Selecting the Tool You Want to Use
Use an emery board for humans if you need an easy solution. Classic emery boards are available at your local pharmacy for a very low cost. Emery boards will work just fine for filing a puppy's nails, although you may go through more than 1 emery board in the process.
Use a filing tool made for dogs if you have one available. Many pet stores will carry emery board-type tools created specifically for filing dog nails. These tools are larger and more durable than a human emery board. If you have a tool like this available, it can make the job a bit easier. Some nail files designed for dogs have an indentation in the middle. This helps the file grip the dog's nail.
Try a pumice stone if your dog’s nails are very small. A pumice stone is another good choice for filing dog nails. Pumice stones can be easier to grip, making them a slightly more convenient option for tiny puppy nails. Pumice stones are available at most health and beauty stores.
Use a nail grinder if your puppy is comfortable with loud noises. Nail grinders created especially for filing and trimming down dog nails are extremely effective tools. Unfortunately, most puppies are afraid of the noise they create. If your puppy is particularly tolerant of noise, a nail grinder may be a good choice for you. It might be best to start with a regular dog nail file to get your dog used to that. Then, you can introduce the nail grinder.
Filing Your Puppy’s Nails
Make sure your puppy is calm and comfortable. Choose a time when your puppy already seems tranquil and relaxed. Speak to your puppy in a quiet voice, and pet it in a soothing way. If it’s never had its nails filed before, practice handling its paws ahead of time. You may want to use treats to help your puppy get comfortable with filing.
Locate the quick. The “quick” in each of your puppy’s nails contains a blood vessel and a nerve. Although it is very unlikely that you will hit the quick while filing your puppy’s nails, it is important to locate and avoid it. Look for a small, pink tube that runs through the center of the nail and ends before the tip. If your puppy’s nails are white, clear, or light colored, you should have no problem finding the quick. If your puppy’s nails are black or very dark colored, it may be much harder to see the quick.
Grasp each front paw in the palm of your hand. Sit behind your puppy and grasp each foot, gently but firmly, in your non-dominant hand. Holding your filing tool in your dominant hand, gently move it across the top and sides of each nail. A nail grinder will only need to make 1-3 passes on the nail. With an emery board, dog nail file, or pumice stone make 10-15 passes, always moving in the same direction.
Position your puppy on its side to file the back paws. With your puppy on its side, hold each of its back paws firmly in your non-dominant hand. Holding your filing tool in your dominant hand, carefully file the top and sides of each rear nail. Lean over your puppy’s body if you need to restrain it. Make 1-3 passes with a nail grinder. Make 10-15 passes with an emery board, dog nail file, or pumice stone.
File your dog’s nails several days in a row if this is an alternative to clipping. If you are filing your puppy’s nails to smooth them out after clipping, you should only need to do this process once. If you’ve opted to file your puppy’s nails as a clipping-alternative, you may want to repeat this process several days in a row, until your puppy’s nails reach the desired length.
Reward your puppy for calm behavior. This will teach your puppy to associate remaining calm with getting a treat, which will make filing its nails in the future easier. If your puppy starts to move around when you're filing its nails, stop the process and hold off on the treats. Treats made specifically for dogs are the best option, but you can also use small pieces of human foods. If you opt for the human foods, though, make sure to avoid foods that could be toxic to dogs, including things like grapes, chocolate, avocado, and onions.
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