10 Best Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmers [TOP PICKS & GUIDE]

Hugging and playing with your pup may be the best thing ever. But sometimes, you know that what really hinders you from playing with them are their long nails that might scratch and wound you. This doesn't have to be a problem when you groom them at least every week. But what would happen if you don't have the time or luxury of bringing your pet to the groomers? Does that mean that you have to live with their untrimmed nails, too? Get away from this situation and trim your pup's nails yourself. With the right dog nail clippers, you'll find yourself cuddling with your pet all the time without having to worry about their nails!

OUR RECOMMENDED NAIL CLIPPERS AND TRIMMERS FOR DOGS

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & BUYER'S GUIDE

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING DOG NAIL CLIPPERS

Like with buying anything you need, you should take time to research on what you should look for in a good dog nail trimmer. You can opt for a more professional dog nail clipper as an alternative, but it all depends on the type and size of the dog you have. With that, here are some important considerations that might help you in choosing the best toenail clipper for your pooch.

• The Safety of the Dog Nail Trimmers – Since you're working with a sharp blade assembly to cut your pup's nails perfectly, you have to make sure that the pet nail clippers you buy for your dog are safe for the both of you. One of the most important parts you have to keep an eye on is the nail guard. This will help ensure safer clipping of your pup's nails. The nail guard helps ensure that the blades don't cut into the quick, a part of your dog's nail that's extremely sensitive. Getting into your pup's nail quick would pose a risk for bleeding and wounding. Thus, it's best that you pick a dog nail clipper that has a nail guard.
• Size of the Toe Nail Clippers – Now, this would depend on the size of your dog. If you have either a large, medium or small dog, then you should get a dog nail clipper proportional to their size. Usually, large dogs would need larger nail clippers. This is because they have thicker nail anatomy so you would need a larger clipper to make the job a lot easier for you. Smaller pups, on the other hand, have thinner and smaller nails, that's why small-sized nail clippers would work great for them. Usually, the scissor type of nail cutters is recommended for small dogs while guillotine clippers and plier types come in all sizes, so choosing a size for your pup wouldn't be hard for you.
• Clipping performance - of course, what good would a dog nail clipper be if it doesn't cut or trim your dog's nails very well? you can see this based on the clipper's blades as well as with it's opening and closing part. in choosing the right dog nail clippers that will surely do the job very well, look at how sharp the blades are. the sharper these are, the longer time it will take to dull out. 
• The comfort of the dog nail clippers - who says that cutting your pup's nails is an easy thing to do? as much as that's the ideal situation, it's not. cutting their nails would take you quite some time. that's why you need to buy nail trimmers for dogs that are comfortable for you to work with. some clippers are designed ergonomically for a more comfortable grip and cutting experience. with the right and comfortable dog nail clippers, it would reduce the chances of you developing hand fatigue. a comfortable dog nail clipper will benefit you the most, especially if you have two or more dogs at home.

You can also look at the material used in the construction of the clippers. The material should be sturdy enough to cut through any thickness and size of the nail. It should be strong and heavy duty to avoid any breakage when you're cutting your dog's nails and any injuries caused by its breaking.
These are just some of the considerations you would need to look on when you're buying the best dog clippers.

TYPES OF DOG NAIL CLIPPERS

There are several styles of dog nail trimmers or nail clippers. Two of which are in common are the guillotine type and the scissors type. Some small dog owners and medium-sized puppy parents prefer to use the guillotine dog nail clippers because it is more lightweight and smaller, making it easier to maneuver and work with. The scissors-type of pet nail clippers, on the other hand, are usually the best for long toenail clippers. These nails are characterized by the end that is curled on its end. These claws can then grow into the toe-pad.

Scissors Type Clippers

Scissor-style clippers have notches on the blades which firmly holds the nail of the dog while it is being clipped. With this type of canine nail clipper, you can easily squeeze the clipper's handles to cut the nail on the animal. These types of dog nail clippers work best for small dogs, as this cannot accommodate larger and thicker dog nails.

Pliers Style Clippers

The pliers-style dog clippers have two notched blades which surround and cut through your dog's nails. You can use this dog nail clipper by squeezing the handle together firmly to trim the nail. With this, you can see where the clipper will cut the nail. These types of clippers may be hard to use for small dogs because of the width of the pliers but can be very advantageous with clipping the nails of large dogs.

Guillotine style clippers

this kind of canine nail clippers has a stationary ring through which you put the nail of the dog. this works by pressing down on the handles of the guillotine clippers, and you'll cut the nail as it's cutting blade moves up to trim off your dog's nails.

