How Short Should German Shepherd’s Nails Be? A Guide to Trimming

Nail maintenance is an important aspect of German Shepherd care that often goes overlooked yet is paramount to their well-being. I’ve no doubt you will have wondered how short your German Shepherd’s nails should be at trimming time.

German Shepherd nails should be trimmed short enough not to touch the ground when standing. The ideal length is when nails are just above the floor, preventing clicking sounds while walking. Regular trimming prevents discomfort and health issues, maintaining proper paw alignment and mobility.

Having spent years observing and learning the best practices for maintaining my German Shepherd’s nails, I soon realized that the length of their nails is not just a matter of aesthetics but of health and comfort.

Too long, and they risk discomfort and health issues; too short, and you might inadvertently cause them pain or lead to bleeding.

Finding that perfect length is akin to striking a delicate balance—ensuring your German Shepherd can run, play, and go about their daily activities without hindrance.

In this blog, I’ll share the importance of nail care and how to properly maintain it to ensure your canine companion keeps those paws in tip-top shape.

Key Takeaways:

• German Shepherd nails should not touch the ground; the ideal length is just above the floor to avoid clicking sounds.
• Regular trimming prevents discomfort and health issues and ensures proper paw alignment and mobility.

The Right Time to Trim: Recognizing Overgrown Nails in Your German Shepherd

The key to avoiding nail clipping injuries and injuries that occur because of a dog’s nails growing too long is knowing the right time to cut your German Shepherd’s nails.

German Shepherds aren’t dogs you have in your lap all the time! As a result, you might not get a direct view of your dog’s paws as often as you would with a smaller dog or a puppy.

You can use the following indicators to conclude that it is nail-clipping time for your German Shepherd.

Your Dog’s Nails Click When He Walks on Hard Surfaces

German Shepherds’ nails are not supposed to be anywhere near the length where they click on the floor. You should check underneath your dog’s paws when you hear clicks on wooden planks, tiles, or other hard surfaces.

This indicator is easier to use for senior dogs as younger German Shepherds find it hard to walk without barking out of excitement.

Paying attention while your dog moves from one place to another within your house can help you hear the soft clicks of doom.

Your Dog’s Dew Claw Pokes His Skin 

This requires looking hard. Dew claws are located at the sides of your dog’s legs, as far from the rest of their toes as your thumb is to the rest of your fingers.

These claws usually stabilize a dog’s paw on the ground, especially when they put weight on it. 

Despite its slower growth rate, a dew claw can grow to the point where it pokes the dog’s skin.

Dew claws are particularly at risk of injury if they grow too long as they can easily fracture, so some breeders remove dewclaws shortly after birth.

They can also get accidentally damaged even if the dew claws are not excessively long.

My German Shepherd has had a bit of a rough history with her dew claws! As a puppy, she injured one while leaping up at the door and, as an adult, needed them both surgically removed.

Your German Shepherd’s Paw Pads Have Injuries 

Checking your dog’s paws is the best way to determine if his nails are overgrown. One thing to look for is potential injuries caused by the nails circling and poking the paw pads.

Even the slightest hints of the paw skin getting poked should raise the alarm for an emergency dog grooming and nail-clipping session.

The Nails Go Over the Paw Pads 

You don’t have to wait for your German Shepherd’s paws to get injured before you clip his nails. The first stage is where the dog’s nails reach over the paw pads. From then onwards, every step pokes his paws until they are injured.

You can easily prevent injuries by checking regularly and clipping your dog’s nails as soon as they reach over the paw pads.

The Importance of Trimming Nails

Trimming a German Shepherd’s nails is necessary to prevent injuries. However, if you try cutting too much of the toenail, you might cut the quick, leading to continuous bleeding.

Here are the reasons why you should cut your German Shepherd’s nails:

• So they can walk properly without slipping.
• So they can walk comfortably.
• To prevent awkward postures leading to sprains or paw injuries.
• To prevent overgrown nails from burrowing into the skin, causing infection and pain.
• To prevent scratches on you and your nice wooden floor!

That doesn’t mean you must check out your GSD’s paws weekly. An estimate of your dog’s nail growth will help you know when to cut his nails and when you should trim them.

Usually, toenails must be checked monthly and cut every 1.5 to 2.5 months.

However, this is a rough guide, depending on where you walk your dog. If your GSD predominantly walks on hard ground, his nails will naturally wear down and won’t need clipping as often.

