Tips to Removing Finger Length Nails in Two Minutes

The Secret of Nail Cutting Is Cutting Down the Longer Nails First — Not the Shorter Nails

Dog owners, take note! Just because your dog has trouble clipping her nails doesn’t mean she can’t keep the short ones. In fact, short nails are more likely to be flat as opposed to curled, so she has more control over how her short nails move. So, you can relax and play while getting your dog to unclip her nails safely.

From taking pictures to creating a “calculated reaction,” here are 10 tips to keep your pup from fouling or getting in trouble when she tries out her new tip-cutting method.

Plan ahead. Take a photo of your pup holding the longer nails before you go out to save you from awkward water bottle plumes and destroying the nail-clipping tape.

Mark down if she starts fingering the shorter ones. Don’t try to anticipate her behavior, as she may pluck the shorter ones out before even knowing what she’s doing.

Do an experiment. Try out the new cutting technique first to see how well it works. If the longer nails seem to be doing all the work, you’re likely able to stick with the shorter length.

Check the size of your dog’s nail. Do you have a long nail? Then the short-nail clipping technique is probably best for you. For a shorter nail, the longer length may work best. And it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Turn the timer off. Do you notice a delay when your dog tries to strip her nails to start the new process? If so, it may be safer to wait until she has finished.

Watch her reaction. Keep a photo handy to capture how your pup reacts when you attempt to trim her nails safely. It may take longer than she thinks, but she’ll likely enjoy the technique.

Find that balance. Try out the new Nail clipping method on a friend’s dog and try to find a balance between sticking to one for you, and swinging around to the shorter lengths for someone else.

Double check your tape. The tape should be soft and the tack as thin as possible. If not, be sure to wrap it gently around the nail and ensure it doesn’t press against the nail.

Keep the original tape and trim the nails properly. If you’re going to use the “calculated reaction” method, keep your tape and nail tips until you’re satisfied that the nails are free of the tape.

Try it with your friends’ dogs. If you’ve already saved your nail clipping tape, grab another set of tape and try the new clipping method on your friends’ dogs.

Start small. Trying it on one little bit of her nail is probably the best way to see if it works or not.

Use a microfiber pad. If you have to keep a fragile or hard-to-reach nail, use a microfiber pad to trim your nails. It will keep the smaller nail from rubbing against the tape or damaging the nail.

For the history buff in us, read on for more secrets to safe nail cutting and learn the history behind it!