The Best Dog Nail Clippers & Grinders in 2022

First-time pet owners are often put off by the unusual appearance of dog nail clippers because these don’t resemble anything like the nail clippers we are more familiar with. These tools look more like a cross between a pair of garden shears and pliers. On a lighter note, we do believe that pet nail clippers actually have some features that are reminiscent of a garden shears and pliers, so it is quite understandable if other people will be looking at it this way But, the question most newbie dog owners have hovering above their heads is how to pick the right dog nail trimmer. Like all buying decisions, everything actually depends on your needs; or in this case, the needs of your pet. Nevertheless, we’re here to help. Here are some things you may need to look for when buying a set of dog nail trimmers for your pooch.

Things to Look for When Buying Dog Nail Clippers

• Safety of the dog nail clippers

The nail guard is one of the most important, most crucial parts of a set of dog nail trimmers. True, the blade is important, but a nail guard helps ensure safer clipping of your mutt’s nail. The function of the nail guard is to make sure the blades don’t cut into the quick, otherwise, you risk bleeding. This feature is more often seen in scissor and plier types of trimmers. It is also known as a safety bar. Whatever it is called, just make sure that if you’re buying either a plier- or scissor-type of these gadgets, get one with a nail guard.

• Size of the dog nail clippers

Different dog nail clippers come in different sizes to help facilitate more efficient cutting. You may think of getting an unusually large clipper for the simple fact that even the nails of a puppy can already be trimmed. This is an erroneous line of thinking since large clippers typically come with thicker and harder blades which may damage the nail of your smaller dogs. For the most part, the scissor type of nail cutters is especially small so these can be used for pups as well as small breeds of mutts. Guillotine and plier types come in various sizes so you can choose one that is perfect for your pet’s paw size as well as nail thickness.

• Comfort of the dog nail clippers

Can you imagine holding the cutter on one hand while the other holds or secures your dog’s paws? It is not comfortable by any means. And if you have handles that are not ergonomically designed to fit the natural contours of your hand, then you run the risk of developing hand fatigue. This can affect the way you hold the device and have an impact on the overall nail-cutting experience for your mutt. So, choose one that feels really comfy on your hands.

• Type of Dog Nail Clippers 

There are different types or styles of dog nail clippers — and finding the right set for your pet is of the utmost importance. Knowing what these are and their inherent pros and cons should help you identify and choose the right type for your mutt.

Scissors-type: As its name implies, this type of dog nail clippers looks pretty much like a pair of scissors. It has notches integrated into its blades to securely hold your pet’s nail while it is being clipped. You then squeeze on the handles just like you would any other pair of scissors. These are inexpensive and are very lightweight. However, these are primarily intended for trimming the nails of smaller breeds or dogs. Under no circumstances should you use it on your Lab’s or any other large pooch.

Pliers’ type: Remember what we said about some newbies looking at dog nail clippers as a glamorized version of a pair of pliers? Well, this is most likely what they commonly see in their favorite pet shop. However, it mostly resembles that of pruning shears. It’s like a pair of scissors, except that the handle doesn’t have a loop in which to insert your fingers in. The beauty of the pliers’ type is that it comes with 2 notched blades. This essentially surrounds the nail allowing it to be cut or clipped a lot easier. Additionally, the design of the notched blades allows you to see the positioning of the blades. This allows for a much safer clipping. These are perfect for larger breeds of dogs. However, do take note that they tend to grow dull with time. If that happens, instead of cutting through the nail, the blades will simply crush it. As such, these will need to be replaced. 

Guillotine type: If you have seen a single-hole pocket ticket or card puncher, this is essentially what the guillotine trimmer looks like. Imagine a hole – a stationary ring – in which you will insert your mutt’s nail. A cutting mechanism can be activated by pressing on the handles, moving the blade up and cut or slice off the nail. This type is recommended for use on small to medium-sized breeds of pooches, although we believe even a large breed can benefit from it, just make sure you get the appropriate size for your mutt. The good thing about guillotine clippers is that you can actually replace the blade. At any rate, you won’t have to purchase an entirely new nail trimmer. 

Grinder type: This type of dog nail trimmers actually don’t cut through the nail. Instead, it does exactly what it sounds like, like the grinding wheel in your workstation, it files the outer edges of the nail until such time that they reach a more desirable length. These are excellent for more frequent shortening of the nails and are preferred over other types of trimmers because they are a lot safer. Since you have absolute control over the grinder, you can avoid accidentally snipping the nail so your mutt won’t feel pain. Some ultra-modern nail grinders even come with sensors to help enhance its safety profile. The downside? Well, they’re really expensive. But, if you need hassle-free trimming or clipping of the nails of your mutt, then this one is for you.

• Clipping performance 

This parameter is more of a function of the clipper’s blades as well as opening and closing mechanisms. For the most part, you would want to get a device that can cut your pet’s nails for a good number of times without the need for sharpening. Understand that a dull blade can hurt your dog unnecessarily. Just like hair clippers, dull blades will require greater force to cut through the rather thick structure of a nail. In many cases, since the edges are not pointed or sharp, they look more like wedges.

When you bear down on the clipper, this wedge can actually crack the nail surface instead of cutting right through it. What is left is a severely malformed or disfigured nail. It’s like hitting the concrete with a sledgehammer compared to a bit. Hitting your pet’s nail with a dull blade can reduce the integrity of the surrounding nail tissue, leading to a host of problems later on.

