For a clipped foot, the feet are clipped totally clean. The digits of the foot are clipped to a point where the bones of the feet meet the metacarpals and metatarsal bones or the bones of the pasterns. There is a slight bump on the sides of the foot where these bones join. Use a #I5 or #I0 blade, in reverse, with a light touch. Start by trimming the top of the two center digits. Start at the nail bed.

Tip the blade up so only the front edge of the blade contacts the skin. The effective movement of the clipper is a soft, push-push as you clear the hair from the foot. The strokes are a very short forward-and-back motion. Clear the hair to the point where the bones converge and there is a natural bend at the foot and the wrist.

Proceed to the outside digits and repeat the process. Once the top of the foot is cleared, place your fingers on the underside of the foot and spread the toes. Glide just the edge of the blade in between the toes, using your fingers as buffers. Your fingers will protect the webbing between the toes from getting caught between the teeth of the clipper blade.

Again, start at the nail bed and scoop out the long fur between the toes. Do one side of all the toes first, then rotate your clipper in and repeat the procedure on the other side of all the toes.

When finished, double-check your work for long strays. Trim the pads with a close blade ranging from a #I5 to a #40. Use a very light touch to clean the pads of long hair.

Clean up Around the Nail Bed

There are a couple of ways to do this. One option is to simply turn the clipper over and touch the nail bed with the upside down #I5 or #I0 blade, using a very short, push motion.

Another technique is to lightly edge the nail beds with a #40 blade after the toes have been clipped.

Tips for Clipping a Clean Foot

• Work with a clean dog.
• For most pets, use a #I5 blade on the top of the foot, a #40 for the pads.
• If the pet has very light or soft skin, think about going at least one blade length longer on the top of the foot or work with the grain. Trim quality will be sacrificed but the dog will not be injured by clipper irritation.
• If the dog struggles with having its feet worked on, double-check your technique to ensure the webbing isn’t getting nicked by the blade.
• With your fingers, push up the webbing from under the foot to ensure the area between the toes has been well trimmed.
• If the dog pulls and you are not injuring it, hold the digits firmly by grasping the webbing between the center digits. This will give you a firm hold without hurting the pet. While holding the foot, place the heel of your hand on the table top, maintaining your grasp on the foot. Ignore the pet – As the pet struggles, he is uncomfortable – as he sits still, he’s comfortable, immediately, giving positive and negative reinforcements. The dog will learn very quickly not to pull.

Many groomers have a difficult time trimming the foot in a timely fashion. A good groomer should be able to complete all four feet in 3-6 minutes for small-to medium-sized dogs. Working on a clean foot will extend the life of your blade and make it easier to clip the foot.