What Type of Nail Clippers are Best for Dogs?
- Best Overall Dog Nail Clippers: BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer Professional Set
A stainless-steel clipper with razor-sharp blades, a safety guard, and sturdy non-slip handles for easy nail cutting. - Best Professional Dog Nail Clippers: Safari Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmer
Professional, easy-use, and stainless steel nail clippers that can be used on small, medium, and large dogs. - Most Affordable Dog Nail Clippers: Dudi Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer
A high-performance nail clipper with sharp blades and a user-friendly design that comes at an affordable price. - Best Ergonomic Dog Nail Clippers: gonicc Dog & Cat Pets Nail Clippers and Trimmers
Ergonomically designed clippers with razor-sharp blades covered with anti-rust coating for extra longevity. - Best Easy-Use Dog Nail Clippers: Bretheil Dog Nail Clippers Trimmer Set
A set of different-sized and professional-grade nail clippers and a nail file that can be used as cat nail clippers. - Best Dog Nail Clippers Set: JBONEST Dog Nail Clippers and Grinder Set
A set featuring an electric pet nail trimmer, nail clipper, and nail file that can be used for cats and dogs. - Best Vet-Recommended Dog Nail Clippers: Pawsibility Reinvented Pet Nail Clippers with LED Light
A vet-recommended nail clipper with a built-in nail file, strong cutting blade, and LED light for visibility.
Is it OK to Cut Your Own Dog’s Nails?
Yes, cutting nails on your dog is okay. In fact, proper nail care is an important part of the grooming routine.
When taking care of your dog’s nails, there are three types of nail clippers or trimmers to consider – scissor nail clippers (or plier clippers), guillotine nail clippers, and grinder nail trimmers. Using nail clippers is faster and more affordable than trimmers. However, dog clippers are also more likely to splinter the nail.
When using dog nail clippers, it is advisable to keep styptic powder on hand. That way, you can be prepared in case you accidentally cut the quick (the powder will stop the bleeding).
The Best Dog Nail Clippers Reviewed
There are dozens of nail-cutting pet products on Amazon, Chewy, and Walmart. To help pet owners find the right option among the plethora of brands (Safari, Boshel, Furminator, WAHL, Dudi, Resco, Dremel, Millers Forge), we have reviewed the best dog nail clippers on the market.
Summary: A high-quality and sturdy nail clipper. The Boshel nail clipper for dogs is made with a 3.5 mm thick stainless-steel blade that efficiently clips even hard nails. The clipper handles are easy to grip and non-slip in nature, ensuring a user-friendly nail-cutting experience. The clippers contain a safety stop on top of the blade to prevent quick injuries and bleeding. The clipper is suitable for small dogs, medium dogs, and large dogs.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Stainless steel blade
- Razor-sharp, stainless steel blade
- Non-slip handles for good grip
- A safety stop serves as a quick sensor
- Ensure clean cut with every use
- Recommended by professionals
- Often out of stock due to high demand
Review: Based on 46,585 global ratings, this pet product has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Dog owners love its safety feature and efficiency in clipping nails.
Summary: The Safari Professional Nail Trimmer is an easy-to-handle professional-grade pet tool. It features a high-quality stainless-steel blade that ensures quick and precise trimming for maximum nail care. The trimmer’s handles have an ergonomic design for the perfect practical and controlled grip. The clipper comes with a safety stop to avoid injury to your pet’s paws.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Stainless steel blade
- Professional-grade stainless steel blades
- Ergonomic handles for easy use
- Safety stop to prevent quick injuries
- For nail trimming and maintenance
- Available in a set of two clippers
- Needs oiling for smooth performance
Review: Based on 60 global ratings, this dog nail clipper has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers have labeled this as “worth the money” and a “must buy” product.
Summary: A professional-grade nail clipper and filer set. The stainless-steel blades are 6.5 inches long; thus, they are also suitable for large breed dogs. The handles are designed for a strong grip. This clipper is equipped with a safety lock for preventing unwanted cuts. The safety lock also prevents the nails from being cut too short. This product has a lifetime warranty.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Stainless steel blade
- Stainless steel blades
- Safety stop for injury prevention
- Lifetime warranty
- Effortless nail trimming
- Locks closed when not in use
- May not be comfy for owners with large hands
Review: Based on 19,512 global ratings, this pet product has an average grade of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Dog owners “highly recommend” this product and state that it works well for thick nails.