Benefits of Grooming Your Dog’s Nails with Dog Nail Clippers

Some folks don’t necessarily think that extra-long claws in canines are inherently bad. After all, their cousins in the wild seem to thrive even without ever trimming their claws, right? Well, not exactly. You see, while it is true that wild canids don’t cut their nails, with all that running while hunting for prey, their nails are relatively short. Unfortunately, this consistent stress on the claws, keeping it short, is what is really missing in domesticated canids. That is why they will need our assistance in keeping their claws relatively short. To help you better understand why nail-cutting is necessary for dogs, you might want to look at the following benefits of grooming your dog’s nails.

Check out some of our dog grooming guides, such as dog clippers, dog scissors, and dog thinning shears.

Improved Comfort While Walking

Claws have a natural tendency to curve inward as they grow longer. This can get in the way to a more comfortable walking. On certain surfaces, it will be quite slippery and your dog will have a very unstable gait, trying to balance itself while walking.

Prevents Injuries to Your Pooch’s Skin As Well as Yours 

In like manner, claws that have curved inwards can break the skin. If your pooch climbs on you, you can get scratched by its unusually long claws; clearly not your mutt’s fault. If there are also cracks on the claws, this can lead to onychorrhexis which is extreme brittleness of the nails.

Prevents Infection 

With a break in the skin, microorganisms can enter the bloodstream and cause an infection. For example, onychomycosis can develop which often requires a very lengthy and expensive treatment. If only mild to moderate inflammation occurs around the claw, then your pooch has paronychia. If the infection gets so severe, the entire claw can be shed in a disease process known as onychomadesis.

Prevents Damage to Your Furnishings, Upholstery, Carpet, and Bedding 

Can you imagine Logan or Freddy Krueger dropping into your home with their claws fully extended? Well, if you don’t trim your pet’s nails, you’ll have your furnishings, carpets, upholstery, and beddings full of scratch marks if not totally torn to bits.

How to Properly Cut Your Dog’s Nails

Most dog owners are morbidly afraid of cutting or trimming their pet’s claws. Part of the fear is associated with hurting the dog especially if the quick was accidentally cut, resulting in bleeding. While this is a valid concern, with the right attitude and the right tools, you, too, can clip your mutt’s nails effortlessly and without bringing harm to your canine friend. Here’s how.

• Bring your mutt in a well-lit place so that you can easily visualize the anatomy of your pet’s claws. Most vets and animal lovers actually recommend trimming the claws outdoors where your pooch can be more relaxed.
• Make sure to wait for your pooch to calm down first before starting to clip or trim. Understand that most dogs don’t really take it kindly if their claws are handled. So, it is best to schedule the nail trimming at a time when your canine pal is in a relaxed state. You might want to play with it first so that it will not have too much energy to resist the clipping. Actually, you too should also be calm. If you are nervous about clipping your pooch’s claws, then this nervous energy can rub onto your pet. It won’t trust you one bit to safely clip its claws. So, while you’re getting your mutt relaxed in preparation for the activity, make sure that you’re relaxed, too.
• Learn how to grip the nail trimmers the right way. It should not be too tight or too loose. Too tight and it will send uncomfortable signals to your mutt. Too loose and you’d also lose control of the tool.

Tools Required for the Job

Trimming your pooch’s claws should not really be that difficult. One only has to understand several things such as the proper identification of the quick and the white. Cutting just barely through the white should guarantee not hitting the quick and thus, overt bleeding. However, equally important is using the right tools for the job. Here are the three must-haves whenever you intend to groom your mutt’s claws.

• Nail Clippers 

As we have already discussed, there are 4 different types of dog nail clippers. Many experts recommend using the scissor type as it is more effective in cutting through the nail. There are also those that say the guillotine type is better. Of course, if you can afford grinders, these can be exceptionally useful. The only downside to the grinder is the noise. So, choosing one that comes with quiet operation should come in handy. Generally, smaller clippers work best because they afford you greater control. However, if you have a Saint Bernard or any other large breed, only a large clipper will do. It is equally important to keep the blades sharp. If these cannot be resharpened, they should at least be replaceable.

• Nail File

Once you cut the claw, its edges will still be rough. You need to smoothen these with a nail file. If you don’t smoothen the edges, your pet can still use its claws to rip apart your upholstery. If it jumps on you, it can still scratch you. Make sure to file around the edges to achieve a really smooth surface.

• Plenty of Treats 

You might not think it’s a tool, but dog treats are invaluable tools whenever there is an activity involving your canine friend. The point is to make the experience more pleasant. You can make the nail-cutting experience more positive for your mutt if you provide it with treats during and after the activity.

Grooming doesn’t only include bathing and combing our dog’s hair. It also includes caring for their nails. By trimming their nails with a pair of dog nail clippers, we can help prevent canine injuries and infections while also giving them the opportunity to walk and run more comfortably. In choosing the best dog nail clippers, it is crucial that you know the type of trimmer you want to use depending on the size of your pet. Also important is the safety of your pet.

Sources:

1. Rob Harris, Can You Use Nail Clippers on Puppies’ Nails?, The Nest
2. Dr. Lynn Buzhardt, DVM, Taking the Stress out of Nail Trimming for Dogs, VCA
3. Victoria Schade, CPDT-KA, Nailed It! 5 Tips for Stress-Free Dog Nail Trims, PetMD

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