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Clipping your dog’s nails doesn’t have to be a pain. Throw out those human nail clippers and try the ones that have been specifically made for your dog’s claws! We’ll take a look at the best clippers of all types, starting with our favorites: Miller’s Forge 743C Nail Clippers!
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Steel |
| Ergonomic |
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| Guard |
|
Miller’s Forge Nail Clippers for Dogs look a little different from other scissor-type nail clippers for dogs, and that works in their favor. The scissor shape is deeper, allowing the blade to be sharper and tapered differently. This allows for clean, easy clipping with an extremely sharp blade. If your dog’s nails are sensitive to pressure or prone to fraying or splitting, these clippers can help.
They may not look like much (and may need some work – the guard piece may need to be tightened when you receive them). However, these nail clippers are simple and different enough from the competition to stand out. Plus, they offer great benefits for your dogs, especially if they have small or brittle nails. These clippers come in small/medium or large varieties, so make sure that you choose the option that best fits your dog’s size.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Boshel’s Dog Nail Clippers are what you might expect from a standard scissor-type nail clipper. However, these clippers stand out from the rest with their built-in file, close guard, and more. The handles on Boshel’s Dog Nail Clippers are non-slip, so you can keep your grip while you’re cutting your dog’s nails. They are ergonomic as well so it’s easy to maneuver the clippers and get the job done.
These clippers are very sharp most of the time, but occasionally a pair will ship where the blades are dull. Make sure to check the clippers you receive before you use them on your dog’s nails. The nail file included with these clippers stows easily inside one of the grips, allowing you convenient storage that keeps the file safe and accounted for.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissors |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
HABOM’s Dog & Cat Nail Clippers come with a variety of features that put it a step above the competition. First, the LED light at the top of the clippers illuminates your dog’s nail, allowing you to see what you’re doing more easily. If your dog has nails that are lighter in color, this will allow you to find and identify the quick so you can avoid cutting into it and potentially harming your dog. The shield keeps you from cutting off too much of the nail at once!
The stainless steel blades are sharp and will easily cut through even thicker nails, allowing for clean cuts with very little splitting or splintering. Overall, these clippers will give you a clean, comfortable nail clipping experience that may help more skittish dogs become more at ease with their nails getting clipped.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Epica Best’s Professional Pet Nail Clippers are a sturdy pair of grooming tools all around, with very few flaws. It’s hard to mess up something that works, and these clippers are simple and effective as they are! The clippers look professional, with sturdy handles that are comfortable to use and easy to maneuver. You’ll have to problem squeezing these clippers to cut your dog’s nails, as the spring makes it extremely easy to get the right amount of pressure to clip the nail.
Some users have complained that the guard is too wide, allowing them to cut more of their dogs’ nails than they intend to. Make sure you are keeping a watchful eye on your dog’s nail and not trusting the guard to do all of the work for you. Otherwise, these clippers are a sturdy and sharp option for clipping even your largest dog’s nails cleanly and without rough edges.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Safari’s Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmers are perfect for smaller dogs and medium breeds a well. The blades are durable and sharp enough to cut through your dog’s nails without applying much pressure. They aren’t loud enough to alarm your pet when they click together, and the safety guard prevents you from cutting too deep and hurting your dog.
Also, the handles are comfortable and easy to hold, and they won’t slip out of your hands. Some users have reported rusting early on in the life span of these clippers, so make sure you are storing them in a dry environment. Though some advertise that these clippers are good for cats, they are not ideal for your cat’s thinner, more delicate nails.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
GoPets Nail Clippers are sharp and precise enough to work for both dogs and cats. When you need to trim their nails down without too much pressure, frayed edges, or splits, these large-handled clippers are the perfect solution. There is a lock to keep the blades together as well, meaning that the smallest members of your household won’t be able to hurt themselves on these clippers.
Though these clippers advertise that they can work on larger dogs, they may not be ideal for larger nails. The blades are smaller and may not have enough cutting power to cleanly trim thicker nails. Still, the large handles allow you the perfect grip for medium and small dogs, as well as for cats!
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Andis Premium Large Dog Nail Clippers are sharp and effective, with a guard to keep your dog’s nail from bleeding as you clip. The clippers look extremely professional, and this large size works for even the largest dog breeds. The spring-action handles help assist you with clean cuts that go all the way through the nail without fraying. The stainless steel blades are thick, sharp, and durable for your biggest fur babies.
