You can safely cut this part off. When in doubt, proceed cautiously, removing just a little at a time. If you do nick the quick, apply a little bit of styptic powder or a product designed specifically for that purpose available at your pet store. If nothing else, apply an ice cube or cold compress to the tip of the nail until the bleeding stops. A nicked quick always bleeds like crazy, but is not as painful or as serious as it looks.
Filing takes longer than trimming, but there is little risk of cutting into the quick.
FEET T he hair on the feet should be trimmed, both to give the feet a neat appearance and to keep the toes from spreading. It also lessens the amount of dirt your dog will track in. After you have clipped your dog's nails, trim the long hair around the foot to give it a rounded appearance similar to a cat's paw. This will help to prevent mud and ice from balling up, which can be both uncomfortable and bad for the feet. Check for burrs, cuts, etc.