If you do not have a particular breed that requires regular grooming, you will be faced with the seemingly daunting task of trimming your dogs nails from time to time.

Dogs' nails grow very quickly and some dogs get enough "exercise" on walks (leash pulling) to file their nails down on their own, thanks to the cement or concrete. If you do not have the "convenience" of having a dog that thinks he is an Iditarod dog and is racing to the finish line on his walks, then you will have to trim his nails approximately every 4 to 6 weeks or so.

Some dogs have a real problem with their feet being fooled with. If your dog displays that characteristic, you might want to consider taking him to a groomer or your vet as dog nails are really delicate and will bleed profusely if not cut properly. You must also make sure your dog stays still for the trimming, because if he moves and you clip the nail wrong, again, profuse bleeding.

To trim your dog's nails, you will need to look at his nails (a white nail) and see how it curves. In the curve you will see a pink area known as the quick. You will need to stay at least a 1/8^th of an inch away from the quick to avoid injuring your dog. Hopefully you will never clip the quick, but if you do, have styptic powder on hand to help stop the bleeding.

To help your pup get used to regular nail trimmings, get the treats out and follow these techniques:

*While touching his feet and talking in a very calm, soothing manner, show him the nail clippers. Give him a treat and pet him.

*Hold his feet and touch them with the clippers while still speaking very soothingly. Give him another treat and pet him.

*Clip one nail, all while speaking soothingly. Give him another treat and pet him for a minute.

*Repeat until all of his nails are clipped. Give him another treat and as an additional reward, engage him in some sort of play time like fetch or tug of war. After doing it this way several times your dog will be more used to the nail trimming session and you can just reward him once at the end.

If some or all of your dog's nails are dark and you cannot see where the quick is, having a professional groomer or veterinarian clinic staff member cut the nails would be the best option until you are comfortable with knowing where the quick is, without having to actually see it.

Once both you and your dog get used to regular trimmings, it will get easier and quicker each time.