10 Best dog nail clippers for grooming dogs at home

* Click on the dog nail clipper for more information, prices and other details. Alternatively, scroll down below to read our overview.

Right after you purchase any one of these best dog nail clippers, make sure to learn how to use them properly to avoid injuring yourself or your dog, and avoid dog nail bleeding. If you follow all the instructions in our videos on how to clip dog nails, you’ll learn the process in no time. Using a dog nail trimmer or dog nail clipper from the below list will make the job easier, too.

FULL COMPARISON: Dremel vs. Safari vs. Epica – Which are the Best Pet Nail Clippers for Dogs?

Top 10 Best Dog Nail Clippers for Dogs’ Nail Care

1Dremel MiniMite Cordless Two-Speed Rotary Tool

Please note that this first pick on our list of best dog nail clippers wouldn’t necessarily be objectively the best option or go-to pet nail trimming tool for every pet owner. This is the Dremel nail grinder, and it is not an ordinary piece of equipment for trimming dog’s nails.

• Our full review: Dremel Pet Nail Trimmer Review
• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

First of all, this is an electronic pet grooming kit with a rotary tip: you can cut, trim and shape your dog’s (or cat’s) nails using this pet nail trimmer. Dremel nail grinder is safe, effective and very easy to use. There’s no need to push hard on this pet trimmer and you shouldn’t be afraid of breaking either the nail or the tool, either. It works more like a dog nail file that’s good for nail trimming.

If you read or watch the full Dremel tool review, you can see that this dog nail grinder works very well when it comes to trimming or cutting dog’s nails. However, it may not be the first pick among the best dog nail clippers for some owners and we explain why in the review.

The price of Dremel pet nail grinder for dogs is slightly more expensive than the traditional, metal or plastic, plier- or scissor-like pet nail clippers for dogs, such as those other nine options picked for our best dog nail clippers list.

Dremel tool is battery powered, so there’s no cord. This pet nail trimmer is compatible with an array of other Dremel sanding drums and bands, which means you can use it for other tasks if that’s something you’re interested in. You get a 2-year warranty with these electric dog clippers.

Dremel 7300-PT 4.8-Volt Pet Grooming Kit may be considered as one of the best dog nail clippers mostly because of how easy it is to use it. However, some dog owners may prefer the traditional style of nail clippers for dogs, in which case, our next pick at number #2 would be your best bet.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “I was looking for a grinding tool to use for trimming my dogs’ nails since they don’t like clippers and I refuse to pay a vet or groomer for something so simple…especially since I have four dogs. I did some research, checked Amazon reviews for various products, watched prices on both Amazon and Ebay (used and…”

2Safari® Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmer

Safari dog nail clippers are personally my favorite ones, and our editor Samantha has also picked them as one of her top choices for the best pet nail clippers for dogs awards. Safari has been making dog grooming supplies for a while now and they’re quite good at it.

• Our full review: Safari Pet Nail Clipper Review
• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

This is a very simple, traditional style dog nail clipper designed specifically for the ease of use and simplicity, yet they are often considered as professional dog clippers for trimming nails. If you decide to go with a set of traditional best dog nail clippers, then Safari is your best bet since it’s very easy to learn how to cut dog’s nails using this dog nail clipper.

The reason most pet owners prefer Safari dog nail clipper is its low price (especially when compared to less popular dog nail trimmers that are somehow also more expensive), and the fact that you can pick Safari’s dog nail clipper for large dogs or medium dogs.

Additionally, these Safari dog toenail clippers are very sharp and somehow do not go dull as fast as many other pet nail clippers. I guess that’s the reason why these are one of the most popular best selling dog nail clippers on Amazon.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “My poor old spaniel is getting up there in years. Blind as a bat, going deaf, and his hips are giving out. All he has left is his appetite and tummy rubs. Taking him to the groomer is stressful for him–and sheer anguish for me. I can’t shave his fur in the summer, but I can spare him the visits just for nail trimming now that I’ve…”

3Epica Pet Nail Clipper

In the third place of our best dog nail clippers list is another dog nail clipper that can be considered just as good as Safari’s dog grooming clippers in the second place. It’s the very popular and well-reviewed professional dog nail clippers from Epica.

• Our full review: Epica Pet Nail Clipper Review
• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

Let’s begin by saying that the only reason Epica’s dog nail clipper gets a third place and is behind Safari is the price. These two best dog nail clippers are extremely similar, but Epica’s pet nail clipper costs about $1 more.

