How to trim your dog's toenails

Step 3 Acclimate your dog to clippers

Sitting next to your dog, let him sniff the clippers and give him a treat.

Pick up a foot and place the clippers near the the nails. (Do not place trimmers around he nail or make any noise with the clippers.) Praise and give your dog a treat.

Do this several (10-15) times and end the session. It is important that the clippers become a good thing to the dog, not a scary or intimidating thing. Most people grab the clippers, try to wrestle the dog and clip its nails. From this the dog learns that the clippers in your hand mean you turn into a scary, mean monster who is trying to cut his feet off. We want him to learn that the clippers in your hand mean he gets praised and he gets to eat lots of treats.

During the next session, you can start squeezing the clippers so that they make a noise. Guillotine clippers have a spring action that makes a certain noise and we want the dog used to this noise. We aren't clippings nails yet, just squeezing the handle while the clippers are near the dog's feet. Remember to praise and treat the dog after each squeeze.