FAQ: Grooming for dogs

Thinning shears have one toothed blade, so they cut only some of the hair. They soften the transitions between areas of different length, thin out a dense coat and hide step marks. They help a trim look more natural.

Rounded tips reduce the risk of stabbing the dog if it suddenly moves, especially when trimming near the eyes, ears or paws. They are especially good for beginners and fidgety dogs. Still, trim only when the dog is settled and held well.

After use remove the hair, wipe the scissors dry and occasionally put a drop of oil on the pivot. Do not cut paper or other materials with them, as that dulls them. Good grooming scissors should be sharpened by a specialist, not with a household sharpener.

Straight scissors suit straight lines and outlines, such as evening out the feet or the edge of the coat. Curved scissors are easier for rounded shapes — the head, feet and tail. At home, straight round-tipped scissors are usually enough.

Nails are usually clipped every few weeks, but it depends on how much the dog walks on hard surfaces and how fast its nails grow. A good guide: if you hear the nails clicking on the floor, it is time. With regular trimming the quick recedes, which makes clipping easier.

Nails are too long if they touch the floor when the dog stands, click as it walks or push the toes apart. Overlong nails change the gait, can cause pain, grow into the pad or break. Pay special attention to old dogs and dogs that walk little.

The most common are scissor-type clippers, guillotine clippers and electric nail grinders. Scissor types suit most dogs and thick nails, guillotines small and medium dogs, while a grinder lets you shorten gradually and round off the edge. Choose the size to suit your dog's nails.

In a guillotine clipper the nail goes through a hole and a blade cuts it from one side — handy for small nails, but thick nails may split. A scissor-type clipper squeezes from both sides and suits large, hard nails better. Both must be sharp so they do not crush the nail.

It is a device with a rotating sanding head that shortens the nail gradually, a little at a time. This lowers the risk of reaching the quick and leaves a smooth edge. A grinder makes noise and vibrates, so the dog needs to get used to it, and long hair must be kept away so it does not get caught.

Clip a little at a time in small pieces and check the cut surface after each one. In light nails the pink quick is visible, while in dark nails a darker, moist dot appears in the centre of the cut as you get close — stop there. Hold the clipper perpendicular to the nail.

In black nails the quick is not visible, so clip in very small pieces and watch the cut: while it is pale and dry you can continue, and when a dark centre appears, stop. Many owners find black nails easier to shorten with a grinder and in good light.

Stay calm and press styptic powder, clean gauze or, if you have nothing else, cornflour against the nail. Bleeding usually stops within a few minutes. If it does not stop for longer, or the nail is split to the base, see a vet.

Styptic powder quickly stops minor bleeding if you accidentally hit the quick while clipping. It is worth having it within reach before you start, especially if your dog has dark nails. Use it as the pack directs and only on the nail, not on open wounds.

A puppy's nails are thin and sharp, so a small clipper or even small nail scissors will do. Clip just the tips when the puppy is sleepy and calm, and give a treat after each paw. Starting early makes nail care much easier once the dog is grown.

Yes, and often even more frequently, because the dewclaw does not touch the ground and does not wear down. If too long, it can catch, break or grow into the skin. Remember to check it every time you clip the other nails.

Start by touching the paws and showing the clipper, rewarding with a treat. Then clip one nail at a time and stop while the dog is still calm. Some dogs are helped by a lick mat smeared with a spread that keeps them distracted.

Large dogs need a sturdy, large scissor-type clipper with sharp blades and comfortable handles. A clipper that is too small crushes a strong nail instead of cutting it, which is unpleasant for the dog. Many models have a guard that helps you avoid cutting too much.

For some active dogs that walk a lot on hard surfaces the nails wear down enough, but usually it is not sufficient, especially on the back feet and dewclaws. So it is still worth checking the nails regularly and trimming them when needed.

Replace or sharpen the clipper when it starts crushing the nail, leaves a rough, splintering edge or needs a lot of force. Dull blades are unpleasant for the dog and can make a split nail painful. A loose spring or wobbly pivot is another sign the tool needs replacing.

Yes: a hand file is fine for smoothing nail edges after clipping or shortening a small dog's nails slightly. It is too slow for long or thick nails. File in one direction so the nail does not split, and choose a sturdy metal or glass file.