How Old Does a Puppy Need to Be Before You Cut Its Nails?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 25, 2020

There is no correct age to begin trimming a puppy’s nails, and the first trim can happen within just a few weeks after birth. The sooner a dog owner gets the puppy used to nail trimming, the easier it will be to trim the dog’s nails as an adult. Waiting 6 months or more to trim the nails can lead to fears or anxiousness in the puppy and make trimming difficult.

Young puppies have soft nails, so trimming with a pair of trimming scissors should be successful. A guillotine trimmer, which has a hole that the nail slides through and a blade that cuts the nail, works well for longer, harder nails on older puppies or adult dogs.