The best dog nail clippers of 2024, tested and reviewed

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Some dogs deterioration their nails down people if they are very progressive outdoors, but astir request regular trims pinch nan champion canine nail clippers. With regular trimming, you tin forestall nails from curling and increasing into nan paw pad, a achy and perchance vulnerable condition. Plus, dogs pinch shorter nails are little apt to scratch wood floors aliases your arms and legs if they jump up connected you.

During my eight-year agelong moving arsenic a veterinary assistant, I trimmed nan nails of thousands of pets and person utilized a assortment of canine nail clippers, including plier-style, guillotine, and grinders. For this guide, I tested 11 different clippers and 4 grinding devices to make my selections. If you're caller to nail trimming, my fund pick, Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper, is simply a awesome brace to get you started pinch a mini aliases medium-sized dog. These plier-style clippers are easy to use, person a information guard, and make soft cuts.

Learn much astir really Business Insider Reviews researches and tests pet products.

Our apical picks for nan champion canine nail clippers

Best for ample dogs: Bissell Dog and Cat Nail Clippers - See astatine Amazon

Best for mini dogs: JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper (Medium) - See astatine Chewy

Best budget: Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper - See astatine Chewy

Best guillotine clippers: Resco Original Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers (Small/Medium) - See astatine Chewy

Best nail grinder: Dremel PawControl 7760-PGKD Deluxe Pet Nail Trimming Kit - See astatine Chewy

Best for ample dogs

Big dogs often person thick, ample nails, and moreover immoderate medium-sized dogs person heavy nails. The well-constructed Bissell Dog and Cat Nail Clippers easy and softly trim done ample nails and are highly comfortable to hold. They besides travel pinch a one-year constricted warranty.

I utilized these clippers connected a Labrador retriever. The crisp leaf trim her heavy nails easy and smoothly, pinch nary shredding aliases splintering of nan nail. The soft nonslip grip felt bully successful my hand, and nan handles were easy to compression closed. These clippers besides worked good connected a miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails, truthful they are versatile.

Some nail trimmers make a large snapping sound, which tin startle a tense dog, but nan Bissell clippers are highly quiet. The information defender prevents overcutting and hitting nan quick, and nan clippers tin beryllium locked successful nan closed position for storage. There's besides a mini nail record that slips wrong nan clipper handle. Though, successful theory, this is simply a bully feature, nan mini record didn't activity very good successful practice.

The Bissell clippers hit nan Andis Pet Nail Clipper and Safari Professional Nail Trimmers for nan champion canine nail clippers for ample dogs. They person a much comfortable grip grip and amended value constituent than nan Andis clippers, and they won complete nan Safari trimmers because of their superior grip and one-year constricted warranty.

Best for mini dogs

The JW Pet Grip Soft Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper successful size mean is simply a awesome action for small dogs pinch mini aliases bladed nails. I utilized these clippers connected a miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails and a 10-pound mixed-breed canine pinch mini nails. JW Pet's gel-like nonslip grip is exceptionally comfortable. The stainless alloy blades are crisp and trim nan nail easy and smoothly, and nan clippers are reasonably quiet. The clippers person a speedy defender and fastener for safe storage. I urge locking your nail clippers aft utilizing them to protect nan blade.

Cassie Edmond, an animal attraction master astatine nan San Diego Humane Society, likes utilizing mini nail clippers for puppies aliases dogs whose nails person grown excessively agelong and are curling backmost toward nan paw pad. The smaller cutting blades are easier to maneuver astir coiled nails.

These clippers are besides adjuvant if you person mini hands. However, if you person ample hands, you mightiness find nan handles challenging to hold. I person medium-sized hands and had nary problem operating them.

Best budget

The Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper stands retired for its simplicity, effectiveness, quality, and affordable value nether $8. These were nan quietest of nan plier-style clippers I tested, thing anyone pinch a skittish canine will appreciate. The blades are crisp and trim smoothly and easily. The metallic grip has slip-on rubber grips — not galore frills here, but I recovered them comfortable to hold, although, successful my experience, nan grips sometimes slipped down connected nan metallic handles.

I've utilized these clippers a batch complete nan years, particularly erstwhile I worked arsenic an adjunct successful a veterinary hospital. Even pinch tons of use, nan stainless alloy blades ever held up great, maintaining their sharpness for galore years. The clippers are easy to maneuver astir each nail, acknowledgment to nan size and thinness of nan blades. They besides person a quick-guard information characteristic and information fastener for safe storage.

