Types Of Dog Nail Clipper
Guillotine
The most popular and easiest to use. They have a small hole, which you put your dogs claw through, before squeezing the handles (like with a pruner you’d use in the garden). The blade cuts your dog’s nails.
GOOD FOR: Ease, Quickness
BAD FOR: Dogs with large thick claws
Forge
These look like a pair of pliers or scissors. When opened, a small gap appears to insert the dog’s nail. The downside to the forge trimmers is the scissor-like handles as they will be difficult to use is you have arthritis or similar.
GOOD FOR: Thicker nails, Longer lasting than guillotine clippers
BAD FOR: Anyone who struggles to squeeze as the handles are further apart
Powered Nail Grinders
These are like human battery-powered nail files. They are good for finishing off nails and making the edges less rough, or for in-between cuts. Your dog will need to be patient, however.
GOOD FOR: Smoothing cut edges, Finishing off trims
BAD FOR: Impatient dogs, Anyone who doesn’t have an eye for detail
Clippers vs Grinders
A question you may be asking yourself if you’re wondering what is best for your dog.
The truth is, clippers can take off more of the claw in a quicker time. So, they are good for first-time cutters or if your dog’s claws get quite long.
On the other hand, grinders can finish off any rough edges left behind. They can also do the trimming, but it will likely take a while to get the claws to where they need to be. However, this is a good thing for anyone who isn’t 100% confident as you can go slower and do a bit at a time.
Claw Guard
It is best to look for a pair of clippers with a guard which will stop you from cutting too far and nabbing the quick, which is a blood vessel which runs through the centre of their nail.
There is no guarantee you still won’t get it, especially if you’re cutting too soon before it is needed, but it should largely protect against overcutting. It is literally just a solid metal barrier at one side of the claw hole.