The Best Dog Nail Clippers of 2023

Regardless of your dog's size or disposition, trimming your dog's nails at home can be a challenging process. Some dogs' nails are light-colored and thin, making it slightly easier to cut, but many dogs' nails are thick and dark, making them quickly impossible to see. 

Thankfully, there are sensor-equipped nail clippers on the market to help limit the risk of cutting into the quick, but finding the proper one for your dog can be difficult.

Don’t worry, we've done the legwork for you. We discovered the best dog nail clippers and thoroughly reviewed each pair, searching for both quality and value. Here are our top picks:

• Best Overall: gonicc Dog & Cat Pets Nail Clippers

• Runner Up: BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer

• Best Budget: Dudi Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer

• Best for Small Breeds: SHINY PET Pet Nail Clippers

• Best with Light: Allstar Innovations Pet Nail Clipper

• Best with Safety Guard: GoPets Pet Nail Clipper

What To Consider When Buying Dog Nail Clippers

If you can hear your dog's nails tapping on your wooden flooring long before you see their little face, it's time to take them into your home salon and clip their nails.

With so many options, we've put together some guidelines to assist you in selecting the best pair of clippers for your dog. Take these factors into account to ensure that the decision you made was well-thought-out.

1. Style

Choose a model of dog nail clipper that is most comfortable for you to handle and use on your pet when buying. Guillotine and scissor clippers are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate the different sizes of dogs and cats.

The guillotine clipper like the Master Grooming Tools Guillotine Nail Clippers  operates by pulling the blades together vertically when the handle is squeezed together. You'll need a lot of practice to master this type of trimmer. Nail trimmers that behave like scissors are easy to use and allow for the removal of little parts at a time, reducing nail damage.

For polishing the margins of the nail, electric grinders are ideal. It's also possible that it's less damaging to the quick than nail clippers. However, many non-professional models are heavy, loud, and not suited for high-volume trimming.

2. Size

The nail clippers must be suitable for the animal. Little clippers like the SHINY PET Pet Nail Clippers will not function as well on a dog with large, thick nails. However, large clippers may make it difficult to find the quick on a small dog.

3. Sharpness

Nail trimmers with a sharp blade that can cut through nails without snagging are essential. Otherwise, the nail will split, leaving an extremely rough or sharp edge, or fail to cut through the nail if the nail trimmer blades are not sharp.

We love the sharpness of the BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers and Trimmer. The pet nail clippers are built of high-quality 3.5 mm thick stainless steel sharp blades that are powerful enough to trim your dog or cat's nails in just one cut and will stay sharp for years.

4. Safety Guard

If you're not a professional dog groomer or nail trimmer, look for safety-guarded nail clippers. A quarter-inch guard on the back of most clippers prevents you from removing too much of the nail.

You can check out the GoPets Pet Nail Clipper, the best dog nail clipper with a safety guard we tested.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best way to sharpen dog nail clippers?

Sharp nail clippers trim your dog's nails cleanly and effectively, reducing discomfort and speeding up the procedure. It's possible that your nail clippers need to be sharpened if they're not cutting as well as they once did. 

To begin, disassemble the clippers and run the tool down each side of the blade, following the curvature's angle, which is usually 35 to 40 degrees. You may want to oil the springs while reassembling the clippers to keep the equipment functioning smoothly.

2. What is the best nail clipper for my dog?

The greatest nail clippers have three features: sharp, non-wearing clipper edges, a safety guard to prevent over-cutting, and comfortable handles that make them easy to grasp and control. Gonicc’s pair was our favorite because of the high-quality stainless steel blades and comfortable handles. 

If you have a little dog, we recommend SHINY PET's clippers. Because the curved blades on this model are narrower than those on other versions, you're less likely to cut the nail too far up by accident.

3. What is the best nail clipper for professional dog groomers? 

BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers are our best value pick. These value clippers are meant to look and work like the nail trimmers used by professional dog groomers, but at a fraction of the cost. 

Ask your groomer for a recommendation that suits your dog's nails if you're still unsure which model is best for you.

It is critical to keep your dog's nails cut for their health and well-being. 

To minimize any accidents, it's crucial to desensitize your dog with praise and rewards before introducing a new process or equipment for the first time. Use the nail trimmers with sensors described above to avoid clipping too close to the quick for the best results.

Make sure you have styptic powder or cornstarch on hand before you begin trimming to prevent bleeding if you cut into the quick. Stop clipping your dog right away if he or she displays indications of stress or hostility, and instead take him or her to your groomer or vet.