These clippers are mini pinch a constrictive leaf opening, truthful they aren't nan champion prime for very ample dogs aliases dogs pinch very heavy nails, but they worked awesome erstwhile I tested them connected a miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails and a 10-pound mixed-breed canine pinch mini nails.

Best guillotine clippers

I tested nan Resco Original Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers successful size small/medium connected a miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails and a 10-pound mixed-breed canine pinch mini nails. The clippers outperformed nan guillotine-style clippers I tested from Millers Forge. The Resco leaf was very crisp and trim nan nail smoothly, while nan Millers Forge leaf didn't look arsenic crisp aliases trim arsenic smoothly.

Even though nan Resco clippers deficiency a rubber grip connected nan handles, they were comfortable to clasp and easy to compression closed, for illustration my different picks for nan champion canine nail clippers. They're besides designed to last, pinch chrome-plated American alloy manufactured successful nan US. You tin acquisition a blade replacement kit erstwhile nan leaf dulls alternatively of buying a caller brace of clippers.

Compared to plier-style clippers, you don't request to use arsenic overmuch unit to trim pinch guillotine clippers. However, guillotine clippers aren't arsenic strong, making them a mediocre prime for dogs pinch very ample aliases heavy nails. They activity champion connected dogs pinch mini aliases medium-sized nails and are besides awesome for cats. The clippers are very quiet, truthful dogs that get upset by nan large snapping sound of immoderate plier-style clippers mightiness admit these.

Guillotine clippers don't person a quick-guard information feature, truthful don't make large cuts. Slowly snip disconnected mini amounts of nail to debar cutting nan quick. You'll besides want to workout be aware because a dog's nail tin get caught successful this style of clippers, and if they propulsion away, they tin harm aliases tear retired their nail.

Best nail grinder

Some nail grinders are marketed specifically to pet owners and others are champion for professionals, but my apical prime for nan champion canine nail grinder, nan Dremel PawControl 7760-PGKD, is perfect for some novice pet owners and master groomers.

Nail grinders are awesome for dogs that don't emotion clippers and achromatic nails since you can't spot nan quick. They tin besides beryllium utilized connected dogs of each sizes and are effective connected heavy nails. I tested nan Dremel grinder connected a miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails and a Labrador retriever pinch ample nails.

This cordless grinder is quiet and gentle. I peculiarly liked nan grinding disc that's recommended for novice users, which quickly sanded down nan nails. The grinding disc is utilized pinch some defender attachments, which artifact each nan spinning parts of nan instrumentality — thing that made maine consciousness rather safe while utilizing it. The enhanced information afforded by these attachments is nan main logic this grinder hit retired its closest competitor: nan Wahl Grind and Smooth Battery Nail Grinder.

The Dremel grinder comes pinch set attachments for much maneuverability, but they require much accomplishment and assurance arsenic they cannot beryllium utilized pinch nan defender attachments. I utilized nan grinder pinch some options and preferred nan capacity and bid of mind of nan grinding disc.

The kit comes pinch a assortment of sanding bands and discs, but nan product's existent standout is nan nail information defender and paw guide, which helped maine attain a bully nail trimming angle. Nail grinders person a learning curve, but Dremel's Quick Start Guide is adjuvant and recommends circumstantial attachments and speeds for opening users. As pinch each nail grinders, nan grinding heads request occasional replacement. Professional groomers will request to switch these much often; for pet owners, they should past a agelong time.

Read my full reappraisal of nan Dremel canine nail grinder.

What to look for successful canine nail clippers

It tin beryllium difficult to cognize what type of nail clippers will beryllium champion for your canine — and for you. I asked Dr. Jerry Klein, main veterinary serviceman astatine nan American Kennel Club, what qualities are basal successful a bully brace of canine nail clippers.

Appropriate style for your needs: Nail clippers travel successful 4 main designs. Guillotine nail clippers person a loop astatine nan extremity and a leaf that slices upward​​ erstwhile you compression nan handle. These are easy to use, but making precise cuts tin beryllium challenging. They are champion for mini and medium-sized canine nails arsenic they aren't arsenic beardown arsenic different styles.

Scissor-style nail clippers are double-bladed and utilized conscionable for illustration a brace of scissors. They are easy to usage and champion for dogs pinch mini aliases bladed nails. Klein says they are not nan champion for large, heavy nails because they usually aren't beardown enough. Pliers-style clippers are akin to scissors clippers, but they are overmuch stronger acknowledgment to a outpouring betwixt nan handles. These clippers are awesome for dogs pinch large, heavy nails, and they besides activity good for medium-sized dogs.

