How to Make Puppy Nails Less Sharp?

New dog parents can make their puppy’s nails less sharp by taking him on frequent walks, using a Dremel to file the nails, or scratchboard.

Dogs inherited their sharp nails from their wild ancestors, the wolves. These rugged beasts have always relied on their nails for hunting, climbing, and digging holes. Yet, in today’s world, our furry friends don’t need to do most of these things anymore.

So, let’s take a peek at how to make puppy nails less sharp and what to watch out for.

How To Trim Your Puppy’s Nails

Ages ago, wolves had no worries about their nails being too long or too sharp. By climbing, hunting prey, and running around, their nails were somehow always the perfect length.

However, now that we’ve domesticated wolves and turned them into adorable furballs, their nails require constant caring. So, how do you make your puppy's nails less sharp? Here's how!

1. Long Walks

Fortunately, there's an easy way to trim your dog's nails. All you have to do is go on long walks with your puppy.

Spending more time on hard surfaces, like concrete or stone sidewalks, will make his nails less sharp with time. Additionally, you can play fetch or run together to make the process even faster.

This way, you can exercise your dog and trim his nails at the same time.

2. Digging holes

Most canines, if not all, love digging holes. It’s another instinctual behavior that dogs inherited from their wolf ancestors.

The problem is that digging holes is frowned upon by most dog parents. However, if your dog’s nails are extra sharp, why not put this instinctive behavior to good use?

If you don’t like having your dog dig holes in your yard, take your dog to the beach or the dog park, and let him dig holes to his heart's content. This harmless activity will help dull his claws while keeping him entertained.

If you don’t have the time or energy for this, consider getting a sandbox in your backyard.

3. Use a Nail Grinder

Another way to make your puppy’s nails softer is by using a nail grinder called a Dremel. You can easily hold this tool in your hand and use its rotating tip file down your puppy’s nails.

If you don’t have a Dremel, you can still use a regular nail file to trim your puppy’s nails.

Though, unlike the Dremel, filling your dog's nails with a regular filler might be time-consuming, especially if your puppy doesn’t like to sit still.

So, don't expect to finish all the nails in one sitting. You might need several sittings over the course of a day to get through all of his nails.

4. Build a Scratchboard

Don't have the time to give your dog frequent walks or pawdicure sessions? You can still help him file his nails by showing him how to use a sandpaper scratchboard.

Here’s what you need to build one:

• Tape or glue
• 80 grit sandpaper
• A wooden board

First, cut out the sandpaper to fit snugly over the wooden board you have. Then, tape or glue the sandpaper to the board and ensure it’s secure.

If you’re wondering about the 80 grit sandpaper, it’s the most suitable for small dog breeds and puppies to use. The higher the grit number, the softer it is, and the less likely it’ll hurt your dog's paw pads.

After it’s all done, you can start teaching your dog how to scratch his nails on it.

Tips for Trimming Your Dog’s Nails Without a Fuss

Cutting and trimming your dog's nails can be scary for both you and your pooch. Your puppy might think the tools are scary, while you could be afraid of accidentally hurting him.

Here are some tips to ensure your doggie grooming is stress-free.

1. Start Slow

To keep your puppy calm during grooming sessions, start by giving him lots of belly rubs and playing with his paws every day.

Once he’s used to those affectionate touches, you can start introducing the tools you’ll use. Show your puppy tools one by one, and let him sniff them to familiarize himself with the tools.

When it comes to introducing the Dremel, start by showing him the tool. Yet, don’t turn it on right away.

After he’s gotten a couple of sniffs in, take it to one side and power it on. By doing this, your puppy will get used to having the tool around, but won’t get startled by the sound.

2. Pick the Right Tools

Since your puppy is still small and cute, you won’t need any big or heavy tools for grooming.

Actually you can use a toenail clipper! Some homeowners start with it  because their puppy’s nails are still quite fragile and easy to manage. Then, as your puppy gets older, then you might start looking for proper clippers.

However, if you aren’t comfortable using regular toenail clippers, you can use a pair of scissors-style clippers instead.

3. Look Out for the “Quick”

The quick is a soft part inside your dog’s nails that contains nerves and blood vessels.

Accidentally cutting your dog’s quick can be painful for your pooch. So, it’s important to locate it before cutting or trimming your puppy’s nails and stay away from it as much as possible.

If your pup has white nails, you can easily locate his quick. It’s the faded pink line running from the stem of the nail.

On the other hand, if your puppy has black nails, making it harder for you to spot the quick. To avoid cutting too far, see a professional groomer for tips on safely cutting his nails.

4. Be patient

Trimming your puppy's nails isn't a normal thing for him. He might not be used to sitting still for 20 or 30 minutes at a time. So, it's possible he’ll whine, yelp, or even try to run away from you.

Hence, how you react could be vital for his safety. Be patient with your pup, and instead of forcing him to sit still, let him walk around you a few times.

Then, when he starts to settle down again, reward him with treats to encourage his good behavior. 

If you turn his grooming into a positive experience, it’s more likely that he'll enjoy the experience. He might even sit on his own the next time you cut his nails.

Just be ready with those treats!

Paul S.

Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.