This large size is not ideal for smaller dogs, but Andis also makes a smaller nail clipper version for cats and smaller breeds. Also, there are a variety of grooming tools from this brand that can make your life with your dog a lot simpler!
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Guillotine |
| Material | Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Resco’s Original Pet Nail Clippers work well for medium and small dogs. The guillotine trigger-style helps you control pressure and cutting power, giving you complete control over the nail trimming process. These clippers allow you to take it slow, but still deliver that sharp cutting edge that makes your dog’s nail cut clean instead of leaving ragged edges. The great thing is that these clippers are available in regular sizes (for small and medium dogs), large sizes (for large dogs), and kits for each of these sizes that includes necessary accessories. These kits include styptic powder that will help stop bleeding if you cut too deep.
However, these clippers have all of the same problems that regular guillotine blades have, including a lot of pressure on your dog’s nail. The potential for breaking and splitting is there as well! Make sure that you use these clippers very carefully as there is no guard to stop you from cutting too deep and hurting your dog.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissors |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Dudi’s Dog Nail Clippers comes with two pieces, including the clippers and a file to make sure that your dog’s nails have no sharp edges after you’ve clipped them. These clippers are large enough and comfortable to use, with ergonomic grips that are shaped to help you grip the clippers better. The clipping motion is smooth and easy, and even your impatient dogs will be able to sit still for the short time it’ll take to get to their nails!
Also, the guard keeps you from cutting too deep. For dogs with dark nails or dogs have to get their nails clipped quickly, this guard can save you from making mistakes. The thickness and sharpness are perfect for small and medium breeds, as well as cats. The nail file that comes with this set is invaluable for when a cut is a little too frayed.
| Product Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Scissor |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Ergonomic |
|
| Guard |
|
Pet Magain’s Grooming Scissors come in a set of two. You’ll get stainless steel nail clippers as well as a set of trimming and grooming scissors with a serrated blade. You’ll be able to trim the hair around your dog’s toes at the same time you are trimming her nails. The finger rings are safe and easy to use, even for people with larger hands. Though the grip is not ergonomic or shaped to your fingers, the handle is comfortable to use.
Finally, the tips of both pairs of scissors are rounded. This way, your cat or dog won’t get any uncomfortable pokes while you’re trimming them down. Though these aren’t the normal shape or style for clippers, they can work extremely well for precision work on smaller dogs and cats as well!
| Product Name | Best for | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Miller’s Forge Nail Clipper | Best Overall | 8 |
| Safari Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmer | Best Budget | 6 |
| Andis Premium Large Dog Nail Clipper | Best for Large Dogs | 5 |
| Resco Original Pet Nail Clippers | Best for Small Dogs | 5 |
You may have noticed that your dog’s nails are very different from our human nails. So why use human nail clippers? Dog nail clippers have been built specifically for use with your dog’s unique nail structure, so they make the experience more comfortable for both of you. Below, we’ll take a look at why it’s important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed, how to choose a great pair of clippers, and whether to choose clippers or grinders for your pet.
Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed and neat can help them in many ways. Longer nails can harm your dog, from making it difficult for them to walk without pain and even disrupting their hip and shoulder placement. Here are just some of the reasons that it’s important to keep your dog’s nails trimmed.
Trimming your dog’s nails is very different from trimming your own. You have to understand the structure of the nail and be precise about where to stop cutting, otherwise, you could hit the quick and cause your dog pain and a lot of bleeding.
Here are some tips for trimming your dog’s nails. By following these tips, you can make sure to avoid injury and make nail trimming easier for you and your pets.
Whether you choose to use clippers or grinders for your dog’s nails is entirely down to what your dog will tolerate. Let’s examine the benefits and drawbacks of each of these nail trimming tools.
Clippers require more manual work, and they remove large bits of nail more quickly. It’s a fast, quiet process that usually won’t give your dog much anxiety (unless they’ve had a bad experience before).
However, clippers also make it too easy to cut the quick of your dog’s nails. By removing a large part of the nail at once, there is more of a chance that you will cut through the quick of the nail and cause your dog to bleed.
Clippers are easy to use, quicker, and quieter. However, they are not as safe as a grinder and may lead to serious injury if not used properly.