Also, consider the type of activities your German Shepherd does. Is he a digger? Does he do agility? Some activities will wear down your dog’s nails more quickly.

Finally, the balance of specific minerals and vitamins in your German Shepherd’s diet can affect the health and rate of nail growth.

The nails of a well-fed dog are usually more durable and less brittle.

How To Trim Your German Shepherd’s Nails

When trimming your GSD’s nails, you have one job (aside from cutting the nails). And that job is to avoid making mistakes that can hurt your dog. You must cut a GSD’s nails with the right equipment and at the right spot.

So, to start cutting your dog’s nails correctly, you need to get proper dog nail clippers and avoid using other household cutting devices.

Average scissors and shears lack the precision to cut a German Shepherd’s nails safely.

I use the Boshel Dog Nail Clippers from Amazon.

I find they’re the best clippers to trim your dog’s nails because they don’t allow you to overreach, as they have a safety stop. They are also recommended by trainers, veterinarians, and professional dog groomers.

BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers – Dog Nail Trimmers for Large Dog with Quick Sensor – Pet Nail Clippers for Dogs – Heavy Duty Pet Nail Trimmer with Safety Guard & Dog Nail File Safe at Home Grooming

• RECOMMENDED BY PROFESSIONALS: The Boshel dog nail trimmers large breed are ergonomically designed Powerful and easy-to-use pet grooming tool, the nail trimmer is recommended by animal trainers, veterinarians, professional pet groomers, and thousands of satisfied customers as the best pet nail clippers on amazon to use for medium and large dogs and cats.
• CLEAN CUTS EVERY TIME: The dog nail clippers for medium dogs are made out of high-quality 3.5 mm thick stainless steel sharp blades, it is powerful enough to trim your dogs or cats nails with just one cut, and they will stay sharp for years to come stress-free, smooth, quick and sharp cuts.
• USER-FRIENDLY DESIGN: The professional large dog nail clipper is designed to keep you comfortable while grooming your pet at home, it features comfortable, easy grip, non-slip, ergonomic handles which stay safely in place in your hands to ensure ease of use and prevent accidental nicks and cuts.
• SAFETY STOP SERVES AS A QUICK SENSOR: The best dog nail clipper is safely Outfitted with a safety stop blade that greatly reduces the risk of cutting nails too short and injuring your dog by cutting the quickly.
• BONUS: Our dog nail clipper comes with a free mini nail file included to file the sharp nails after cutting your dogs and cats nails, it is placed comfortably on the left handle of the clipp

Buy on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Boshel clippers are super sharp and stay super sharp. And, of course, the entire design is geared towards eliminating the chances of overcutting.

I’ve tried other nail clippers but never felt confident with them. You can see me trimming Willow’s nails using Boshel clippers in the photos below.

But whether you get Boshel dog nail clippers or any other type safe for dogs, you have to start with getting clippers. Once you have those, it is time to take the following steps:

1. Familiarize your dog with the clippers – Do this from a young age if possible. Relate the sound and feel of the clippers with a positive experience – give your GSD a treat when he sniffs and explores them. Get your pup used to having his paws handled.
2. Call your German Shepherd – This is the first step. You can also walk up to your doggo, but it is better to sit where you’re comfortable and call him. Luring him over with a treat will work.
3. Be calm and help him become calm – If the dog is energetic, you might want to wear him out first. The last thing you want is to wrestle an over-enthusiastic GSD for the privilege of cutting his nails.
4. Get him in a comfortable spot to lend his paw – While your comfort is essential, you should also consider his comfort. So don’t trim his nails on a chair. Do so on a couch where he can be in the correct position. Using a lick mat like the Aquapaw and filling it with peanut butter will keep him calm and entertained during the grooming session.
5. Take his paw and extend one claw at a time. The claws of a GSD need to be clipped so that you don’t accidentally cut them quickly. Extending a toe can stretch out the nail, making trimming the overgrown edge easier.
6. Look for the white portion towards the tip of the claw -When you extend an individual toe, the claw is visible enough to spot the difference between the pinkish area (the quick) and the white area. The quick looks like a small pinkish bean within the nail. Usually, the white area towards the end is the overgrown bit. 
7. Remove as little as possible – Err on the side of clipping less, trim the slightest bit you can – cut at a 45-degree angle, and follow the nail’s natural shape. 
8. Let the claw snap back and check if it reaches the paw pad – After you clip the nail, you must check if further clipping is required. Try to clip a small enough length to make two attempts per claw. This can help you avoid accidentally cutting the quick.

