Nail clipping is not a common activity among dog owners. Your dog’s nails will get shortened naturally by friction during walking, particularly on pavements and other hard surfaces. Some dogs will have their nails trimmed during vet visits or at the groomers. If your pet needs regular trims and you want to give it a try, get advice first. Ask a vet or vet nurse to show you how to check the length of your dog’s claws and how to clip them without catching the quick and causing a bleed.Make sure you use clippers designed for dogs as their nails are much thicker than ours, and using something blunt can cause a painful tear. If your dog has clear/white nails you should be able to see the quick of their nail which will be pink. Do not trim the nail too close to this, as catching the quick will be very sore and cause a lot of bleeding. In dogs with dark nails you cannot see the quick, so you should only cut the nails in line with the surface of their pad. However, there is a lot of variation in quick length between individuals so take care as they can be quite long in some pets.Hold the paw gently, keep the clippers parallel to the nail and keep a treat handy to reward your dog’s good behaviour. Regardless of nail colour, only trim little pieces at a time – otherwise you may inadvertently remove a large piece of nail if your pet moves suddenly.If an accident happens during nail clipping, apply pressure using a clean dressing if possible and if your pet will allow. If the bleeding does not stop after five minutes, contact a vet for advice. Your pet may need an appointment to check whether any treatment is necessary.If you notice a torn or broken nail, do not attempt to cut this yourself as it will be extremely sore. However, these should not be left as it can lead to infection, or they can become caught and rip. Your pet will need an appointment with a vet and it's best not to feed them beforehand in case they require sedation for treatment.