Finally, electrical aliases battery-powered nail grinders, akin to Dremel tools, are awesome for slow and mildly filing nan nails down alternatively than cutting them. Klein says nail grinders are celebrated pinch canine groomers and show canine handlers because they nutrient smooth, rounded nails. They're besides a awesome action for dogs that dislike having their nails trimmed. Keep successful mind that nail grinders vibrate and tin beryllium somewhat loud, truthful it mightiness return immoderate clip for dogs to get utilized to them.

Quality materials: Dog nail clippers usually person metallic blades and integrative handles, but immoderate styles are each metal, pinch aliases without rubber grips connected nan handles. Klein says nan champion canine nail clippers person blades made of stainless alloy aliases carbonated alloy because they are durable and easy to clean. On ample pliers-style nail clippers, look for beardown springs betwixt nan handles. Bonus if nan blades are replaceable.

Safety features: Trimming canine nails tin beryllium tricky. You don't want to trim nan speedy — nan vein wrong nan nail — because it will wounded your canine and origin nan nail to bleed. When choosing nail clippers, look for information features, specified arsenic nail guides aliases information stops, which let you to set nan magnitude of nail you're trimming truthful you don't trim excessively far. Nail grinders ideally person information guards that forestall thing from rubbing nan rotating parts of nan tool.

Sizing: When choosing canine clippers, comparison nan cutting leaf to nan size of your dog's nails. Klein says that mini dogs mostly request smaller clippers, and ample and elephantine dogs request larger clippers. He besides says clippers should fresh comfortably successful a person's hands truthful they person bully power erstwhile trimming their dog's nails.

How we tested nan champion canine nail clippers

I tested 11 different pairs of nail trimmers and 4 grinding tools, utilizing them connected 3 dogs pinch different-sized nails: a Labrador retriever pinch large, heavy nails, a miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails, and a 10-pound mixed-breed canine pinch mini nails.

The clippers and grinders were tested connected nan miniature poodle pinch medium-sized nails. Additionally, I tested nan mini clippers connected nan mini mixed breed canine and nan ample clippers and nail grinders connected nan Lab. In my first information of testing, each instrumentality was tested astatine slightest erstwhile per dog, but nan front-runners were tested aggregate times to constrictive down nan class winners. I waited respective weeks successful betwixt testing for nan dogs' nails to turn back.

To gauge semipermanent durability, I continued to usage nan nail trimmers that received nan highest marks to trim my miniature poodle's nails. For 5 months aft that, I trimmed my dog's nails astir each 2 weeks and rotated clippers. After each trim, I utilized nan nail grinding instrumentality to buff nan nail edges.

Overall, I assessed each clipper for easiness of use, performance, sharpness, safety, and quality.

Ease of use: I assessed really controlled nan clippers felt successful my manus and whether they were easy to compression closed. When cutting a dog's nails, you don't want to struggle aliases consciousness uncomfortable while utilizing a nail trimmer. For nail grinders, I evaluated really easy they were to group up, hold, and use.

Performance: I tested each brace of clippers to make judge they worked arsenic advertised. For instance, ample canine nail clippers should easy and efficaciously clip done reliable nails, and mini clippers should beryllium appropriately sized for smaller nails. For nail grinders, I evaluated really good nan grinding bands aliases discs smoothed retired nan nails and really large each grinder was.

Sharpness: Although nan cutting blades will inevitably dull complete time, they should beryllium very crisp to guarantee a swift, cleanable trim done nan nails. Inferior, dull blades thin to shred aliases splinter nan nail alternatively than portion cleanable through.

Safety: I evaluated nan effectiveness of immoderate nail information guards, arsenic good arsenic nan beingness of a locking system that allows nan clippers to beryllium stored safely successful nan closed position. For nail grinders, I assessed nan tool's information options and really safe it felt to run nan tool.

Quality: I considered nan value of each clipper's materials and construction. A bully brace of clippers should consciousness sturdy and look well-made, and each parts should usability arsenic intended. For nail grinders, I assessed nan assembly of nan instrumentality and really it felt erstwhile utilizing it.

Dog nail clipper FAQs

What nail clippers do vets urge for dogs?

