One of the hardest things to do for a dog owner can be clipping the dog's nails.  Many owners resort to having the dog's nails clipped at by the veternarian or at a grooming salon because the dog will not allow it's feet to be handled.  While this may be a solution for getting the nails clipped, it costs more in the long run than doing it yourself.  Here is a guide on how to get your dog to accept the nail clipping. 

Getting your dog used to being handled:

This is easiest if you have a puppy, but it may work on older dogs too.  Start out by petting and snuggling your pet in ways that it likes - patting on the head, scratching the ears, etc.  After a while, work your way down to your pet's legs and feet.  At first, just touch the tops of the feet lightly and move back to somewhere the dog enjoys being petted.  Do not act nervous or afraid!  Act like you are in charge and you just wanted to touch the paws for a bit.  Gradually increase the amount of time you spend with the dog's feet.  Praise it when it lets you handle the paws without fussing or pulling them away.  Eventually, the dog should accept the handling and you can go on to clipping the nails.

But my dog won't let me touch his paws!

If your dog is particularly stubborn about having his feet touched, you may have to work on a rewards system.  Use a command the dog already knows (like "sit") and feed another treat while touching the dog's paw.  You can give a command for this too, like "shake hands."  The dog should momentarily distracted by eating the treat and will allow its paw to be handled.  After the dog learns the command, increase the time that you hold the foot before and after giving the treat.  Once the command is learned, be sure to let your vet and groomer know so they can use the command for the dog too!

I have two more methods if your dog is absolutely set against having his feet touched. 

Work for the treat:

    Have one person put the dog on a leash and hold the leash in one hand and the dog's favorite treat in another.  That person should hold the treat loosely in a first, so the dog knows it is there but can't eat it right away.  While the dog is trying to get at the treat, the other person can begin handling the feet.  Make the contact with the paws brief at first, and praise and reward if the dog does not try to pull its feet away or nip.  Gradually increase the length of time that the paws can be handled until the dog is used to it.

If the dog bites when its paws are touched:

    Buy a wire muzzles for the dog (that kind that makes a "cage" around the snout).  Put the muzzle and leash on and have one person hold the leash.  The person that is holding the leash should be feeding the dog treats.  With the muzzle on they should be longer skinnier treats such as hot dogs or string cheese.  While the dog is eating, the second person can handle the feet.  Again, start with short periods of paw handling and gradually increase as the dog comes to accept it.

How to clip the dog's toenails:

First, you will need nail clippers.  I recommend the "guillotine" style clippers.  Those are the kind that have a spot to insert part of the nail, and then a blade comes up and slices through the nail.  Don't use the people nail clippers on the dog. 

Pick up the paw and hold it firmly.  You can apply a bit of pressure to splay the toes and see the nails better.  If the dog has light toenails, you should see a little bit of pink inside part of the nail.  This is called the "quick" and it is the nerves and blood vessels of the toenail.  You should never clip the quick!  It will be painful for the dog and can cause profuse bleeding.  Always aim to cut off the tip of the nail and not too close to the quick. 

If your dog has black toenails, it will be harder to find the right place to cut because you cannot see the quick.  Here is a tip for dark nails on dogs:  all dogs have a groove along the bottom of their nails.  The groove is deep at the tip and gradually disappears until you can't see it anymore.  The part of the nail with the deepest part of the groove is safe to clip off.  If you are having difficulty seeing the nails, get your dog to lay down and hold the foot with the pads facing you.  Then it will be easier to look at the underside of the nail and see where the groove is. 

Help!  I cut the quick and my dog is bleeding!

If you cut the quick, your dog will probably yelp and pull away, and you will see blood coming from the tip of the nail.  First of all, do not panic!  Your dog will probably be frightened, and if you act scared or upset then the dog will feed off of your emotions and be even more frightened.  Calmly reassure your dog. 

Nails can bleed profusely so you must stop the bleeding.  You can do this either with flour or a product called Kwik Stop (available from your vet).  You can put a pinch between your fingers and apply it to the wounded nail.  This treatment might sting a bit at first but it should stop the bleeding.  Comfort the dog and feed it a treat.  If the you cannot stop the bleeding, please contact your vet.  Nails are small but dogs can lose a lot of blood if the wound is not staunched.

General tips for making nail clipping a better experience:

Clipping stresses some dogs, so it may be easier for you to only cip a few nails a day and spread the clipping out over a couple of days. 

If your dog is skittish after getting his nails clipped too short, be patient.  He may become fearful of the clippers - in this case, try to get him used to having the clippers in his presence.  Just bring them over and praise him and give him treats if he stays calm.  Reassure him before trying any clipping again.  You may want to gradually get into clipping again by only doing a few nails at a time until he isn't scared anymore.

Talk to your dog while you clip his nails.  It doesn't really matter what you say, but be use a calm and reassuring tone of voice.  If you feel you need your concentration and can't talk and clip the nails at the same time, ask someone else to come keep the dog company while you do the nails.