Best Dog Nail Clippers & Grinder Reviews [Professionally tested + Practical]

Is finding the best Dog Nail Clippers & Grinders important? Grooming your dog’s nails may seem like a harrowing task, but it is not only incredibly important to the health of your dog, but it can be very easy when you have the proper tools and knowledge! Even if you are taking your dog to the groomer every two months or so, it may be necessary to trim their nails more often than this to prevent problems. The best way to save money and take care of your dog is to invest a little money into a quality pair of clippers! They are cost-friendly way to add to the hygiene and health of your pup.

There are a variety of great clippers brands to chose from when purchasing, as well as different kinds of trimmers that are best for different breeds and sizes of dogs. Read below for an overview of the leading brands, best reviewed clippers of 2021, comparisons of the different clipper styles, and important tips and tricks for grooming your furry friend! With a little practice, you can be trimming your dog’s nails like a professional in no time!

What are the best dog nail clippers?

Use this guide below to choose the best clippers for your needs! These are not listed in any particular order, and all are known for their professional quality and performance.

What are the best dog nail grinders?

Use this guide to see two of the leading nail grinders on the market! These are all of professional quality and are recommended for their outstanding performance.

What are the top brands/companies?

Different Types of Trimmers

Why is it important to trim or grind dog nails? Why can’t I let them grow naturally?

Some people may not see the benefit in clipping their dog’s nails. Though it is true that your pets distant relative, the wolf, does not have someone clipping its nails monthly, wolves are constantly active, running on different terrain daily. This naturally trims their nails down. Most house pets are not receiving the same amount of exercise, and therefore, their nails are not being naturally filed, creating the need for dogs to have their nails clipped!

Trimming your dog’s nails is a relatively simple task that can drastically improve the health of your dog in the long term! Do not neglect this task, and start early with your pup if possible, so that they are used to the grooming and do not become scared.

Nail clippers vs nail grinders

So, as we can see, there are two main styles of nail groomers on the market, clippers and grinders. Both can do their jobs well, but it is important to chose the device that will suit you and your dog’s needs best!

Clippers are more like scissors that essentially cut an entire chunk of the nail off, but grinders are more of a file, shaving away at the nail, little by little.

As a result, clippers are much quicker, as they only take one swift motion per nail. Grinders, on the other hand, are much slower, since you must shave down each nail, one at a time.

Grinders can be great for dogs who hate nail clipping, but the noise and vibration that come from the grinders can be scary for some dogs.

With both clippers and grinders, you must take the time to gradually introduce the device to your dog, and do not force the process. We will cover the exact steps to safely cutting your dog’s nails in a few sections below.

What to look for when buying dog nail clippers?

When looking to purchase dog nail clippers, it is necessary to look at the size, safety, comfort, type, performance, and style of the clippers. Most clippers will come in different sizes for different size breeds and dogs, so make sure to buy the ones that are best for your pet! If you are a beginner, it may be important to find clippers that have a safety guard with them, so that you do not risk cutting your dog’s nails too short and harming them. You can also try and look for clippers that have coated hand grips!

This increases the hold on the clippers, making it less likely to drop them, or for the clippers to slip out of your hand- an important factor in clipping safely. Use the comparison guide above to look at the different styles of clippers to see what is best for you! There are scissors for smaller dogs, pliers for bigger dogs, and guillotine style clippers. Choose what is best for you! In addition, you should make sure that the clippers you are using are recommended by professionals. Buying professional will ensure that the clippers will cut your dogs nails well, and not splinter or harm the nails. These are all important factors to consider when buying clipper-style nail groomers for your pet!

What to look for when buying dog nail grinders?

If you have decided to buy nail grinders for your pet, as opposed to nail clippers, there are some additional factors to consider in order to ensure the quality and performance of the grinders. Similar to purchasing clippers, you should find grinders that are comfortable to hold, which will help prevent any problems with the filing process. In addition, you must look at the performance and professionalism of the grinders. Grinders will come in two options, corded and cordless. Corded grinders will plug into the wall, meaning you must be near an outlet when grooming your dog’s nails, but on the positive side, you do not have to wait for the device to charge, and there is no risk of the device dying while you are grooming.

How Often Should I Clip My Dog’s Nails?

There is no set time frame for how often you should cut your dog’s nails, as all dogs have different levels of activity. As mentioned above, the nails of active dogs are worn down naturally through running, so they will not need clipping as often as inactive dogs. Clipping could be needed weekly, biweekly, or monthly, but a general rule of thumb, is that it is time to clip your dog’s nails when you start to hear them clicking on the hard floors, or catching on the carpets in your house. Essentially, they should not be long enough to touch the ground when your dog is standing still.  If you are not cutting your dog’s nails often, this can make the quick become longer, causing problems when you decide to clip again. Regular clipping makes the quick recede back, meaning that there is less pain and problems in your dog’ nails!

How to clip dog’s nails when they are nervous?

Clipping your dog’s nails can be a super simple task, but only once your dog is comfortable with the process. If you have an anxious pet, start introducing the clippers or grinders to them very gradually. For example, on one day, simply let them sniff out the clippers, and then give them a treat. Next, put the clippers near their toes, but don’t clip, and then give them a treat. Then, put the clippers around one nail, but do not clip, and then give them a treat. Next, clip one nail, and give a treat. Continue this until you can do a full foot with no stress. Using this method, you can easily work your way up to full clipping, if you use lots of time, treats, and praise. Try your best to never cut to the quick, so as to not make the process scary and stressful. You can also hold your dog in your lap during the process, as this may make them feel much safer! Using these methods, you should have a happy dog with clipped nails in no time!

How to use nail clippers safely?

Though the process of nail clipping seems very simple, there are some very important steps and cautions you must take to ensure the safety of your pet. The most important thing to be careful of when clipping is to not cut to the nails to the quick. The “quick” is the term for the nerves and blood supply to the nail, and when the nail is cut off past this point, it can be very painful. To ensure that this does not happen, always cut the nail less than you think you need. A general rule of thumb is to cut right where the nails begin to curve down. Do not clip further back that this. Also clip the nails in a well- lighted environment so that you can clearly see what you are doing. Make the process calm so that your dog does not become stressed and remains still. Another tip for seeing where you are cutting the nails, look at the coloring of your dog’s nails. If your dog has white nails, the quick begins where the nails are slightly pink. Also using a hyaluronic acid moisturizer can do wonders to improve their nail trimming experience (this article from Beautists has a comprehensive list if you want to pamper yourself too!)

How to handle emergencies?

What if you cut too deep?

Grooming your dog’s nails can be an easy, short, and fun bonding experience between you and your pet! Make sure to make the process fun, use professional tools, and always reward with treats!