Best dog nail clippers for diy groomers – top 4 in 2016

Video: Dog Nail Clippers Video Training!

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As I get older, I find I’m increasingly inclined to attempt do-it-yourself projects. I won’t lie to you: I do so mainly because I’m too cheap to pay someone to do something that seems fairly easy.

As a bonus, I also get the personal satisfaction of being able to say, “I did that” and then stand back as the accolades roll in. It gives me a connection with the project that I would not otherwise have, and each success makes me more likely to try something new.

D.I.Y. can be just as rewarding for dog owners. If you’re physically able to do it yourself, why pay someone to wash your dog? How about making your own treats and toys? And the one that makes many people nervous, clipping your dog’s nails.

When we first got our Lab, we were very hesitant to clip his nails ourselves, and so we forked out extra money at the vet, or took him to a groomer. Turns out, it’s not much more troublesome than clipping your own nails.

At a Glance: Our Choice of 4 Best Dog Nail Clippers

Note: The links above take you to more information, current prices and customer reviews on Amazon.

Contents & Quick Navigation

• 1 How Often Should I Clip My Dog’s Nails?

• 1.1 Look & Listen

How Often Should I Clip My Dog’s Nails?

There’s no specific answer to this question. The frequency of trims will depend very much on the amount and nature of exercise your Lab gets.

A sedentary pooch that lazes around the house like some four-legged adolescent will need clipping regularly because the nails are not being worn down through activity. By contrast, a city dog that gets walked an hour a day along a sidewalk will need less frequent clipping because the cement files the nails for you.

Look & Listen

Your ears are actually your best guide for determining the need to trim – if you can hear nails clicking on the floor, it’s time to cut them back.

And if you don’t have any hard floors at home, watch for nails snagging in the carpet. Ideally, you want to trim them just before they’re floor-length.

Will My Dog Sit Still While I Clip Their Nails?

Like most grooming activities, it may take some time to get your Labrador accustomed to having their nails clipped. Most dogs dislike having their feet touched, and very few care to be restrained in any way.

If you’ve already worked with your dog on these issues (it’s a very good idea to train your dog to accept inspection of all their hidden areas), then you’re well on your way to a peaceful nail clipping session.

Without getting too much into detail, be sure your dog is calm and relaxed, perhaps even tired, before you begin clipping. An exhausted Lab is a compliant Lab! Have treats ready, and lavish your dog with reassurance, and praise for being a good boy or girl the whole time.

Stay Sharp!

Nothing says, “no way am I doing that again!” to a dog like being in pain. If your dog is repeatedly hurt during clipping sessions, you’ll have a progressively more difficult time getting them to comply.

A sharp blade on your cutters will cut cleanly through the nail, rather than crushing it painfully.

Don’t Be Too “Quick”

Clipping a dog’s nails too short can cause you to cut into the ‘quick’ or ‘kwik.’ (Ever heard the phrase, “cut to the quick”? Now you know where it came from!) This is the blood supply to the nail, and if you cut it, the nail will bleed, and your dog will almost certainly pull back its paw.

The quick can be seen as a pink area through a white nail, but it’s almost impossible to see in a black nail. Take care to cut off only small bits of nail at a time, and have styptic powder on hand just in case.

Types of Dog Nail Clippers

There are three main categories of nail clippers for dogs, which are as follows:

Guillotine

Less gruesome than the name implies, guillotine-style clippers employ a retractable blade activated by a squeezable handle. The blade emerges from the clippers and slices through the nail.

Easy to use, but the blade must be sharp or else it will crush the nail rather than cut it, and they must be strong enough to cut a large dog’s claws.

Scissors

Quite simply a pair of scissors specially designed to cut with precision through a dog’s tough nails. Available with or without guards that limit the amount of nail removed with each cut.

These are probably the easiest type of trimmers to control, are the most popular style available and so should likely be considered the best dog nail clippers on the market.

Rotary Sander

Often referred to as a “Dremel” after the most popular manufacturer, these use a rapidly spinning sander to file down the nail, leaving them smooth-edged.

