Best Nail Clippers For German Shepherds | 5 Clippers Reviewed

As German Shepherd owners, it’s part of our duty to regularly groom our GSDs. And part of that is nail trimming. If we neglect our dog’s nails and just let them grow out, they’ll eventually find it difficult to walk. Fortunately for us, nail trimming doesn’t have to be difficult and we don’t actually need to schedule an appointment with the groomers to do it. We simply need the right tools. And so to help you maintain your dog’s nails, I present to you my list of the best nail clippers for German Shepherds.

Overview: The Best Nail Clippers For German Shepherds

• BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers And Trimmer
• Safari Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmer
• Resco Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers
• Dremel 7300-PT Cordless Dog Nail Grinding Tool
• Hertzko Electric Dog Nail Grinder

What To Consider When Buying A Nail Clipper For A GSD

Type of Nail Clipper

Nails clippers come in different types. They are as follows:

Scissor Clippers. Much like scissors, these clippers make use of two blades that come together when you squeeze the handle. The difference though is that it has a small indent in the blade where you place the nail into for cutting.

Plier Clippers.  As the name implies, these clippers are very much similar to your typical pliers. They have spring loaded handles and like the scissor clippers, it’s blades have an indent for nails.

Guillotine Clippers. These clippers make use of a mechanism similar to that of a guillotine’s. You stick your dog’s nail in a hole and as you squeeze the handle a blade moves up and gently slices it. These clippers are generally best for small to medium sized dogs.

Grinders. While they technically don’t clip, grinders can also be used to shorten your German Shepherd’s nails. But instead of cutting, it makes use of a high-speed rotating pad that grinds nails to the desired length. They’re safe and are particularly great for dogs that don’t like clippers. That said, they do vibrate and make quite a bit of noise so it will take training and time to get your dog used to them.

Quality

It goes without saying, but quality is of course an important consideration. Especially when it comes to the blades. You want blades that are strong and sharp enough to provide precise trimming. Keep in mind that dull blades crush instead of cut, and that would mean pain for your German Shepherd.

Size

Nail clippers could come in different sizes. And generally speaking, the larger the clipper the better it is for bigger dogs with thick nails like a German Shepherd. Having too small of a clipper for your GSD could make for longer trimming and frustrate your dog. 

Safety

Nail trimming is a delicate process and if done wrong, may end up being painful for your dog. So if you’re not an experienced dog groomer, you may need to consider nail clippers with a safety guard. These include a mechanism that acts as a safety stop to prevent over clipping. That said, these safety stops can only go so far, and you should still be careful and gentle during the whole process.

Durability

Durability is a consistent factor in all purchasing decisions. I mean, it’s simply not logical to purchase something that won’t last. Add it ties in with safety as well. For instance, you wouldn’t want a clipper to break down mid-process. That wouldn’t just be frustrating, it could also be dangerous.

Comfort

Not only look out for your German Shepherd, but you have to mind your comfort as well. Trimming requires precision and that can be achieved more easily if you use comfortable clippers. So choose ones that are ergonomically designed and have anti-slip handles.

The Best Nail Clippers For German Shepherds

BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers And Trimmer

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly yet highly effective clipper, then this one’s for you. Simply put, the BOSHEL Dog Nail Clippers And Trimmer, has everything you need.

This vet-recommended nail clipper features sharp stainless steel blades that will precisely and smoothly cut your German Shepherd’s nails. These blades are of high-quality and last long. Meaning you won’t have to bother with resharpening for some time.

What I particularly like about this clipper is the fact that it’s convenient and safe to use. First off, it features a safety stop that helps prevent overcutting. Meaning you don’t have to be a professional to use it. That said, do be careful and remember to only use the safety stop as a guide and not as a guarantee to your dog’s safety. Be gentle and careful no matter the safety features.

This clipper is also very comfortable to use. It has an ergonomically designed and anti-slip handle that will provide you with better control for precise cutting.