In general, nan champion canine nail clippers should beryllium easy to clasp and person a crisp leaf for soft cutting. If your canine has very mini aliases ample nails, take a nail clipper that correlates. Look for clippers pinch stainless alloy blades, which are beardown and defy rusting. A quiet nail clipper is simply a prize for timid dogs aliases those who are reluctant to person their nails trimmed. At nan extremity of nan day, though, choosing nan correct canine nail trimmer comes down to your comfortableness utilizing it.

Is it amended to grind aliases clip canine nails?

Nail clippers trim done nan nail, whereas nail grinders record nan nail down to a shorter length. Some dogs for illustration nan sensation of nail grinding complete clipping, and you're little apt to trim into nan speedy pinch a grinder. "When grooming, 9 times retired of 10, I will conscionable grind a dog's nails alternatively of trimming," says Edmond. "Nail clippers tin time off a jagged unsmooth separator connected nan nail, but a nail grinder tin buff retired nan sharpness and information nan nail each nan measurement down to nan quick." On nan flip side, immoderate dogs dislike nail grinders' large sounds and vibrations. These devices besides person a learning curve to usage them safely and comfortably. Dr. Melissa Smits, a veterinarian who was a partner astatine Fort Morgan Veterinary Clinic astatine nan clip of my interview, recommends utilizing nan instrumentality you consciousness astir comfortable with, which will make your canine astir comfortable.

How do I attraction for canine nail clippers and grinders?

After each use, swipe your clippers clean. Close nan clippers and prosecute nan information fastener to protect nan leaf erstwhile not successful use. If your nail clippers get wet, barren them thoroughly earlier storing them indoors successful a integrative aliases cloth container pinch each of nan grinding accessories. If nail clippers aliases grinders are near extracurricular and exposed to dampness and somesthesia extremes, nan metallic tin rust, and nan integrative tin warp.

How often should I trim my dog's nails?

This depends connected your dog, but nan wide norm of thumb is to trim your dog's nails earlier they turn agelong capable to click connected nan floor. All nails turn astatine different rates, and dogs deterioration them down differently. Big, dense dogs that tally astir extracurricular whitethorn people deterioration their nails down, requiring little predominant trimming. "A Yorkie that hardly touches nan crushed astir days mightiness request a nail trim each 2 weeks," says Smits. "An Iditarod training aliases marathon moving pal mightiness ne'er request one."

How acold down do I trim nan nail?

Trim nan nail arsenic short arsenic you tin without cutting into nan quick, which is nan vein that runs down nan halfway of nan nail. If your canine has achromatic nails, it's easy to spot nan quick. If your canine has achromatic nails, it's harder to cognize precisely really acold to cut. Conservatively clip conscionable nan hooked portion of nan nail to beryllium safe. You tin besides inquire your veterinarian for a objection connected your dog. For much elaborate directions, cheque retired our tutorial connected how to trim aliases grind your dog's nails nan correct way.

When should I commencement trimming my puppy's nails?

Start nail trimming arsenic early arsenic imaginable truthful your puppy learns to judge it. Even older dogs tin study to judge nail trimming if you attack it nan correct way. "Introduce nan canine to nan nail trimming process successful a slow, fun, rewarding manner," Smits says. "This will alteration nan canine to autumn successful emotion pinch nan attraction that comes pinch getting a pedicure and clip pinch you."

Does nail trimming wounded my dog?

As agelong arsenic you don't trim excessively acold down, it hurts nary much than trimming your ain nails. However, beryllium very observant not to trim nan quick. The speedy is highly sensitive. Cutting into it is achy and will origin nan nail to bleed. It whitethorn besides origin your canine to go resistant to nail trimming successful nan future.

What should I do if I trim my dog's nail and it starts to bleed?

If you accidentally nick nan quick, usage styptic powerfulness to cauterize it and extremity nan bleeding. Scoop up a mini magnitude of powder onto your digit aliases pinch a portion of gauze and property it mildly but firmly against nan nail. Hold for a infinitesimal aliases truthful until nan bleeding stops. If you don't person styptic powder, you tin usage flour aliases maize starch instead.

I'm excessively tense to trim my dog's nails. Who will do it for me?

If you are uncomfortable trimming your dog's nails aliases are concerned your pet mightiness wound if you effort to trim their nails, activity master help. Most groomers see nail trimming successful their regular services. You tin besides make an assignment to person your dog's nails trimmed astatine your veterinary hospital. "If nan canine is an amiable sort, groomers are a phenomenal option," Smits says. However, dogs who whitethorn go fierce during nail trimming would use from a trim astatine nan vet's agency wherever they tin usage sedation if necessary.