Most dogs don't need toenail trimming, and their toenails are naturally shaved when walking on hard surfaces such as sidewalks. But untrimmed toenails can break, bleed or even grow into the paws, which can be very uncomfortable for dogs. If your pet is making a clack sound when walking on hard ground, it's clear that its toenails need trimming. So how do you trim your dog's nails?

1. How to trim

Sit on the ground with your dog in your arms, or in any other position you feel comfortable with. Use pet-specific nail clippers and make sure they are sharp and easy to use.

Hold your pet's feet firmly on your lap and press the feet so that the toenails will stretch. Trim from the tip of the toenail, keeping the clippers at a 45-degree angle to the nail. Pay particular attention to the tender meat under the toenail. For white toenails, the pink part of the surface is the tender meat of the dog. When trimming black toenails, start from the front of the toenail and trim only the very short nails at a time. If there is a black spot in the center of the toenail, it means that tender meat can already be seen, and the trimming should be stopped immediately.

The tender meat under the toenail is rich in nerves and blood vessels, and the slightest damage will bleed. If you accidentally cut tender meat, press the wound with a cotton ball. When the bleeding stops, do not wipe off the blood clot. Ask your veterinarian if the bleeding has really stopped.

Remember to trim the toenails on your pet's upper paws, which are located on the inside of the dog's legs. Without trimming, these toenails will curve inward and grow into soft tissue, like ingrown toenails.

Toenails should be trimmed weekly, at least twice a month. The more often you prune, the easier it will be to prune—a small amount is always easier than a lot at once.

2. Trimming Suggestions

Teach your dog to trim toenails from a young age. You can fake trim: touch the paw first, then reward it with a favorite treat.

Use a regular toenail file to trim puppy's soft toenails, or an older dog's fragile toenails, which are less likely to cause pain or bleeding.

Even for animals that aren't afraid to trim their toenails, you need to impose some level of restraint and restraint. Of course, the best way is to get your baby used to these restraints (such as cuddling, holding a leg, or pressing a toe, etc.), and then reward him enough.