If your dog hates nail trims, using a pair of blunt nail clippers will make a bad situation worse.

If the clippers are not sharp, instead of a clean, quick snip, the clippers crush the nail making it uncomfortable and painful for your dog.

To trim the nails of a dog effectively, you need sharp clippers or a grinder. My favourite way to trim a dog’s nails is with a grinder. I use the Dremel Micro with Diamagroove attachment. Apart from the grinder I also like  the pliers style clippers like the Millers Forge and Safari. These produce a neat, quick trim.

Do not be fooled by the small size of these clippers.  I have used them with success on large dogs with very thick, hard nails. The trick is to cut off little bits at a time.  You shouldn’t have to press hard. The clippers should cut the nail like a knife through butter.

After being in use for some time, many clippers become dull and need replacing. Replace with a nail Grinder or new nail clippers.