Great for those who love power tools, but they can be slow, and many dogs dislike the sound of the motor. You’ll also need to occasionally replace the sanding band that fits around the rotating drum.

Be warned that sanders are inherently more dangerous than cutting instruments, especially if they have an exposed sanding drum. Your dog will need to be very relaxed and will have to be conditioned to the noise. If you can overcome these few hurdles, you’ll be rewarded with a smooth and painless trim.

Can I Use My Own Scissors or Tools?

While it may be tempting to save a few dollars (I am a big fan of keeping my money in my wallet when I can!), I implore you to resist. All scissors were not created equal!

Good quality dog nail trimmers are purpose-made to do this one job. Handles are crafted for precision, blades are notched to cut curved nails cleanly, and safeguards are in place to minimize accidents.

Using your kitchen scissors, or workshop cutters on your dog also increases the risk of cross-contamination, either dog-to-human, or human-to-dog. Think about it- do you really want to use the same scissors on your dog’s feet that you use to open a package of bacon?

Four of the Best Dog Nail Clippers Available

Safari 770045 Large Professional Nail Trimmer

Everything a pair of nail clippers should be: stainless steel blades, textured rubber grips, and a safety guard to prevent over-trimming.

The spring-loaded mechanism provides even, and easily controlled pressure, while tThe blades lock closed when not in use for extra safety.

This pair was designed with medium to large dogs in mind, meaning the blades are spaced adequately for thick nails.

At around $15, this is a good investment. And almost 3000 Amazon reviewers agree!

Boshel Dog Nail Clippers

This set of clippers has all the requisite features: rubber grips, safety guard, locking handles, and stainless steel blades.

It’s ergonomically designed for comfortable and non-slip handling, so you’re far less likely to slip at the crucial moment and make a msitake.

The best feature – besides the 3.5mm razor sharp cutting blades – is a safety stop that when used means you can only cut off a small amount of nail each time. This makes it impossible to cut off too much nail, preventing any slicing into the quick.

As an added bonus, there’s a nail file for adding a finishing touch of smoothness that neatly tucks away into the handle when not in use.

Resco Original Professional Dog Claw Clippers

Resco has been making nail clippers since 1937 and their products are the choice of many grooming professionals. They invented the guillotine clippers, and developed a replaceable blade system.

These are high-quality clippers made in America and will readily slice through your Lab’s nails.

Remember that guillotine clippers do not have safety guards, so you’ll need to use them with care to avoid cutting the quick. Once you’re confident with them, you’ll likely find you can cut each nail with a single pass.

They come in many colors and sizes- choose a large model for your large dog! There are models that come with rubber handles, but anecdotal evidence suggests that these slip off easily. A drop of glue would fix that, but why should you have to repair something new? So stick with this all-metal version.

Wagglies Professional Dog Nail Clippers

By now you’ve probably noticed that the best scissor-style clippers share many of the same features? What sets this pair apart is the unique angled tip.

When cutting your dog’s nails, you may sometimes find yourself coming at things from a peculiar vantage. The angled blades should help you reach the nails more easily from an otherwise awkward position. (I know I always seem to end up in some weird wrestling maneuver.)

For extra peace of mind, the seller offers a lifetime warranty and a money-back guarantee.

The Sincerest Form of Flattery

My research into the world of dog nail trimmers led me to an interesting discovery: many different companies sell exactly the same trimmers. Often times the only differences between two apparently distinct products are the color and the branding.

If you opt to purchase something other than one of these 4 suggestions, shop around. There’s no point paying more for something than you need to, and you’d hate to make a purchase and then find the duplicate item cheaper elsewhere, just because it has someone else’s logo on it.

The Final Cut

I’m a firm believer that anything you can do yourself for your pet, you should. That’s partly because I love to save a buck (though I don’t cheap out on my dog!), and partly because I enjoy a good D.I.Y. But mostly I do it because anything I do with my Lab brings us closer together.

Video: 5 Best Dremel 7300-PT 4 8V Pet Nail Grooming Tool - Pet Grooming Clippers - Review

Forge that bond, folks. There’s nothing else quite like it.

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