You can also try nail grinders if you’re not too confident using clippers or if your doggo dislikes being manipulated.

The Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder on Amazon gets fantastic reviews and looks the real deal as it uses an advanced diamond drum bit grinder for safe and comfortable dog claw grinding.

Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder Upgraded – Professional 2-Speed Electric Rechargeable Pet Nail Trimmer Painless Paws Grooming & Smoothing for Small Medium Large Dogs & Cats (Dark Blue)

• Safe, Effective & Precise Trimming: This dog nail grinder uses an advanced diamond drum bit grinder to deliver the safest, most comfortable pet claw grinding. Recommended by veterinarians and pet grooming professionals, painlessly and precisely trim your pets nails anywhere.
• Advanced 2-Speed Switch & 3 Grinding Ports: The trimmer features an adjustable, low-high speed design powerful enough support heavy grinding. And with 3 ports to match small, medium, or large pets, simply choose the appropriate port and speed depending on your pets size and nail hardness.
• Super Low Noise & Vibration: Many pets get stressed by the sound and vibration of pet nail grinder. However, our electric pet nail grinder uses a superior motor with super-quiet technology that produces a very low vibration. Help sand pets claws faster and easier.
• Rechargeable & Portable: The cordless dog grinder is rechargeable and has an indicator light on the bottom that turns on when charging. Each grinder has a built-in battery that lasts 2 hours after a 3-hour charge. The lightweight and ergonomic body design also makes it easier to handle in your right or left hand.
• Considerate Customer Care: Our products experts teams are available 7 days a week. Response in less than 24 hours. Contact us at any time. We will help you at our best. Casfuy hopes pets and their people live happily togeth

Buy on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

All in all, you need to get yourself and your dog comfortable, take his paw, and cut each nail’s white portion (towards the end) while leaving the more colored (pink) part unharmed.

Cutting just the bits that circle back onto your GSD’s paws is essential.

Knowing what to do while cutting your German Shepherd’s nails is more important than knowing what not to do. And there are only two things you need to avoid: cutting too little or cutting too much.

Cutting too little is not as severe a mistake as cutting too much. That’s why erring on the side of caution is wise.

In most cases, cutting too little results in having to cut the nails again soon. Cutting the nails too much always leads to chopping the quick.

The quick is a blood vessel that runs through the dog’s toes. If you cut it, the nail starts bleeding. The severity of the cut determines its consequences.

If the cut is too deep, the blood rushes out like a typical wound, and your German Shepherd will begin to yelp in pain. If the cut is minor (which is expected even with careful trimming), there will be some bleeding.

To stop bleeding, you need to immediately pinch the wound shut and hold it still for 2 minutes. Using a towel to keep the wound closed is advisable.

You can speed up the recovery using styptic powder, which you can get from Amazon or veterinary clinics. Apply a pinch to the bleeding area using moderate pressure until the bleeding stops.

Your dog will improve within a day or so, and the quick will fully recover in a couple of weeks when the re-grown nail once again protects it.

Trimming Your German Shepherd’s Nails

Trimming Black or Dark Nails

There’s a caveat with trimming black or dark dog nails because you don’t have the luxury to visually distinguish the portion with the quick running. On lighted dog nails, you can clearly see the white color where the quick is absent.

For dogs with black or dark nails, you have to rely on cutting too little to get rid of excess nail growth without chopping the quick. Cutting 1/14th to 1/16th of an inch at a time can help eliminate excess growth without harming the quick.

Pro Tip! Bathe your GSD before trimming BEFORE you take him out of the tub. Soaking the nails softens and lightens them, while the part containing the quick remains dark.

The black nail won’t turn as white as light nails, but you will notice a color difference between the two sections, helping you to identify the quick.

The Long and Short of Your GSD’s Toenails

Most German Shepherds dislike getting their nails cut. Therefore, it’s a good idea to train your dog to accept the handling of their paws as a puppy through gentle manipulation and positive reinforcement.

When your German Shepherd’s nails are too long, the nail tips are in permanent contact with the ground.

The pressure will cause the toe to rotate backward and up or to twist sideways. Undoubtedly, this will feel uncomfortable – similar to wearing shoes that are too small.