Every dog has nails that need to be clipped occasionally. Getting the job done right – and safely – is good for you and your pooch. It is certainly easier if you have a good pair of dog nail clippers handy to use for the task.
We’re going to take a deep dive into this topic, providing you with a list of the best dog nail clippers, along with a full guide to picking the best one for you. If you’re considering buying some dog claw clippers, hang fire until you’ve read through the info that we have for you here.
What makes one set of clippers better than another? You can find out the answers in our buyer’s guide below. Here, though, we’re going to highlight our best picks for safely and cleanly cutting your dog’s nails.
The best nail clippers for your dog will likely depend on several factors, as our guide reveals.
The Best Dog Nail Clippers
1. Safari Professional Dog Nail Trimmer
This smart dog nail trimmer gadget is available in two sizes – small to medium and medium to large. This means you can get the most appropriate size for your pooch. The pliers-style cutters feature a comfortable grip style that prevents them slipping in your hand. This in turn minimizes the chances of hurting your dog. The blades are made from stainless steel for easy cleaning, providing a sharp edge for a clean cut. The Safari nail trimmer also features a tension spring and a safety stop to make sure they stay closed when not in use.
2. Resco Original Dog Nail Clippers
These Resco clippers offer a guillotine-style option in two sizes – small/medium and large. You can also choose from four finishes to suit your preferences. Made purely from steel, these clippers offer a heavy-duty alternative to other options on the market. When the blade dulls, you can quickly and easily replace it to ensure each cutting session is swift and clean for the best results. Simply insert your dog’s claw into the hole and squeeze the handles together. This makes the sharpened blade come out of the clippers and smoothly clip away the excess nail.
3. Millers Forge Dog Nail Clipper
This highly rated set of nail clippers is also an affordable option for pup pawrents. They use the plier style of clipping to provide a quick and clean cut. Simply place the nail in the groove on one side of the clipper and squeeze the handles to complete the cut. The groove prevents the nail from slipping out of position. The handles are covered with plastic grips for easy handling, while the handles are spring loaded. The clippers include a safety catch to keep them closed when you’re done with each clipping session.
4. Andis Dog Nail Clipper
If anti-slip and super-grippy handles are an important factor for you to have, these clippers from Andi’s are a good option. The blades are made from stainless steel, offering a fast and simple cut every time. The notch in each blade means there is no chance of the claw slipping as the cut is made. This reduces the chances of accidentally catching the quick. The clippers also feature a spring to push against when ready to clip, so there is no chance of accidentally trimming off the claw before you are ready. Twist the safety catch to close the clippers once you’re finished.
5. Hartz Groomer’s Best Dog Nail Clipper
Another example of a good plier-style set of dog nail clippers, this Hartz product comes with brightly colored handles and firm grips to ensure you keep a firm hold while using them. Stainless steel blades are guaranteed to stay sharp for longer, while the contours mean that each claw stays where you need it to during the cutting process. The contouring feature makes these clippers perfect for dogs of all sizes. Again, that essential safety catch is a crucial part of the design, keeping the blades safely closed when you’re not using the clippers.
Buyer’s Guide to Dog Nail Clippers
Trimming a dog’s nails… it’s a scary proposition for anyone unless they’re used to it (and so is the dog). The first thing to do is to make sure you have a suitable set of dog nail clippers to use.
That’s what we are going to look at now – the various things you need to look for and consider before making that all important purchase.
Which style are you going to choose?
You’ve probably heard of nail grinders – tools that work much like a Dremel tool does to grind away your dog’s nails. We’ve had great experiences with grinders in the past – especially when we hunted down the best dog nail grinders around.
However, we are focusing on nail clippers here, and these come in three styles:
- Scissor clippers – these most closely resemble a standard pair of scissors, except the blades include a small indent to place the nail into for cutting
- Guillotine clippers – while they are named after a guillotine, they more closely resemble a hangman’s noose, whereby you put the claw through the ring and then cut
- Plier clippers – these look much like the pliers you might use for pulling nails out of floorboards and the like. They have the same indent you see on the scissors, but the handles on these are spring loaded. They remain apart from each other until you squeeze them to cut the nail.
You may prefer one over another based on how easy you find them to use. Some dog owners have had experience of one and prefer to stick with what they know. Others might find scissors easier to manage than pliers if they don’t have strong hands. Conversely, if your dog is used to having their nails trimmed a certain way, you may get better results sticking with that method.
Before you make your purchase though, here are a few other things to consider.
How comfortable are they to use?
Rubber handles or grips are good as they don’t slip out of your grasp. That’s the last thing you want when you are about to clip your dog’s claws. You might also want to look for an ergonomic design that is easier to hold.
You should also be able to flex the handles without feeling as if they’re going to bend or give way. That’s the last thing you want when you’re about to trim those claws.
How long do they last?
Another question could be whether the blades are easy to sharpen. Dull blades make for difficult cuts and more chance of hurting your dog. The guillotine-style clippers usually have interchangeable blades, so you can replace dull blades without needing to buy new clippers.
Do the clippers have a safety lock?
This is usually a small piece of metal that swings in and out of place depending on whether you are using the clippers or not. Commonly seen on the plier-style clippers, it keeps them shut and safe when not in use.
What are the blades made of?
Look for high-quality stainless-steel blades. These offer several advantages:
- They are far less likely to rust
- They are hygienic
- They’re easy to clean
- They should be nice and sharp
How much are they?
Price isn’t the most important thing on our list, but it does play a part – and not in the way you might think. There are plenty of cheap dog clippers out there, but they are not as good quality as the expensive ones. There is no need to buy the priciest ones on the market but do look for a good brand name and something that suits your budget.
Do they come with a warranty?
One good indication of quality is whether the clippers you choose have any kind of warranty on them. They should ideally have one that lasts for 12 months, but you occasionally see models offering a lifetime guarantee.
How big are they?
Hmm, not the most obvious question to ask yourself before purchasing a set of dog nail clippers, is it? Yet size is very important. If you have a small dog, look for clippers that are small too. They should still be strong enough to do the job, but you should always be able to see what you are doing.
Conversely, a small pair of clippers may not be strong enough to cope with the larger nails on a bigger dog. We’d advise you to take some guidance from the reviews for specific clippers, so you can get an idea of whether they’d be right for your dog. Even then, there can be some trial and error involved before you find the right ones.
There is a lot to think about, but if you cover all the areas we have highlighted here, you can be more confident in your choice of clippers – and in finding the right pair for you and your dog first time.
Our Conclusion
You may have thought all dog nail clippers were much the same. However, we’ve seen there are different styles of clippers and many different brands on the market too.
The size of your dog and their experience with clipping are important factors to consider before purchasing anything. In some cases, it may still take some trial and error before you find the best nail clippers for you that are easy and safe to use.
Our advice is to build a positive experience for you and your dog by choosing a good quality set of clippers and perhaps just cutting one or two nails at a time.
With the right dog nail clippers, the job is certainly made far easier for every dog and their owner.
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