Summary: A high-quality dog nail clipper for maximum safety during nail care. This clipper is built with stainless steel material that is immune to rusting. The steel blade is coated with anti-rust oil to boost its longevity. Plus, it contains a safety stop blade for maximum protection.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Stainless steel blade
- Stainless steel blade with an anti-rust coating
- Safety stop guard to prevent over-cutting
- Ergonomically designed non-slip handles
- Nail file conveniently stored in the handle
- Professional-grade grooming tool for pets
- Blades might not be sharp enough for very thick nails
Review: Based on 47,529 global ratings, this dog nail clipper has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Customers love its safety lock mechanism and high quality.
Summary: A complete nail grooming set to give your dog a salon-like experience at home. This product set contains three different nail clippers and one nail filer in an easy-to-store box. The nail clippers are of three different sizes to accommodate nails with increasing thickness. Each clipper is equipped with a safety buffer for avoiding cuts and injuries. The clipper handles are coated with soft rubber for an easy grip.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Stainless Steel
- Set of three dog nail clippers
- Made with stainless steel blades
- Adjustable safety buffer
- Provides comfortable grip
- Comes with a special storage bag
- The plastic handles might not be very sturdy
Review: Based on 1,244 global ratings, this dog nail trimmer has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Customers love the set box and claim it works well for even large breed dogs.
Summary: A set of three nail care tools – regular scissors or plier-style nail clippers, an electric nail trimmer or grinder, and a nail file. The dog clippers are sturdy and easy to handle with razor-sharp stainless steel blades. The electric trimmer is rechargeable and has a diamond bit grinder. The nail file is used for a smooth nail finish. The set is fit for dogs of all sizes – it can easily cut through the small and soft nails of Chihuahuas and the thick large dog nails of Great Danes.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Diamond bit grinder, stainless steel clipper
- A set nail file, clippers, and electric grinder
- Razor-sharp, stainless steel blades
- Ensure a professional groomer experience
- Can be used for both small dogs and large dogs
- The nail grinder is rechargeable and has low-noise
- More expensive than similar products
Review: Based on 4,338 global ratings, this pet product has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Pet owners love its innovative features and low noise performance.
Summary: This grooming tool is a high-quality product with precise cuts and a smooth finish. This product set contains an LED light that makes the bloodlines inside the nails visible. This ensures no cuts and injuries during the clipping. This product has a built-in nail filer and a nail storage box for a mess-free grooming session.
Style: Scissor clippers
Material: Stainless steel
- Stainless steel blades for clean cuts
- LED light for better visibility
- In-built nail file for a smooth finish
- Come with a nail storage box
- Free bandana with every purchase
- No safety lock for quick injury prevention
Review: Based on 2,610 global ratings, this pet product has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Dog owners state that it works great for thick nails and highly recommend it after consistent use.
How do I Choose Nail Clippers for My Dog?
As a pet owner, here are the main things that you need to look for in a nail groomer for your dog grooming, as recommended by veterinarians:
- Material. Stainless steel material is the best for nail clippings. Stainless steel is resistant to rust and also doesn’t encourage bacterial growth.
- Sturdiness. Large size dog nails are naturally very thick. The dog nail grinder blades must be strong enough to cut through it. It is also important that the clipper handles are sturdy so you don’t lose your grip.
- Durability. The pet nail clippers will be used frequently (dog nails grow fast), so choosing a durable clipper with high-quality material is important.
- Sharpness. Sharp blades provide a clean and smooth cut, whereas dull blades require a lot of pressure which may hurt your large dog. We recommend choosing sharp stainless-steel blades.
- Safety Lock. Ensure that your nail clipper has any safety lock. This is extremely important to guarantee that your dog is safe from cuts or quick injuries.
- Recommended by experts and loved by customers, these pet nail clippers are the top choice on Amazon for medium and large dogs and cats.
- With premium 3.5mm stainless steel blades, these nail clippers effortlessly trim your pet's nails in a single cut.
- Features comfortable, easy grip, non-slip, ergonomic handles which stay safely in place in your hands to ensure ease of use.
What is the Best Way to Clip a Dog’s Nails?
Cutting nails on your dog can be a pleasant experience.
However, to prevent anxiety and keep the cutting simple and easy, you need to get your dog used to the process while still a young puppy. It also helps to have dog food or treats on hand.
For dogs that are extra sensitive to pedicure sessions, we recommend using the Honest Paws Calm CBD. The supplement will help the dog relax. This will make the nail cutting easier and reduce the risk of quick injuries.
Here are some easy-to-follow steps on how to perform a dog nail clipping:
- Pick up your dog’s paw and hold it firmly with appropriate pressure in your hands
- Use your thumb to pull their fur away from their nails
- Focus on one nail at a time
- Starting cutting the nail at the tip, including the declaws inside the nail
- Avoid clipping too near the curved area of the nail as it is full of blood vessels
- You can use a nail file tool in a repeated curved motion on your dog’s nail tip for smoother and rounded edges.