Epica has made a great set of grooming clippers which does an excellent job of your dog’s nails. This dog nail clipper is very easy to work with, and the handle is comfortable to hold. Their design works best for dogs of medium to large size, and not suitable for small dogs. These dog toenail clippers are sharp enough to cut through anything, so just be careful when working with Epica.

These third best dog nail clippers are also very popular and have been one of the best selling pet clippers on Amazon for over a year now with a huge range of positive reviews from other pet parents and groomers. The company also offers 100% money-back guarantee, which means if you don’t like them, simply return for a full refund.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “Cutting my dogs nails is always something I have been completely nervous about doing. My dog does relatively well when I cut them and only resists a tiny bit. However, my anxiety and fear of accidentally cutting the nail too short really discourages me from doing it myself. When I received The Pet Nail Clipper for review, I had…”

Video: 10 Best Dog Nail Trimmers 2016

4Simply Pets Pet Nail Clippers

At the fourth place is another great example of best dog nail clippers from a company called Simply Pets. This dog nail clipper is made in a traditional style just as Epica and Safari ones. These are also advertised and marketed as professional dog nail clippers for groomers.

• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

Simply Pets has been manufacturing quality dog grooming supplies for years, and have developed quite a following. Dog owners trust their products and these pet nail clippers is just one of their trusted and proven dog grooming tools that has been on the market for many years. You can confirm that simply by browsing through their reviews.

One may say that this set of fourth best nail clippers for dogs is coming close to being of professional quality, but the truth is, Epica’s and Safari’s (even the Dremel dog nail grinder) are just as good at cutting dogs nails, even though they are not marketed as professional dog nail clippers. The company claims that these dog toenail clippers have been designed by veterinarians themselves, so that’s something to consider.

I believe due to its name, the cost of this dog nail clipper is higher than the above or below mentioned other best dog nail clippers, so it should be a personal preference for most dog owners. I recommend browsing through reviews for a better perspective.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “I received these clippers much faster than I expected to. I purchased these clippers because I had to use both hands with my other ones and even then my clippers would not always clip my dogs’ nails. Many of the nails were left rough and raggedy. When I cut my 80 pound German Shepherd’s nails…”

5Andis Pet Animal Nail Clipper

Listed at the fifth position on our best dog nail clippers ranking is a product from the famous company, Andis. They are very well-known for making one of the best dog hair clippers, and have fairly recently got into the dog nail clipper category as well.

• Our full review: Andis Pet Nail Clipper Review
• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

Once again, when it comes to picking among traditionally designed pet nail clippers, majority of the “good” options are extremely similar, since the design itself is pretty basic. Therefore, all top five options of these best dog nail clippers are actually almost identical, and it all comes down to price and personal preference.

As you can see in the video review, Andis dog nail clipper will get the job done without any problems and the process of trimming dogs nails is exactly the same as with any other grooming tool (besides Dremel pet nail trimmer, of course). But once again, it seems this dog nail clipper will be best suited for medium sized dogs and large dogs. I would be cautious about using this dog toenail clipper on small dogs.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “Dog nail clippers are a problem… some are too hard to see what you are doing, resulting in hurting your pet by clipping too deep. Others are cheaply made which results in an uneven cut or forcing you to use too much pressure, which can actually bend the nail back, also hurting your pet. This clipper is very…”

6GoPets Pet Nail Clipper for Large Dogs

GoPets stays in the game with the rest of popular pet nail clippers for dogs and brings their own set of best dog nail clippers to compete with the big boys. GoPets is a well-known company among pet parents, and have been selling different dog grooming supplies for a while now.

• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

This dog nail clipper is placed in the sixth position over professional dog nail clippers from SimplyPets (listed below) because they are very close in quality yet cheaper. GoPets’ dog nail clipper has also been a hot Best Seller on Amazon for months now. It appears that majority of dog owners love this pair of clippers for dogs and continue to pick them even over cheaper options such as Safari or Epica.

If you’re lucky, you might even get a chance to jump on some promotional discount, which GoPets does very often with their products, including their nail clippers for pets. Quality of GoPets dog nail trimmer is said to be professional and veterinarian recommend (but remember, grain of salt and all for these recommendations).

