Many people take their dog to the vet or a groomer to trim the toenails, but it can be easily done at home and save money. Dogs that mostly indoors or rather sedentary outdoors will often need their nails trimmed. I like to use a Dremel tool that files the nails down, but I have the standard guillotine trimmers as well. It helps to have two people, but when I first start training a dog to submit to this, I can do it by myself. For larger dogs, I start by having them lay on their back. I give belly rubs with one hand while I handle each foot including all the toes with the other hand. Then I let the dog up and give them a treat. The next time I repeat the process, but clip one toenail. Follow that with a belly rub and a treat. The next day I trim the remaining nails on the first foot. Should my pup begin to struggle, I try to calm him down before I let him up. Do not rush the process as the goal is for your dog to not be afraid or resist. You can do the same thing with small dogs sitting next to your or in your lap, starting with handling all four feet and each toe. Eventually when I pick up the Dremel or toenail clippers and say "toenails" my dog will cooperate calmly because he knows that belly rubs and treats follow. Be careful not to cut into the quick because this causes pain and bleeding. The quick is less visible on a black toenail, so use caution. Additionally, if the nails are severely long, the cuticle or blood supply has grown the the nail, so be sure to take only a little off every few days. Using a Dremel grinding tool makes it easier to round the edges and avoid the blood supply. With my dog on his back, I can see the underside and quick more easily.
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