12/29/2025
This video is about nail trims, why they’re crucial to a dog’s health and reading body language during the process.
Nail trims are a very important part of a dog’s overall health. Overgrown nails can cause pain, affect the way a dog walks, put stress on their joints, and even lead to injuries or long-term orthopedic issues. Keeping nails properly trimmed helps dogs move comfortably and confidently.
To many people, Lilly may appear “fine” or even happy in this video, but that’s not the full picture. You can see clear signs of stress: ears pinned back, heavy panting, lip licking, and her pulling her paw away. These are subtle but important signals dogs use to communicate discomfort.
I had never trimmed Lilly’s nails before and didn’t know how she would respond. Before bringing out the clippers, we played and had fun to help set a positive tone. We were in an empty room with no distractions so she could focus and feel as comfortable as possible. I also go much slower than most people would during nail trims. If a dog moves while you’re clipping, it’s very easy to hit the quick, which can cause bleeding and make the experience far more stressful for the dog. Going slow helps keep them safe and builds trust. During the nail trim, I talked to her the entire time, stopped after each nail, and gave praise and breaks to keep things as low-stress as possible. The leash was on to help maintain control and ensure safety if needed.
This isn’t about forcing compliance, it’s about understanding the dog in front of you, meeting them where they are, and building trust. Lilly is currently boarding with me for a few days, and this is just one step in helping her feel more comfortable with necessary handling like nail trims.
If you have any training needs, feel free to message me. I offer individual training sessions, dog sitting, and board-and-train programs