Grinders are loud, but they allow you to slowly grind away nail material. This makes it more difficult to cause your dog injury, as you won’t be able to cut right through the quick. It is still possible to harm your dog, but the grinder usually moves so slowly that you aren’t risking any major injury as long as you’re careful.
It takes a long time for a grinder to trim down your dog’s nails, but taking it slow isn’t always a bad thing. The major drawback to grinders is that they are loud. Your dog may not like the noise or the vibration feeling when you begin to use the grinder. Anxious dogs will shy away.
A good rule of thumb is that grinders are better for larger dogs, where clippers work best for small and medium breeds. Additionally, the noise is always the first factor to consider. If you think your dog isn’t going to like the loud grinding noise or the vibration, using a grinder isn’t the best idea.
Unfortunately, most dogs will likely have some negative association with getting their nails trimmed. Whether they’ve been groomed incorrectly before or they just don’t like having their paws touched, the anxiety associated with dog nail trimming is an issue that many dog owners face when it comes to their furry friend.
You have to have patience, and that’s the most important thing. If your dog has had bad nail trimming sessions in the past, it will be slow to trust and more difficult to convince when it comes to nail clipping. Make sure that you are taking the time to try and get them comfortable with the clippers and the entire process as a whole.
Go slowly. Don’t suddenly spring nail trimming on your dog. Don’t bring the clippers out and then try and get your dog to approach, as dogs who are very anxious about trimming will run and hide. Instead, approach your dog without the clippers in sight. Sit down with them, pet them, and give them a lot of kind words and gentle encouragement.
When your dog is relaxed and comfortable (or even asleep), begin by touching your dog’s paws. Get them used to having their paws handled before the clippers even come into the picture. Treats can help at this stage as well, warming them up to a positive and relaxed association with the process.
When you have calmed your dog, you can bring out the clippers slowly. If your dog wants to sniff them, allow her to check them out. You may not always get a negative reaction, and letting her know what’s going on is always going to allow her to be more comfortable.
Next, slowly begin clipping the nails down, taking care to avoid the quick. Award your dog with soft words, pets, and treats as you go through the process. Never hold them down or try to force them to be still, as this can be traumatizing for them.
A little patience can go a long way when you’re trying to get your dog used to having their nails clipped. Keep them aware of what you’re doing, but be gentle and show them that you aren’t there to harm them. With enough work, your dog will soon learn that nail trimming isn’t a punishment, but a special time for you to bond!
With so many different options, it can be difficult to pinpoint the correct clippers for your dog. Here, we’ll talk about your different options and how to choose good clippers from all of the options available.
There are two types or styles of clipper blades that cover most of the available nail clipper options. These are scissor clippers and guillotine clippers.
Choose the type of blade that works best for you and your dog, but keep in mind the risks of using each type.
What is the blade made of? Most clippers are made of stainless steel. This type of steel won’t rust as easily, is better at holding an edge, and is strong enough to cut through thick layers of the nail. Steel is a nice alternative, but it isn’t as strong or sharp.
Thicker is also better. A 3.5mm-thick stainless steel blade is more durable and stronger, making it easier to use overall. Choose a thick stainless steel blade to get the best results from your clippers.
An ergonomic grip is usually made of rubber or another soft material. It’s molded to the shape of your fingers so that you can easily grip the clippers and use them without your hands sliding around.
Make sure that you are purchasing clippers that are big enough for your needs. Often, the pictures on product listings can be deceiving. Always make sure that you check the product dimensions so that you have some idea of the real size of your clippers.
Keep in mind that bigger clippers will be better for larger dogs, but they won’t work well at all for smaller dogs. It might damage your smaller dogs or cat’s claws if you try and use larger clippers.
Your Dog’s Size
The size of your dog also plays a large part in determining which clippers you should get. Most clippers will spell out what size dogs they are best suited for, so make sure to heed this recommendation. The side of the clippers and the size of the blade may be different for each type of dog, and clippers meant for a large dog won’t work on a small dog (and vice versa).
The guard is a piece of metal that allows you to cut off only a small portion of the nail at a time. This guard is usually attached to the backside of the clippers and gives you a guide so that you don’t cut too deep and nick the quick of your dog’s nails.
If you are at all worried about injuring your dog, you should purchase nail clippers with a guard. It will help keep you and your dog more comfortable with the nail clipping and trimming process, as it will keep it relatively painless for them.
