If you walk your Cavalier regularly on rough pavement, you may never need to trim his nails. But if he spends most of his time in the house or in the yard, you’ll need to trim his nails once a week or once every two weeks. Long nails can make it hard for your dog to walk comfortably, and very long nails can curl around and puncture paw pads.

Nail care is important, so get your dog used to the idea by handling his feet when he’s a puppy. Hold a foot and play with the toes, then give him a treat. If you find you are too nervous to trim your dog’s nails, take him to a groomer or a vet.

If you’re using nail clippers, cut the tip of the nail off, right where the nail starts to curve. If your dog has white nails, it is easy to see the “quick” the blood vessels inside the nail. The nails should be trimmed to the quick but not past the point where blood vessels are visible. On whole colors, the nails are black so it will be difficult to see the quick.

Trim the nail to the beginning of the curve of the nail. If the nail bleeds after trimming, dip it into styptic powder and the bleeding should stop quickly. Pay careful attention to the dew claw, which is found on the front foot and corresponds to the location of the human thumb. Many breeders remove the dew claw when the puppy is only a few days old, but if it is left on your Cavalier, it will require regular trimming. Left untended, dew claws can curve and grow into the foot.

Many tools are available to trim your pet’s nails. Look at several types and then pick one that you think will work the best for you and your Cavalier.