Trimming your dog’s nails doesn’t have to be a battle. If you break down the process and use high value rewards, you’ll be surprised at how easy it can be to trim your dog’s nails.

Step 1: Teach your dog how to relax while being handled. Lift up their paws, look in their ears, open their mouth—teacing your puppy how to sit still for handling will make introducing the nail clippers or dremel easier.

Step 2: Introduce the nail trimming tool. Once you can successfully hold onto your dog’s paw for more than 2 seconds (haha), show them what it will look like to get their nails trimmed! I may turn on the dremel and let them hear the sound and then give the a treat. And with the dremel turned off, bring it to their feet and nails.

Make sure you have a good understanding of where the nail of your dog ends and their “quick” begins. Quicks will look different depending on what color the nail is.

Step 3: Dremel or trim that first nail! Eventually, you gotta go for it! It’s better to get one nail with a relaxed puppy, than rush and try and finish a foot but the puppy is wiggling and trying to escape.

Step 4: Find a comfortable position for you and your dog, and try to trim some more nails!

Remember to be patient with your dog, calm, and give them plenty of cookies or pets if they love to be touched