Filing your dog’s nails reduces the likelihood that you’ll cut too close to the quick and hurt your dog. Simultaneously, filing allows you to get closer to the quick without as much risk of injury to your dog. This is a positive because, the closer you get to the quick, the more the quick will recede and the shorter you’ll be able to get their nails over time. The challenge with filing vs cutting your dog’s nails is that cutting is often faster and doesn’t require as much patience on behalf of your dog.