Best dog nail clippers: Keep your pup's paws in good shape

A person uses dog nail clippers on a canine.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

With the best dog nail clippers, you’ll be able to pamper your pooch’s paws while ensuring your pet remains in good health. While your dog may not be a fan, keeping their nails trimmed is crucial to their health and happiness. Overgrown nails can affect their ability to walk and broken nails can be painful and lead to more problems down the line.

In this guide, we’ve gathered together a variety of clippers that would be worthy of a spot in any of the best dog grooming kits. So long as you know how to clip a dog's nails, you’ll find you can use these products with confidence whether you’re a beginner or an experienced groomer.

They include both plier-style and guillotine-style clippers, although it’s also worth considering the best nail grinders for pets if you find your dog is running for cover the minute you try and groom them. One thing’s for sure, you do need the best dog nail clippers to hand for your pooch.

“If you decide to clip your dog’s nails at home – which isn’t a bad idea if you feel capable because it means less frequent visits to the vet or groomer – it’s important to choose the right clipper style for your dog,” affirms expert vet Dr. Hannah Godfrey. So let’s take a look at the best dog nail clippers on the market today.

Best dog nail clippers 2025

How we chose the best dog nail clippers

When testing the best dog nail clippers, we were mindful that it’s not a case of one size suiting all. But, in general, we looked out for safety guards, a clipper’s ability to cut cleanly and how easy they are to control. We assessed how comfortable they are to hold and whether they were difficult to squeeze. We also paid attention to the materials used – clippers need to be sturdy and those made from stainless steel tend to fare better.

When should I begin clipping a dog’s nails?

A dog lays on its side while a person clips their nails.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The earlier the better. The hope is that your dog will stay calm and comfortable when clipping their nails and getting them used to trimming from an early age should help. If it isn’t possible to start clipping during the puppy stage – perhaps you have a rescue dog, for instance – then just start whenever you can. Using positive reinforcement such as biscuits after a quick clip can help to train reluctant dogs into allowing you to trim their nails.

What type of clippers should I choose?

Your choice is going to be dependent on your pooch.

“Consider your dog’s temperament – are they patient and tolerant, skittish, or restless and always on the move?,” affirms expert vet Dr Hannah Godfrey. “If they’re likely to try to bolt and make nail clipping into a bit of a struggle, it’s probably not a good idea to choose nail grinders or files, as these can take a long time.”

Instead, scissor-style clippers, also known as pliers, are a good choice for larger breeds and dogs with thick nails. Squeeze the handles together, and the blade will cut off the end of the nail. These often feature a safety stop so you don’t cut too far down and the nail also remains visible, which offers great peace of mind if you’re an inexperienced groomer.

Guillotine-style clippers are a good choice for small and medium-sized dogs because little nails can fit easily into the hole where the tip of the nail is gently sliced off. With no safety stop feature, it can be easy to take off too much of the nail and injure your dog, however, so these are best used by experienced home groomers.

Nail grinders or files do have their place, however.

“If your dog loves nothing better than a cuddle on the couch with you, you might find plenty of time to work away on their nails with a dog nail file,” Dr Godfrey adds.

Just be aware that accidents can still happen, but you are less likely to expose the 'quick' or blood vessel area of the nail. Grinders are also ideal for creating a smooth round edge but you may need to desensitize your dog to the sound. You could opt to use clippers first and then smooth it out with one of the best dog nail files.

Can you use human nail clippers on dogs?

No – human nail clippers are the wrong size and shape for clipping a dog's nails. If you attempt to use human nail clippers, you are likely to scare, or injure your dog.

What size clippers do I need?

As we’ve said, one size doesn’t suit all so choosing the correct size of clippers is important. Small dogs tend to have thinner nails which are easier to cut yet they also have small paws making cutting more difficult. Larger breeds have thicker or longer nails that are more difficult to cut yet they have larger paws so cutting feels less fiddly.

To that end, go for smaller clippers for smaller dogs and larger clippers for larger dogs.

“Too small, and you’ll struggle to cut through the entire nail in one go, but too big and you won’t have much control and could damage the surrounding skin, pad, or nail bed,” says Dr Godfrey.

Are clippers or grinders best for dogs who are sensitive to noise?

You may have to experiment a little here because no cutting method can avoid making noise. “Neither nail grinders nor clippers are silent, sadly,” says Dr Godfrey. “But your dog may be more reactive to the louder ‘crack’ associated with nail clippers."

Will my clippers last?

You would hope so but the answer to this question depends on the clipper’s quality. Inexpensive options often have blades which dull relatively quickly meaning you'll need to replace them. It’s usually better to go for a higher-quality option but they can be more expensive.

Read now: Why do dogs bite their nails?

Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS
Dr. Hannah Godfrey

After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011, Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS went on to work in a busy practice dealing with animals of all shapes and sizes. She’s since found a love of smaller animals and now works in a small companion animal practice in Wales, where she combines her love of animals with her love of writing.

Kathryn Williams
Freelance writer

Kathryn is a freelance writer who has been a member of the PetsRadar family since it launched in 2020. Highly experienced in her field, she's driven by a desire to provide pet parents with accurate, timely, and informative content that enables them to provide their fur friends with everything they need to thrive. Kathryn works closely with vets and trainers to ensure all articles offer the most up-to-date information across a range of pet-related fields, from insights into health and behavior issues to tips on products and training. When she’s not busy crafting the perfect sentence for her features, buying guides and news pieces, she can be found hanging out with her family (which includes one super sassy cat), drinking copious amounts of Jasmine tea and reading all the books.

With contributions from
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