Clipping a dog's nails can be a wriggly, difficult experience but it IS ESSENTIAL. If a dog's nails touch the ground when walking then every step will be creating impact that sends a shock up through the many bones in the paw potentially causing inflammation, soreness and ultimately infection which if not caught spreads quickly and can lead to the dog losing a toe. This is not as unusual as it sounds.
The top photo shows nails that are too long.
The bottom photo shows the ideal nail length. You should be able to get a credit card between your dog's nails and the ground.
As a groomer, encourage your owners to try to clip little and often, even one nail at a time. Ignore struggling, stay calm, breathe and maintain contact with your dog until they relax. Have lots of high value treats on hand - choose something to use only when clipping nails - your dog will soon make the association - they are very smart like that!
When the dog relaxes, clip a small amount of nail from top to bottom. Think of it like slicing bread.
Praise and give a treat.
Try for a second. If they do not settle again quickly wait and try again later or the next day.
We love our nail clippers, they are quiet and easy to squeeze. We have chosen smaller ones which will be suitable for all dogs other than very large breeds. These are great to recommend to dog owners for home use.
*Quiet clip
*Padded rubber grip for comfort and control
*Easy squeeze, high elasticity spring
*Light-weight
*Comfortable in the hand
*Small nail clippers
Retail pack of 6.