How short should I cut my dog's nails?

I take my puppy to petco once a week and have them clip her nails, brush her teeth and clean her ears all for $9.00. I can do the bathing on my own! But I'm not yet comfortable with those areas... Good luck!How short should I cut my dog's nails?
if you don't know, my best advice is to take the dog to a groomer or vet, and have them teach you how to do it. Nothing beats hands on training!





best of luck!How short should I cut my dog's nails?
Hopefull they not black and you can see the ';quick'; - the live part of the nail.. do not cut into that.


If they are black, just cut the very tip. Good idae to have some treatment on hand in case you do cut into the quick and it bleeds.


Be very careful - painful for the dog if you do.
This will give you the step by step, with pictures.





Hope it helps.





http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/nailtrim鈥?/a>
just be sure not to cut the quick- which will bleed. if you do, you can get some ';quick stop'; powder to stop the bleeding.


you could also use a grinder/file so that the freshly cut nails don't cut YOU when your dog scratches you
Cut before you hit the quick... if you nick the quick your dogs nail will start to breed profusely.





Here is a site with pictures, if you don't know what the quick is:http://www.pugman.com/Pug%20Information/鈥?/a>





If you are going to clip your dogs nails, be sire to buy some ';quick stop'; (or like product) its available at most pet stores. It's a powder you can use to plug the quick if you accidentally clip it. It will stop it from bleeding.
you should cut them only to where they will not scratch you.
depends on the bred of animal. nail shearing shuld be done by a professional and if you have never done it before dont even think about it. if you have no experience with trimming nails on a dog you can cut too short and the animal can bleed to death. the nails can be trimmed but carefully but if cut into the quick which is like the nails we have and bleed. it would be best if you paid for someone who knows what they are doing. this is a dangerous procedure and if the nail is cut too close your animal can start bleeding and it cant be stopped except by a medicine that forms a clot that stops bleeding.
make sure you have a bright light. this will help you see the nail. if your dog has clear nails you can easily see where the quick is. if black nails, be extra careful





also they have nail cutters for dogs that has a movable plate under the cutter to prevent the nail from going to far. make sure to have handy the stop bleeding stick or powder just in case.





you may also want to have someone help you hold your dog's foot still.





it is nerve wracking, i cut 6 dog's nails and take one to the vet because she just wiggles way too much.





good luck!
Just watch not to nick the quick.


Cut only the very tips off until you are comfortable with judging where the quick is at in each nail.


On white nails you can see the quick through the nail.


On black nails look under the nail for the quick but it is safe to stay with cutting only the very tips.


With practice you will learn how far to cut. Usually if you maintain the dog's nails regularly you shouldn't have to cut very much off at all.
Only cut the tip of the toenail. If you cut into the ';quick'; you'll cut into the vein that runs down the dog's toenail and he'll bleed. Some dogs have blood that doesn't ';clot'; well and can bleed effusively if the nails are cut too short.





If you don't feel as though you can do this yourself, take him to your vet's office or to a groomer. They often clip toenails for free or for a very nominal cost.