I also feel it’s important to mention that whenever you purchase a dog nail clipper from GoPets, the company donates 10% of proceeds to animal welfare charities.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “Anyone who has a pet that clips their nails knows the key to this is sharp quick quiet clippers.. Get in get it done and no issues… THESE are the best..I have 4 dogs of my own and 2 that are my daughters that I clip all their nails… This set is PERFECT.. and I have everything from a 12lb baby boston terrier to an 85 lb lab and…”

7Trim-Pet Professional Nail Clippers

We’re coming closer to some of the last choices of best dog nail clippers for your beloved pets. In the seventh place we’ve got another set of truly professional dog clippers from Trim-Pet that have been designed based on customers’ suggestions.

• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

Once again, just to avoid repeating myself over and over again, the design of these dog nail clippers is very similar to most traditional scissor-style type of pet toenail clippers. These are marketed as professional dog nail clippers, and they seem to have used some better quality materials- however, it doesn’t look like it made any positive impact, since the cheaper options still feel better in your hands.

Therefore, it’s very important to note that this dog nail clipper is so far the most expensive ones on this list, and the number of reviews is also not that large compared to, say, Safari’s or Epica’s clippers.

If you’re very interested in testing this dog nail clipper, my suggestion is to visit manufacturer’s website where they give you a lot of tips and reasons why these are possibly the best ones out there, and then decide whether it’s worth an extra $5-15. The company provides a lot of helpful information when it comes to tutorials about trimming puppies nails and such.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “I would recommend these clippers for anyone with pets that require frequent nail clippings. Our Shih-Tzu HATES to have his nails clipped and it is such a chore to do. We have only used these once, but he didn’t fight us as much this time. I wasn’t as nervous about cutting into his cuticles and injuring him. I don’t…”

8Millers Forge Pet Nail Clip

Here’s a truly tough dog nail clipper from Millers Forge. It’s also the cheapest dog nail clippers on this list. They are essentially the same thing as many other best dog nail clippers above, but their design is much more simplistic and less ergonomic.

• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

Millers Forge doesn’t seem to care about the design as much as they do about the effectiveness of this dog nail clipper. It translates into the product, which is great for large dogs and even huge breeds. However, the handle is not very comfortable and your hand may get tired pretty quick when using these dog toenail clippers.

This is definitely a set of sturdy grooming clippers, and many other dog owners mentioned in their reviews the same thing about these eight best dog nail clippers from Millers Forge: they’re sturdy, durable but the handle isn’t the most ergonomic. These are somewhat basic and reasonably priced, considering that they will last you a long time even if you try to break them.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “I do not have strong enough hands to cut my dog’s nails with these. I had broken my previous clippers (they got run over) so was looking for a new pair. I saw all the good reviews and thought that this is better than the guillotine style cutters I had been using. However, I had both hands on these and couldn’t cut…”

9Millers Forge Stainless Steel Nail Clipper, Plier Style

At the ninth position is yet another dog nail clipper from the same company, Millers Forge. This, however, is a much different set of best dog nail clippers due to their design – nothing we’ve listed here before. It’s a pliers type of dog nail clipper, meaning it works the other way around than scissor-like clippers.

• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

These pet nail clippers are extremely basic and cheap. If you’re looking to save as much money as possible on your purchase of grooming tools, then these Millers Forge pet nail clippers is your best bet. At around $6, you will not find anything cheaper or more reliable.

Many other pet owners don’t seem to complain and have rated this product fairly positively. The plier-style dog toenail clippers are definitely long-lasting if used with small dogs, but their handle – just like its big brother above – isn’t comfortable enough to deal with when cutting nails even of medium sized dogs. Also, these aren’t recommended for large dogs since they won’t be able to cut through strong nails.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “I own three cats and a large breed dog. I have tried many clippers in the past, both guillotine style and scissor style (as well as human nail trimmers). I have had many problems with trimmers in the past… Either flat-out not working, splintering the nail, or making so much noise that they freaked out my cats. I bought…”

10Pro Cut Pet Nail Clippers for Dogs and Cats

Finally, the last choice on our best dog nail clippers list here is a decent product from Happy Dogz. I found a lot of great response about this set of pet clippers for dogs from many pet parents online and I figured we’ll have to include them as well.

Video: Which how to use dog clippers Is Best for You?

