{"id":36972,"date":"2023-07-25T22:05:57","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T05:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/?p=36972"},"modified":"2023-07-25T22:05:57","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T05:05:57","slug":"when-should-i-cut-my-puppys-nails-for-the-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/when-should-i-cut-my-puppys-nails-for-the-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"When Should I Cut My Puppy’s Nails For The First Time?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When should I cut my puppy’s nails for the first time has to be on anyone\u2019s mind who just brought home a puppy<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know it was top of mind for me when my 8 week old<\/a> Boxer<\/a> mix puppies Missy & Buzz moved in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I worked on figuring out their grooming routine<\/a>, I\u2019ll admit that I was a little stressed out about puppies\u2019 first nail trim in their new home.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Because here\u2019s the thing – their nails were almost all black, so it was really hard to see the quick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the inner part of the nail that consists of blood vessels and nerves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting your puppies\u2019 nails doesn\u2019t hurt them UNLESS you accidentally cut into the quick, and it also bleeds quite a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course that means they\u2019re not going to look forward to any future nail trims, so the goal is always to avoid cutting into the quick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In light dog nails, it\u2019s really easy to see but in dark dog nails, it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it took me some time, I eventually learned how to trim (black) puppy nails and what not to do, including how to stop dog nail bleeding and everything else that\u2019s somehow related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So in this blog post, you\u2019ll learn about proper nail care for puppies, including tips for a stress-free nail trimming experience as well as why it\u2019s important to start as soon as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Trimming Puppies’ Nails Is Important<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before I dive into the ideal time for that first puppy nail trim, let’s understand what happens if you don\u2019t cut your puppy\u2019s nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neglected puppy nails can lead to a variety of issues, including discomfort, pain, and potential injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long dog nails can cause problems while walking, running, or playing because it changes their gait and puts strain on their joints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, excessively long dog nails are more prone to splitting or breaking, which can lead to infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus reason: Regular nail trimming not only keeps your puppy’s paws healthy but it also prevents scratches on both you and your furniture!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Right Time For The First Puppy Nail Trim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your puppy’s nails are like mini bear claws cutting through your skin like a warm knife to butter. Well…maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But seriously, when should I cut my puppy’s nails for the first time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that you know that trimming puppy nails isn\u2019t optional, let\u2019s talk about your puppy\u2019s first nail cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A general rule of thumb is to start trimming your puppy’s nails when they are two weeks old<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage, their nails are still small and easy to manage, and you can actually trim them with human toe nail clippers<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s enough to just take the very tips off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you\u2019re obviously only going to be able to do that if you\u2019re raising your puppies right from their birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re adopting your puppies at 8 weeks of age, you can start trimming their nails then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Missy & Buzz, I trimmed their nails for the first time 7 days after they moved in with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Introduce A Puppy To Nail Clippings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the week leading up to the \u201cevent\u201d, I gradually introduced the puppies to the concept of having their nails trimmed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had already bought the two main tools to cut puppies\u2019 nails weeks before they moved in with me – dog nail clippers<\/a> and styptic powder for dogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they\u2019re at that age, human toe nail clippers won\u2019t work anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had read about both in a Terra Nova book by Sheila Webster Boneham on Boxers<\/a> I bought a month before the pups moved in with me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, you\u2019ll need the dog nail clippers to trim puppies\u2019 nails, and the styptic powder is GREAT to stop any bleeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sidenote: Cornstarch also works to stop dog nail bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway, what I did is I pulled out the dog nail clippers and showed them to the pups every day leading up to their first nail trim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had also read that it\u2019s important to handle your puppies\u2019 legs and paws on a daily basis to get them used to the sensation of being touched. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So every day when the puppies and I had cuddle time, that included \u201ccuddling\u201d their paws, and I\u2019d also touch their paws with the dog nail trimmer, but without using it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While touching their paws with the nail clipper, I handed out yummy dog training treats<\/a>, which worked particularly well for Missy because she was extremely food motivated!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My goal here was to associate something positive (the treats) happening when the nail trimmers came out.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Terra<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Terra Nova\u2019s Boxer book. It\u2019s a great read, I highly recommend it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Puppy\u2019s First Nail Trim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once your puppy is comfortable with paw handling and they\u2019ve seen the nail trimmers a few times, you can start with the first trim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find a quiet and well-lit space where you and your puppy can comfortably focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I personally found that daylight worked better over artificial light sources, and the best time for a trim was always after a walk or playtime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s when the puppies were pooped and less prone to wiggle around! That said, you can also cut puppy nails while they\u2019re napping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, don\u2019t forget to place the styptic powder or cornstarch within reach, just in case you may need it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do, put some on your dog\u2019s nails and apply some pressure with a finger for 2-3 minutes, that\u2019s typically how long it takes for any bleeding to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as cutting your puppies\u2019 nails while standing or sitting, either approach works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer standing, you\u2019ll have to place them on a dog grooming table<\/a>. The professional ones include a grooming arm that keeps your puppy in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or, you can also have your puppy lie on your lap or the floor and trim their nails while sitting, that\u2019s up to your personal preference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I personally always had the puppies lie down on the floor while I sat next to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OK, now start by trimming a small portion of the tip of one nail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be careful not to cut into the quick, which is the sensitive part of the nail with the blood vessels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, don\u2019t forget to reward your puppy after that very first nail trim!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can either offer them a treat if they\u2019re food motivated, or verbal praise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel like your puppy will let you clip a few more nails during this session, go for it, but take your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a race! It\u2019s perfectly fine to clip as little as one nail per day for starters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you and your puppy become more used to this part of their grooming routine, you can slowly progress to knocking out one paw at a time, and finally all 4 paws in one session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Far Down Do You Cut A Puppy\u2019s Nails?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll want to trim your puppy\u2019s nails so that they do not touch the ground when the puppy is standing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aim for a length where the nails are just above or in line with the paw pads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule of thumb, you don\u2019t want to hear your puppy\u2019s nails on the ground when they walk around.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as how often you should clip puppies\u2019 nails, it depends on your puppy and can be anywhere from every 3 weeks to every 6 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s definitely time for a puppy nail trim when you hear the nails make a \u201cclick click click\u201d sound on your floors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the quick should always be your magical threshold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since you don\u2019t want to cut into the quick to avoid bleeding, you need to stop trimming puppies\u2019 nails right before the quick ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re trimming light nails, it\u2019s fairly easy to see the pink quick, especially when light shines onto the nail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I experienced this in my dog walking clients, many of whom had light nails, and my current pup Wally also has mostly light nails (he has one black nail).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For black nails, only shave off little bits of nail at a time and stop when you see a black dot in the middle of the nail. The quick is located right behind the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I File Or Cut My Puppy\u2019s Nails?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As far as filing or cutting puppies\u2019 nails, both approaches work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting gets the job done more quickly, but there\u2019s also more of a chance to cut into the quick, especially in black nails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if your puppy’s nails are thick or tough, cutting may be easier and more efficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filing is done with a so-called dog nail grinder<\/a> and takes longer because it gradually shortens the nail rather than chopping off part of the nail in one cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, when you\u2019re filing puppies\u2019 nails, the chances of cutting into the quick are very slim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So this approach works particularly well for trimming black dog nails and the nails of puppies who have a hard time standing or lying still!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filing also helps to round the edges of the nails, which reduces the chances of sharp edges that can scratch you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when you decide between cutting and filing, consider the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n