When the ancestors of our dogs used to roam in the wild, their claws would be worn down by running, hunting and other activities. Domesticated dogs though, often live a life of luxury in comparison, running on cushy grass, some pavements and indoors, which generally isn't enough to keep their claws in good shape.
If you've never trimmed your dog's claws yourself before, there's a lot to learn to make sure the experience is as comfortable as it can be for you and your dog.
Related: Tails.com review: Is a dog food subscription box worth it?
Why do we need to trim our dog's nails?
If your dog often walks on hard surfaces, you may find that you never need to trim the claws yourself. However, if your dog spends most of its time on soft surfaces, the tips of the nails aren't worn down sufficiently and having overly long nails can lead to problems.
If your dog's nails are too long, they can get caught on furniture or in carpets, which can be really painful and might result in a visit to the vets. Long claws also make it uncomfortable for your dog to walk, which may cause issues for their joints later down the line.
We've rounded up the best-rated dog clippers available to help you begin your claw clipping journey. Keep reading for some tops tips from the experts to make the process easy and stress-free.
Best dog nail clipper shortlist
Here's our top picks for the best dog nail clippers you can get on the market right now:
Best overall dog clippers: Professional-Grade Dog Nail Clippers by Thunderpaws
Best dog clippers with safety guard: gonicc Pets Nail Clippers and Trimmers with Safety Guard
Best value dog clippers: Fine Life Dog Nail Clippers with Safety Guard
Best dog nail clippers for small breeds: H&H Pets Professional Small Breed Nail Clipper
Best electric dog nail grinder: slopehill Dog Nail Grinders
Check out our full reviews below.
If in doubt, always speak to your vet or a professional groomer before undertaking the task yourself.
The best dog nail clippers
Best overall dog clippers
AmazonThese clippers come well-rated by dog owners on Amazon. They're built with stainless steel blades to ensure a clean-cut, are comfortable in the hand and have non-slip rubber handles to help keep your hold steady. They come with a protective guard to protect from over-trimming and have a safety lock for easy and safe storage. Available in small/medium and medium/large.
Average rating: 4.6/5
Review: "These are one of the best clippers I have used to date. I use them on an adult German Shepherd who has titanium nails, and these clippers cut through them like paper. The quality of these clippers are amazing, I might even use them for some metal work considering how sharp they are. All jokes aside, I would definitely recommend these if you have a dog with strong nails. Or any dog to be honest. Would purchase again."
Best dog clippers with safety guard
AmazonAnother great option, this set of clippers comes with a safety guard to avoid over-clipping which is great for any dog owners feeling apprehensive. These are made for both large and small animals as well as cats, so they're perfect for an animal lover. The built-in safety guard and soft grip ergonomic handles make easy work of cutting your pet's nails. Made of stainless steel, these are high quality and efficient.
Average rating: 4.5/5
Review: "Really good. Would recommend. I have a rescue staffy who is so scared of going to the vets so being able to safely do his claws at home is brilliant. I've always been worried about cutting them too short but the safety stopper is really good and gives you the confidence. Being able to do a couple of claws at a time in the comfort of our own home is just what we needed. Would 100% recommend."
Best value dog clippers
AmazonBuilt with stainless steel blades to ensure a clean-cut, these clippers are suited for small, medium and large dogs. The spring-loaded, non-slip handles are comfortable in the hand and the clippers have a safety guard for protection. You'll also receive a nail file for further grooming. These clippers are also on offer at the moment, so take the top spot for our best value nail clippers.
Average rating: 4.5/5
Review: "The one thing that prompted me to go for this one was the picture explanation about nail clipping with safety guard to prevent bleeding or hurting pets' paws. The price was reasonable and I decided to take the risk as the description seemed very user friendly. I'm so pleased with the product. It's sturdy, sharp, good quality... The safety guard is an excellent feature. You also get a nail file fitted within the clipper. It is looking reliable and should last a long time. It will be a good grooming tool for my lovely little pet."
Best dog nail clippers for small breeds
AmazonIf you have a small dog or even a cat, these clippers are well-suited. They're lightweight, have a scissor-like design, rubber-coated handles for a comfortable grip and a durable stainless steel blade. They don't have a guard, so you will need to be careful not to cut the quick, and they are better suited to smaller hands.
Average rating: 5/5
Review: "My dog is super sensitive when it comes to cutting her nails. We have had the big bulky nail trimmers and she absolutely hated them. I'm assuming because when it cut her nails it was a little loud. However, with this nail trimmer, it is quiet when the nails get cut so it didn't seem to bother her. The scissors are a little smaller so a large hand may have a hard time holding them".