• Others’ opinion: Read other pet owners’ reviews

Many dog owners seem to recommend this dog nail clipper from Happy Dogz as their favorite choice after trying other options- however, there are quite a few negative or semi-negative reviews on their Amazon page. I recommend you browse it before choosing this set.

Happy Dogz dog nail clipper’s price isn’t that much more expensive than a few others mentioned on this list. The main thing about these clippers is that they look great and actually have a very ergonomic handle. I like their general concept, style and design, too.

Manufactured by a professional dog groomer (not a veterinarian), it feels like the Happy Dogz team behind this dog nail clipper creation knew exactly what they were doing. You also get 10 years money-back no questions asked warranty.

Must helpful review (read the full review on Amazon): “Works great on my border collie mix (50 lbs). It’s a little harder to use on my Shar pei mix – but she has nails of granite. This DOES get through them, I just have to hold her toe carefully so it doesn’t twist with the amount of pressure required. This isn’t a problem with these clippers – it’s her nails, make no…”

And this rounds up our list of ten best dog nail clippers. If you have any recommendations of your own for the best dog nail clipper, then let us know in the comments below. In the meantime, please take a look at the videos of how to trim dogs’ nails safely and other tips on grooming dogs and cutting dog nails properly.

How to Cut Dog’s Nails?

Not every pet owner may feel confident with cutting dogs nails, and that’s okay. At first, it seems like a complicated process during which you may hurt yourself or your dog. While this is certainly possible, cutting your dog’s nail too short, too far, clipping the quick or making him bleed is not that easy to do.

However, if you need help with using a dog nail clipper, trimming dog’s nails and you want to learn how to clip dog’s nails properly and safely, here’s a full step by step video instructions that will walk thought the whole process. In this video, Samantha also used one of these best dog nail clippers mentioned above.

FULL GUIDE: How To Cut Dog’s Nails 101 – Step by Step Instructions

How to Use These Best Dog Nail Clippers?

When you first set out to groom your dog and cut his nails, it’s important to use the right dog nail clipper and then follow the techniques, tips and tricks that professional dog groomers and veterinarians use in their grooming practice.

First, here are three things you need to do to continue successfully trim your pet’s nails:

1. Make it a regular habit for yourself and your dog-
2. Train your dog to associate nail clipping with positivity-
3. Don’t rush the process and be considerate of your canine.

How often should you clip your dog’s nails?

As many dog experts in their dog books indicate, the most accurate answer to how should you use any of these best dog nail clippers would be: it depends. If your pooch walks and runs around a lot outside, especially on concrete and similar surface, then nails will be getting trimmed a little bit all the time.

If he/she lies around the house a lot, then as a general rule, once a month would be a good start to put those best dog nail clippers to good use. The more often you do this, the quicker you will figure out your canine’s nail growth speed patterns, and you’ll soon know when exactly to trim them. Vet Med talks more about dog claws and their trimming here.

Normally, your pet’s nails should not reach the ground when the dog is standing still.

Use treats to train association in your dog

To make your dog associate nail trimming process with something good, you would need to reward him/her with some of the best dog treats or best dog food choices (whichever your canine prefers). Remember to praise your dog and pet them after a successful grooming process – they need to know that they did good.

At first, it would be difficult to reward after the whole process, so start with small healthy treats after each nail clipping. One nail = one treat. That way your dog will start looking forward to the process.

Make this a slow transition and a careful process

Your Fido will not be looking forward to this procedure, so don’t expect to use your best dog nail clippers right away to give your pet a full pedicure. Make it a gradual process, and take it slowly. Don’t rush.

Approach your pet in a calm, playful manner- talk quietly and don’t make this into a sudden-movement competition. If your dog flinches, do not react in a same way but rather attempt to calm them dog. Use treats.

Having great tools when dealing with stressful pet grooming situations like bathing a dog or clipping dog’s nails will make it less uncomfortable for everybody. The above compiled list of best dog nail clippers for your dog’s nail care will help you make the right choice for the most appropriate dog grooming tool and have a stress-free pet grooming session.

Video: 10 Best Dog Clippers 2016

I recommend you more details about every one of those product on their official page, watch our video and written reviews of dog grooming tools, and read other pet owners’ customer reviews on product’s Amazon pages. It’s possible someone will have the same dog breed as yours and have already tried either one of these best dog nail clippers, and reviewed them to a great extent. There’s always something to be learned from other dog owners who have already purchased an item you are trying to research.

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