Tips for Trimming German Shepherd Nails

Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned
throughout the years how to optimize the breed’s health and wellness.

German Shepherds can grow some seriously long nails if you don’t trim them so
regular trimming is a must.

How to Cut German Shepherd Nails

If you’ve had your German Shepherd dog (GSD) for some time, you’ve probably
noticed that their nails, just like the nails of humans, are getting pretty
long. If you live with your dog and have a hardwood floor, then you’ll
certainly know what I’m talking about.

It’s important to know how to take care of your shepherd’s nails properly. If
you don’t, they run the risk of developing some sort of infection or getting
ingrown nails. This wouldn’t be fun for you or your dog.

In this article, we’re going to outline the best way for you to start trimming
GSD nails and teach you some grooming tips and techniques for taking the best
care of them. It can be a bit of a hassle the first couple of times you’re
trying to convince your shepherd to sit still so you can cut their nails, but
after reading this article, you should know what to do.

Grooming Tips for Long Nails

The easiest way to determine if your dog’s nails are too long is by noticing
whether or not you hear them clicking on the hardwood floor.

That said, there is some controversy over this matter. Some folks believe that
hearing your dog’s nails click is a sign that they need to immediately be
trimmed. Others say that the hard floor tends to keep your dog’s nails short
enough and that you don’t actually need to trim them if you have a hard floor.

Regardless of your personal preference, it’s important not to let the dog’s
nails get too long. They can scratch your floor, they can be a hazard to
anyone that your dog jumps on or accidentally scratches, and they’re actually
dangerous for the dog. There are a few reasons why.

Reasons Why Long Nails Can Be Dangerous

Long nails can catch on things and tear. Since Shepherds are very active, this is a huge risk because they can tear out and bleed a bit, making the dog susceptible to infections.
Long nails change the alignment of the dog’s foot. This can lead to problems with weight distribution and contribute to all manner of problems with posture. This can also lead to your dog’s toes becoming splayed.
Long nails make the dog’s toes more sensitive to pain. This can lead to them becoming overly wary of being active or playing with other dogs.

Short nails provide a number of benefits to the owner and to the dog.

Grooming Tips for Short Nails

Short nails, on the other hand, provide a number of benefits to the owner and
to the dog. The dog will be better able to walk and maintain a healthy
posture. They will be better able to exercise. They won’t scratch your floors,
and they will run much less of a risk of scratching someone or hurting them if
they jump on them.

For most people, having a dog with trimmed nails is clearly the best option.
Next, we’ll discuss how you can properly trim the nails of your dog.

How often you’ll have to cut nails will also very much depend on the type of
floors/ ground they walk or run on every day. If your dog is very sedentary or
only used to soft ground you’ll often see those long nails showing up much
quicker. Some dogs are also more prone to nail and paw issues than others. The
numbers I see most often are between 1 and 3 months.

Make sure you get the right clipper for your dog’s type and size.

A Guide to Trimming Dog Nails

Make sure you get yourself a sharp pair of nail clippers. Make sure you also
get one that is properly sized for your dog’s feet and nails. Your vet can
help you with this. A nail file can also be useful for polishing the nails.

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Make sure that you and your dog are in a calm environment and that they are
comfortable with you touching them. It’s a good idea to practice getting
comfortable with their feet first. Play with and massage their feet for
several days or weeks before trimming them so they are familiar with the
sensations. I start the process of looking at their paws and feeling them when
they are still puppies, way before I need to actually cut them.

This is actually a general rule for most checkups and general grooming, start
getting your dog used to you looking inside the ears, mouth, etc. way before
you actually need to clean or anything like that.

Make sure that you start with only one toe at a time. Make sure that you don’t
cut too far down the nail or you’ll hit the quick, the live nerve that grows
down the toenail. The quick will shorten over the weeks and months that you
cut your dog’s nails.

If your dog jerks back or screams, you may have hit the quick. It’s best to
only clip a little bit off your first time clipping so your dog becomes
comfortable with the sensations.

Once you’ve completed your nail clipping, give your dog a lot of praise and a
few treats. This will encourage it to enjoy further nail clipping sessions.
Don’t stretch these sessions for too long when you are just starting out.

If you screw up and hurt your dog and it doesn’t look good, please see a vet
or at least call them to ask for advice. Always watch for infections or
strange signs in their gait should you cut too deep. Don’t cut too much,
better to do it more often than cutting too much in one sitting.

Final Tips for Clipping GSD and Puppy Nails

Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed is very important, but the task can be
daunting to those who have never tried it.

If you have a puppy, just start with playfully putting them on their back and
checking their paws. You’ll be happy that your dog already knows part of the
drill when they get a little older, then you’ll only have to add the cutting
process. Normally cutting puppy nails will be fairly easy, just don’t overdo
it.

Hopefully, this article has helped you to better understand your dog’s nails
and how you can properly trim them.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and
is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a
qualified professional.

Comments

Sam Shepards (author) from Europe on January 14, 2019:

It’s fairly easy if you know what to do and the dog is used to you clipping
its nails. Practice, patience and care…

Liz Westwood from UK on January 14, 2019:

This sounds like quite a delicate operation.