clip your dog's nails

First, have plenty of pea-sized treats ready and on hand to give your dog.

Next, preferably with one other person, take your dog to a space where there is tile, linoleum, or a floor that is easy to sweep up messes on. Sit down on the floor with your dog.

Have the extra person hold the dog (if necessary, muzzle the dog) either in their arms if small enough, or just hold the dog's legs and paws up if the dog is big in size/and or standing on his own without pitching a fit.

While the extra person holds the dog's leg out, press slightly on the dog's paw to extend his nails, making them easier to view. Do this with one hand while using the other hand to use the nail clippers.

Clip a small piece of the dog's nail off the end or as much as you can see that is definitely not in the quick. With the white nails it is easier to see where the skin starts. Avoid clipping too close to that. With the black nails, you may have to be more patient and try and look under the nail if you cannot see where the skin under the nail starts. If still cannot tell, clip a tiny bit off the end of the nail and leave it at that.

After cutting each nail, praise your dog and reward him with one treat. Make sure and give him a treat after each nail you cut. This will eventually get the dog to, at the least, not dread having his/her nails cut. Make sure you repeat this process every week or two so that your dog does not forget his/her good experience having his nails clipped and is used to the process. Praise him and reward him with another treat when he/she is done.

* In case you cut your dog's nail too short and it begins to bleed, try rubbing a bar of soap on the end to stop the bleeding and/or packing the nail with flour.