Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Marie Lin. Marie Lin is a Licensed Pet Groomer and the Owner of Marie's Pet Grooming, a grooming salon based in New York City. Marie has over 10 years of pet grooming experience specializing in dogs and cats. She earned her pet grooming certification from the American Academy of Pet Grooming New York in 2009 and is also a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America. She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Hawaii Pacific University in 2007.
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Filing your puppy’s nails can either be done after nail clipping (in order to smooth out sharp points), or as an alternative to clipping. You can use a variety of tools to file your puppy's nails, including emery boards, pumice stones, and nail grinders. After you’ve selected the tool that’s right for you and your puppy, you can grasp each of your puppy's feet firmly and carefully file each nail. If you are doing this as an alternative to clipping your puppy's nails, you'll want to repeat this process several days in a row.
Steps
Use an emery board for humans if you need an easy solution. Classic emery boards are available at your local pharmacy for a very low cost. Emery boards will work just fine for filing a puppy's nails, although you may go through more than 1 emery board in the process.[1]
Use a filing tool made for dogs if you have one available. Many pet stores will carry emery board-type tools created specifically for filing dog nails. These tools are larger and more durable than a human emery board. If you have a tool like this available, it can make the job a bit easier.[2]- Some nail files designed for dogs have an indentation in the middle. This helps the file grip the dog's nail.[3]
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Try a pumice stone if your dog’s nails are very small. A pumice stone is another good choice for filing dog nails. Pumice stones can be easier to grip, making them a slightly more convenient option for tiny puppy nails. Pumice stones are available at most health and beauty stores.[4]
Use a nail grinder if your puppy is comfortable with loud noises. Nail grinders created especially for filing and trimming down dog nails are extremely effective tools. Unfortunately, most puppies are afraid of the noise they create. If your puppy is particularly tolerant of noise, a nail grinder may be a good choice for you.- It might be best to start with a regular dog nail file to get your dog used to that. Then, you can introduce the nail grinder.[5]
Make sure your puppy is calm and comfortable. Choose a time when your puppy already seems tranquil and relaxed. Speak to your puppy in a quiet voice, and pet it in a soothing way.[6]- If it’s never had its nails filed before, practice handling its paws ahead of time.
- You may want to use treats to help your puppy get comfortable with filing.
- Locate the quick. The “quick” in each of your puppy’s nails contains a blood vessel and a nerve. Although it is very unlikely that you will hit the quick while filing your puppy’s nails, it is important to locate and avoid it. Look for a small, pink tube that runs through the center of the nail and ends before the tip.[7]
- If your puppy’s nails are white, clear, or light colored, you should have no problem finding the quick.
- If your puppy’s nails are black or very dark colored, it may be much harder to see the quick.
- Grasp each front paw in the palm of your hand. Sit behind your puppy and grasp each foot, gently but firmly, in your non-dominant hand. Holding your filing tool in your dominant hand, gently move it across the top and sides of each nail.[8]
- A nail grinder will only need to make 1-3 passes on the nail.
- With an emery board, dog nail file, or pumice stone make 10-15 passes, always moving in the same direction.
- Position your puppy on its side to file the back paws. With your puppy on its side, hold each of its back paws firmly in your non-dominant hand. Holding your filing tool in your dominant hand, carefully file the top and sides of each rear nail.
- Lean over your puppy’s body if you need to restrain it.
- Make 1-3 passes with a nail grinder.
- Make 10-15 passes with an emery board, dog nail file, or pumice stone.
File your dog’s nails several days in a row if this is an alternative to clipping. If you are filing your puppy’s nails to smooth them out after clipping, you should only need to do this process once. If you’ve opted to file your puppy’s nails as a clipping-alternative, you may want to repeat this process several days in a row, until your puppy’s nails reach the desired length.[9]- Reward your puppy for calm behavior. This will teach your puppy to associate remaining calm with getting a treat, which will make filing its nails in the future easier. If your puppy starts to move around when you're filing its nails, stop the process and hold off on the treats.
- Treats made specifically for dogs are the best option, but you can also use small pieces of human foods. If you opt for the human foods, though, make sure to avoid foods that could be toxic to dogs, including things like grapes, chocolate, avocado, and onions.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionShould I use a grinder on my puppy's nails?
Marie LinMarie Lin is a Licensed Pet Groomer and the Owner of Marie's Pet Grooming, a grooming salon based in New York City. Marie has over 10 years of pet grooming experience specializing in dogs and cats. She earned her pet grooming certification from the American Academy of Pet Grooming New York in 2009 and is also a member of the National Dog Groomers Association of America. She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Hawaii Pacific University in 2007.
Licensed Pet GroomerIt's best to use a dog nail filer for puppies to ease them into the nail grinding process. These look similar to a nail filer for people, but they have an indentation in the middle to better grasp a dog's nail. An electric dog nail grinder is the preferred choice for filing down an adult dog's nails, but the noise can be stressful for a puppy.
Tips
References
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/trimming-your-dogs-nails
- ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/trimming-your-dogs-nails
- ↑ Marie Lin. Licensed Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 2 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.vetbabble.com/dogs/grooming-dogs/trimming-dogs-nails/
- ↑ Marie Lin. Licensed Pet Groomer. Expert Interview. 2 November 2020.
- ↑ https://www.vetbabble.com/dogs/grooming-dogs/trimming-dogs-nails/
- ↑ http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/trimming-your-dogs-toenails/
- ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-grooming-tips
- ↑ http://petgroomer.com/
About This Article
To file your puppy's nails, choose an emery board for a low-cost, easy solution. Alternatively, buy a filing tool made for dogs from the pet store, which is larger and more durable. If your dog's nails are very small, try grinding them down with a pumice stone. Additionally, opt for a nail grinder designed for puppies if your pet is not bothered by loud noises. For tips on how to calm your puppy before trimming its nails, keep reading!
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