Dog nail grinders

 nail grinders are usually powered by electricity. this type of clippers has a high-speed rotating pad that you can put against the nails of your dog. the dog nail grinder won't be able to cut as finely as how a dog nail clipper would do but it would be easier to use this and your dog might even enjoy the vibrating motion of the dog nail grinder. 

To sum it all up, scissor types of clippers are best used for large dogs with bigger and thicker nails. Guillotine clippers are recommended for small- to medium-sized dogs, and there are other pet nail grinders you can use if your dogs didn't initially like the scissors and guillotine type of clippers.

THE PROPER WAY OF TRIMMING YOUR DOG’S NAILS WITH A DOG NAIL CLIPPER

Unlike humans, dogs are unfamiliar with cutting their nails as it is primitive for them to keep it long for their survival. Here are the first steps on how cutting dog nails properly.

• the first thing to do is to massage your dog's paw. like most people, dogs also like a good, nice foot (or paw, for dog's case) massage. this is to relax their muscles and for it not to be tensed as much as possible during the process. wait for your dog to feel at ease before you start the next step.
• the first thing to do is to massage your dog's paw. like most people, dogs also like a good, nice foot (or paw, for dog's case) massage. this is to relax their muscles and for it not to be tensed as much as possible during the process. wait for your dog to feel at ease before you start the next step.
• if your pup has long hair, cut his hair first before trimming your dog's nails.
• leash your dog
• check the color of your dog's nails. if your dog's nails are white or clear, you should be able to see the quick. the quick is located just below the proper area in which you should trim your dog's nails.
• if, however, your dog's nails are dark-colored or black, it's going to be a bit difficult for you to see the quick. for this case, you should start with very small trims with your dog nail clippers. once you see a dark dot on the nail bed of your dog, you should stop trimming. this is the end point of the quick and going below it will cause uneasiness and pain for your dog.
• you can use a dog nail grinder or nail filer during the whole process or for the final smoothing.
• wear face masks or anything that would cover the pathway of air to your body to prevent you from inhaling the nail dust from your dog's nails.

CAN NORMAL NAIL CLIPPERS BE USED FOR DOGS?

No. You may be tempted to use the nail clippers you use to clip your nails, but you shouldn't use these for your dogs. Not only that it's not hygienic since there might be some bacteria stuck in the blades after using, but it's also not the suitable one for them. There is a reason why there are separate dog nail clippers that you can buy for your dogs.

Although it does not have to be the professional dog nail clippers you see in your groomers' table, you just have to pick the best nail clippers to get the job done. With this, you're sure that what you're using for your doggy is safer and more suitable for the type of nails they have. There are also different nail clippers for small dogs and large dogs. So this would eventually depend on the size of your pup. However, tempting as it may be to use normal nail clippers on your pooch, don't even dare try it. You can harm your dog because of this.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TRIM MY DOG'S NAILS?

It depends on the growth of your pup's nails. There are some canine breeds that their nails grow faster than the average doggie while some grow slower than the others.

For best results, try to clip it for the first time and see how long it takes until your dog's nails become unbearably long. But on the average, trimming your canine's nails once a week at the very least is the most acceptable one. Some dog owners trim their pet's nails about every other week. Again, it depends on the rate of growth of your pup's nails.

ARE GUILLOTINE DOG NAIL CLIPPERS GOOD TO USE ON MY DOG?

Yes, these types of clippers are good to use on your dogs. Guillotine clippers is a type of pet nail clipper that has a hole you can poke through a dog's nail. A sharp blade then slices through your dog's nail. Especially if you have small to medium sized dogs, then this is one of the best types of nail clippers you can buy for them. When the blades of guillotine clippers are sharp, they slice cleanly through your dog's nail. If, however, the time comes that the blades become dull, it's a lot cheaper to replace this type of dog nail clipper's blades than to buy a new nail clipper.

However, like with all other dog nail clipper types, these clippers have its disadvantages too. For one, it's a lot trickier to use than with normal dog clippers. That's why if you're just starting out with clipping your dog's nails, buying this type of clipper won't be advisable to do so. At the same time, since the blades get dull quickly compared to pliers type of clippers, it's not advisable to use for larger dogs.

DOG NAIL CLIPPERS AND TRIMMERS REVIEW

Conclusion

When you’re grooming your pet, it’s best that you should buy your own nail clippers for pets. There are a lot of variations you can choose from depending on the needs of your dog. There will always be a perfect dog nail clipper for your pup available in the market.

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