, patience, and lots of treats.