Despite having basically everything you need though, it does have some negatives. Durability issues with the spring and visibility issues with the safety stop prevent this clipper from being perfect.

Safari Professional Stainless Steel Nail Trimmer

The Safari Professional Nail Trimmer is another great beginner-friendly option that you can opt for. It basically has the same features as the BOSHEL but comes at a slightly lower price.

It features sharp stainless steel for proper cutting, a safety stop to help prevent accidents, and ergonomically designed handles for comfortable use. This clipper has essentially everything you need for safe and effective nail trimming.

Unfortunately though, the similarities don’t end there. Like the BOSHEL, the Safari trimmer also tends to have issues with the spring not working as intended (not opening the handles back when it should.) But other than that, it gets the job done.

Resco Deluxe Dog Nail Clippers

If you prefer guillotine type clippers, go for the Resco Deluxe. Resco has been manufacturing guillotine style clippers since they invented it in 1937, so you know they’re doing something right.

This vet-recommended nail clipper is made of durable steel and features a sharp blade for proper cutting. What’s best is that this clipper comes with technology that allows you to replace the cutting blades as necessary. With that, you can make sure that you’re always using sharp ones to guarantee your German Shepherd’s safety.

Now as previously mentioned, guillotine clippers are typically best for small to medium sized dogs. So how is this clipper included in the list? Well,the Resco Deluxe comes in different sizes including large, which makes it viable for bigger dogs like the German Shepherd.

On to the downsides.

The Resco Deluxe doesn’t provide the same level of safety as the other clippers included in this list. This is as guillotine clippers in general don’t have features like safety guards that will help keep you from overcutting your dog’s nails. And so, they’re not beginner-friendly. When using this clipper, be careful and always make sure that you’re not cutting into your German Shepherd’s quick.

For a more specific issue, while usually sharp, the Resco Deluxe does tend to have some issues with dullness and can sometimes not cut as clean as it should. This is especially true after multiple usage, and so, do always check the blade before using and assess if it requires replacing.  

Dremel 7300-PT Cordless Dog Nail Grinding Tool

If your German Shepherd doesn’t like clippers or if you’re looking for safer options, then I highly recommend that you get this Dremel Grinding Tool. It’s an effective tool to trim your dog’s nails without having to endure the stress brought about by clipping.

What’s great about this grinder is that it’s cordless. That gives you better freedom of movement as you don’t have to worry about the wire getting tangled with your dog. It’s also lightweight and easy to hold, making it convenient to use overall.

Now, a persistent issue with the Dremel or with any other grinder is the noise and the vibration. Some dogs get scared of that, and so it may take some time for your German Shepherd to get used to it. That said, this grinder isn’t actually as noisy when compared to plug-in models.

Another thing to keep in mind, is the fact that friction produces heat. When you use this grinder on your German Shepherd’s nails, you’ll soon notice that it can heat up quite a bit. Should you find that scary or worrisome, use the slower setting and apply less pressure on the nail. Yes, that would mean that the whole process will take longer, but that’s how you’ll be able to achieve maximum safety.

Hertzko Electric Dog Nail Grinder

Like the Dremel, the Hertzko Electric Dog Nail Grinder provides a gentle and safe alternative to clippers. But unlike the Dremel, this one doesn’t make much noise. So, if the Dremel is too noisy for your German Shepherd, try this one.

That said, less noise doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your dog won’t be scared. Remember, vibration is also a factor. So, there still is a chance that your GSD won’t like it but you’ll have better odds with this one.

Now, while it’s great for preventing your dog from being scared, the Hertzko does sacrifice a bit when it comes to power. Simply put, it’s not as strong as the Dremel, and thus the whole trimming process will take longer to finish.

Conclusion

That concludes my list of the best nail clippers for German Shepherds. I hope you found the information helpful and that it provided you with the necessary knowledge to make a well-informed purchase.

Have a safe and great grooming experience!