Regardless of whether or not you show your dog, regular grooming of his nails, ears, eyes, and teeth can help maintain his overall health. Nail trimming for your Doberman can be done at home, or by your groomer or vet if you are uncomfortable doing it yourself. If you’re nervous about trimming your dog’s nails for the first time, you’re not alone. Understandably, almost everyone is a little apprehensive because trimming a dog’s nail too short can result in cutting into the quick.
When this happens, your dog will yelp and his nail will bleed profusely. To complicate matters, Dobermans have dark nails that make it extremely difficult to locate the quick visually. But there are some tricks to prevent cutting the nail too short.
Whether you use a guillotine nail clipper (one with a hole through which to place the nail and a blade that cuts across the hole) or a scissors-type nail clipper, choose a medium-sized clipper for your Doberman.
Cut a small amount of nail at a time until you see a small black dot in the center of the cut surface. This is the very tip of the quick, and it is a good indication to stop trimming. You can also view the nail from the side to determine the excess growth of the nail. Because the top of the nail grows faster than the underside, excess growth creates a hook. You can clearly see where this hook begins on the underside of the nail.
If you only cut the excess growth (a little at a time if you are unsure), you will avoid cutting into the quick. Again, watch for the black dot in the center of the cut nail to help you become familiar with how much of the hook can be removed.
Overgrown nails complicate trimming because the quick lengthens as a nail grows. This is why it is best to trim nails regularly. Dogs with very long nails need to have them trimmed a little at a time over a period of weeks to get the quick to recede before the nails can be trimmed as short as they should be.
If you accidentally cut a nail too short, hold the end of a cotton swab to the tip to slow the bleeding and help the blood clot. Styptic powder also works well to stop the bleeding.
Many dogs are not fond of having their feet handled, which is another good reason to trim nails frequently. With patient and frequent handling, your dog will soon learn to accept this necessary part of grooming. Your Doberman may need his nails trimmed every two to four weeks to keep them at a proper length.