Best electric dog nail grinder
AmazonThis electric nail grinder comes coated in rubber, making it easy to handle. It's fairly quiet, so shouldn't be off-putting for your pet. It has an advanced Diamond Bit Grinder to deliver great results, and you can choose from three ports to match the size of your pet and the hardness of their nails. It's USB rechargeable, giving you two hours of use after three hours on charge.
Average rating: 4.5/5
Review: "Used on our chihuahua who is scared of everything. I wouldn't say it's silent but it hasn't got a loud scary sound and she wasn't scared just sniffing it. Very easy to use. Took me about ten mins to get all her nails down but they were pretty long. Now they are more manageable, I can just get this out once a week and quickly file. I was scared to use clippers but with this, it's so safe and you can file then look at the nail to see if any more needs taking off."
Looking for some nail clipping advice? We asked Sean McCormack, Head Vet at tails.com for his insight.
What are your top tips for making nail clipping as stress-free as possible?
"Some dogs really dislike having their nails trimmed, often because it freaks them out to have their feet handled, especially by a stranger. So my first tip is to get your puppy or older dog used to having their feet picked up, examined and nails inspected frequently using reward-based training. Plenty of praise and even some tasty treats are needed.
"Then, introduce your dog to the nail clippers, allow them to inspect them, sniff them, see them in your hands from time to time before you bring them near their feet. Again, reward for calm interested behaviour.
"Then, go through the motions that you are about to trim your dog’s nails but take it step by step and reward for each stage. Until you build up to actually clipping, just the tiniest tip off one nail. If your dog gets worried, go back a step. Having someone else to hold them gently and distract them with treats is a great way to take their mind off what’s going on. Then just do one nail at a time, especially if your dog reacts to it in a nervous way. Clip a nail, praise, reward, rest. An hour later, clip another, praise, reward, rest.
"It may take time but it’s all about training, repetition and positive reinforcement. And if you need guidance on how to clip, where to clip, and how to handle your dog safely for nail clipping your vet and nurse team at your local practice will be more than happy to help."
How often should you trim your dog’s nails?
"This totally depends on the individual dog. Some rarely need a clip, some quite often, and some just need their dew claws high up on the side of each leg trim. The reason the dewclaws get longer quicker is that they don’t touch the ground very often. For the same reason, a dog that is only exercised on grass or does very little exercise at all due to mobility issues may need far more frequent nail clipping than a dog exercising on concrete. The nails wear down quicker on hard surfaces.
"Generally you should be checking your dog’s nails every month or two and make sure none are becoming overgrown."
Clipping vs. grinding – which is best?
"Some dogs may have different coloured nails. Dark nails can make nail trimming a daunting task as the centre of a dog’s nail contains a ‘quick’ with blood vessels and nerves and can be hard to see. It is important to not cut the quick as it will bleed, is painful to the dog, and is counterproductive when dealing with a nervous four-legged friend. If too much of the quick is clipped, a styptic pen applied to the injured area works great to stop the bleeding. If in doubt, clipping the very tip of the top of the nail will be sufficient and won’t hurt your dog. Fortunately, light nails are much easier to clip, as the pink coloured quick inside the nail is visible.
"Guillotine clippers with a sliding blade and a safety guard are the best nail clippers in my opinion – make sure to choose an appropriate size for your dog! Once ready to clip the nails, align them carefully along with the piece of nail you wish to remove and snip it off without damaging the quick.
"If you or your dog are nervous about using clippers, you can use a grinding tool to blunt the ends of the nails and wear them down more gradually which will also help the quick to shrink and retreat inside. The only downside of grinding nails is it takes quite a while, and the tool itself can make a noise that dogs dislike too. So it still requires patient, reward-based training. "
What about dogs that just won’t accept nail clipping at home?
"For some dogs, perhaps those that have had a bad experience with clipping in the past, it is kinder and safer to bring them to the vet clinic and have them clip their nails. Instead of battling with them at home and damaging your relationship with them, your vet team is trained to handle them safely and trim them quickly without causing them injury or pain. And hopefully not too much fear either. If your dog is fearful of the vets, bring them more often for casual visits and ask the staff to make a fuss of them orgive them treats. That way they will build some positive associations instead of just scary ones.
"There has recently been a very silly trend doing the rounds on social media where someone smears peanut butter on cling film attached to their forehead so the dog licks it while they clip their nails. This is a disaster waiting to happen, because if the dog experiences pain when a nail is clipped badly, it may bite the owner in the face out of shock or fear. Please do not do this.
"For dogs with a real phobia, some sedatives or anti-anxiety medication can be given ahead of their vet visit for a nail clip."
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Jade Moscrop is the Deputy Editor for WhatsTheBest, specialising in lifestyle topics. She also writes for Closer, Heat, and Mother&Baby.
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