The Best Dog Nail Clippers of 2021

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

How We Tested

Credit: Reviewed / Sarah Zorn

The Tester

I’m Sarah Zorn, and I’ve reviewed dog products, developed pet-friendly recipes, and written animal rescue stories for outlets like Rachael Ray Every Day and Animal Fair magazine for over a decade. This means that my 10-year-old hound mix, Rowdy, is truly living his best life, as official house recipe taster and product tester. That said, he’s a much happier customer when mom is testing food, than testing nail clippers.

The Tests

To make sure we did some heavy-duty testing without subjecting our own pup to constant nail clips, we used each clipper to cut 20 pieces of both 1/8- and 1/4-inch dowels, assessing how comfortable the clippers were to hold, and how much effort it took to make the cuts.

We analyzed the build quality, if there were any special features (especially safety features), and how useful they were, as well as evaluated the overall experience.

Finally, we took our top picks and used them to cut our own dogs nails before determining the winners.

What To Know About Buying Dog Nail Clippers

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

There are several different types of dog nail trimmers we evaluated for this guide.

Scissors:The most common kind of cutter, these plier-style tools have steel blades that snip off bits of the nail when the handle is squeezed. Ideally, they also contain a quick stop guard, to keep you from slicing into a nerve.

Grinders:This electric option uses a rotating, emery board-esque wheel, as opposed to a blade, to gradually grind bits of nail off.

Guillotines:Like the name suggests, these clippers feature a hole that the nail fits through. The handle is squeezed to descend a blade that chops the nail off vertically, as opposed to horizontally.

Since this is a cutting tool, it goes without saying that the blade should be high-quality stainless steel, resistant to dulling, bacteria, and rust. And while special features are nice (such as emery boards tucked into the handle!) safety is of utmost importance. The biggest danger to your dog is accidentally cutting into the nail's quick, so make sure the clipper has a quick guard, as a failsafe against overcutting.

What Type of Clipper is Best for My Dog?

The most important thing dog owners can do when selecting the right clipper is to make sure it's the right size for the dog; small clippers won’t stand up to the density of a large dog’s nails, while a large clipper may be clumsy and aggressive against the tender nails of small or medium-sized dogs.

Classic scissors can be found in both small and large sizes, and are almost always equipped with quick guards, but if your pet jerks their paw when you’re trying to cut, it could definitely provoke accidentally cutting too much of the nail (or worse!).

A grinder offers a gentle, less abrupt way to both shorten and buff your pet’s nails, although you may have to do some work to acclimate them to the buzzing sound.

And a guillotine is quite effective on small dogs or even cats, although animals may be uncomfortable with the rough downward pressure.

How Do I Use Nail Clippers?

Credit: Getty Images

There are definitely wrong and right ways to clip. If used incorrectly, there’s a chance you can inflict unintentional damage on your dog. Since all clippers work differently, it goes without saying that you should carefully read and follow all instructions that come with your model’s manual. Also, consulting with a professional first — such as a vet or groomer — to ensure best practices certainly doesn’t hurt. That said, the general process essentially goes like this:

For All Clippers:Help the dog into a position that they’re most relaxed and comfortable in, where you can easily access their paws without them wriggling (this is often on their side). If possible, it’s best to have two people on hand when trimming your pet's nails; one to do the actual clipping, and one to hold their attention (such as distracting them with treats), and keep their body still and contained.

Locate the quick of your dog’s nail. This is much easier to see on white nails instead of black. Either way, this is the lighter colored circle that appears in the nail, partway down the nail bed. It is a bundle of nerves and vessels, and will bleed and cause pain if you nick it, so avoid this at all costs. Many clippers come with quick stop guards, but it’s best to just clip tiny bits of nail at a time, to avoid going too far. You’ll want to trim to within approximately 2 millimeters of the quick. If you nick the quick and it bleeds, staunch it quickly with styptic powder.

Don’t forget to trim your dog’s dew claws if they have them. It’s the fifth long nails on the inside of the paws, attached by loose skin. Also trim the claws on all four paws, but know that the nails on the front paws are generally longer (and require more cutting) than the claws in the back.

Scissors:Grasp the paw firmly in your non-clipping hand, without twisting any part of the dog’s body in an uncomfortable/unsustainable way. Making sure the toe you’re working on is well separated from the others, place your scissors at a right angle to the toenail. Snip away bits of the nail at a time, with the goal of eventually cutting back as much of the nail as you can before coming within two millimeters of the quick.

Grinders:Since these are pretty difficult to use incorrectly (you just press the wheel to the nail to take off bits at a time), the most important step is to acclimate your dog to the sound and sensation first. With the power off, lightly touch the tool to their nails. Then turn the power on and give their paws a massage (with your hands, instead of the tool). The aim is to get them to equate the sound with a non-threatening experience.

Guillotine:Place the claw inside the stationary ring, holding the clipper perpendicular to the nail. If you hold it parallel, the nail may shatter or splinter. Face the cutting blade towards you, not the dog, which will help keep it from slicing too far towards the quick. Squeeze the trimmer handle to extract the blade.

---

Other Dog Nail Clippers We Tested

More Articles You Might Enjoy

• The Best Dog Poop Bags
• The Best Dog Harnesses
• The Best Dog Beds
• The Best Dog Leashs