What can I use to paint my dogs nails?

Yes, I’ve done it! Stella Mae (Bull Terrier) looks adorable wearing hot pink nail polish. It just makes me smile. Before reaching for your nail polish, check out these tips that will make painting your dog’s nails much easier for both of you.

Use Dog Nail Polish Only

It’s pretty important to only use dog nail polish because dogs lick their feet and have a different skin pH than people. Plus, dog nail polish is water-based, toxic-free (no nasty chemicals, such as formaldehyde and toluene), odor-free and drip-free, and dries within seconds. Hmm, maybe I should try this stuff on my toes. Also, most dog nail polishes provide a vibrant color with one coat, so no need to add additional layers. When polishing, keep nail polish from touching skin–no need for globs of polish.

You can choose between bottles of nail polish or polish pens. Personally, I’m a huge fan of polish pens. Pens don’t drip and can slide under sprigs of paw hair surrounding your dog’s nails and dry super fast. Also, you can draw dots and animal prints as well as layer colors if you want to glam it up.

White dog nails will look great in all dog nail polish colors. However, dark nails seem to absorb only certain colors. Think pastels, neon colors and anything bright. Some reputable dog nail polish manufactures offer white base coats for dark nails, so all nail polishes will pop.

RELATED: Trimming Dog Nails: Reaching for Paw

Pull Back Excessive Hair

All dogs pretty much have stray hairs poking around their nails, so it’s best to push the hair back with the thumb of your opposite hand. I’ve heard stories of people placing pieces of old pantyhose over a dog’s paw and pulling it up so dog nails pop out while holding back long hair. While that sounds good, you’ll have to hold the pantyhose in place while nails dry, and I don’t think dogs would enjoy that process.

Reward Nail Polish Sessions

Please don’t force your dog to endure nail polish sessions. You’ll end up with hot pink polish all over the place. Take a week or so to teach your dog to enjoy handling of her paws. It’ll make it much easier.

Also, ask a friend to hold a peanut butter stuffed toy in front of your dog, so she can happily lick away while you’re polishing her nails. Take frequent breaks. Only paint one to two nails. Allow them to dry for 40 seconds or so. Eventually, with lots of practice, you’ll be able to paint one paw at a time while your dog snoozes or enjoys a food stuffed toy.

Removing Dog Nail Polish

Your dog’s nail polish will chip quicker than our pedicures. Remember, your dog doesn’t wear darling little sandals to protect perfectly painted nails, so expect chips within a few days. Normally, I wait until all polish has worn off before refreshing the color or applying a new color. If you must remove your dog’s nail polish, only use acetone-free polish removers and then promptly wash your dog’s paws to remove any residue.

Pawdicures are adorable. Just keep your dog safe and make it fun!

You may also like: How to Teach Your Dog Chin Rests

If your dog is off to a dog's birthday party or accompanying you to a party, you may want to dress up your dog's nails to match his outfit. Painting a dog's nails is really quite easy, so long as you make sure your dog is properly trained, choose the right products, and use the right technique.

1. 1

   Make sure the dog is trained. He won't need to know any fancy commands, but he will need to know how to sit and stay for several minutes.

2. 2

   Get the dog used to grooming. You should never paint your dog's nails if he isn't accustomed to being groomed, particularly to having his nails trimmed. You need to get him comfortable with the idea of you handling his paws before you start painting his nails.[1] X Research source Go to source

   • Always try to make grooming a good experience for your dog. Give him lots of treats to encourage good behavior. This will also help him associate getting groomed and having his nails painted with delicious treats, so he might even look forward to it!
   • If you have never cut your dog's nails before, start by simply handling each paw and looking at it for a minute. When he's comfortable with that, you can progress to clipping, and then to painting.
   • Start with just a few minutes of grooming. When your dog starts looking very uncomfortable, let him go. The next grooming session should last a few minutes longer. Don't start painting the dog's nails until you're confident that the dog can sit still for long enough.

3. 3

   Buy non-toxic products. You should use nail polish specifically designed for dogs because it is less toxic than nail polish designed for humans. Dogs sometimes chew their paws, so you want to make sure your dog will not ingest anything that is potentially harmful.

   • Find out how long the dry time is for the nail polish you will be using, and understand that you will need to get your dog to be calm for at least that long. Some dry extremely quickly and others can be used with topcoats that speed drying time. Choose carefully.
   • When it comes time to remove the nail polish, be sure to use nail polish remover that is designed for dogs as well.

4. 4

   Set up a space. Make sure you paint your dog's nails in a room where he can do minimal damage if he starts to run around. You will want to avoid areas with carpets and upholstered furniture because it will be very hard, if not impossible, to get nail polish off of these surfaces.

   • A small space is probably best so your dog won't be able to go far if he gets away.
   • Consider laying an old towel or blanket on the floor for your dog to stand on, but make sure that you don't mind if it gets nail polish on it.

1. 1

   Choose your design. Plan out what colors and patterns you want to do before you start painting.

   • If your dog has dark nails, you might need to use a white base coat, depending on the color you want the nails to be.
   • If you want to do patterns, try to find dog-friendly nail polish pens, which will give you much more control than a brush. You can purchase these online, or you may be able to find them at a specialty pet store.[2] X Research source Go to source
   • If this is the first time you are painting your dog's nails, you might want to stick to a simple design.

2. 2

   Gather all your materials. Make sure you have everything you need to paint your dog's nails in the room before you bring your dog in. You do not want to realize half way through that you forgot something in another room and have to leave your dog alone. Make sure you have the following items on hand:

   • All of the nail polish you plan on using
   • Nail polish remover, along with cotton balls, just in case you get some polish in your dog's hair
   • Nail clippers
   • Styptic powder, which will stop the bleeding if you accidentally cut your dog's nails too short
   • A small pair of scissors to trim excess hair
   • A towel to cover the floor
   • Lots of treats

3. 3

   Keep your dog as still as possible. Try putting one arm around your dog's back and using the other hand to apply the polish.

   • Having a helper hold the dog for you is a good idea. Ask a sibling, friend, or someone else to help you.

4. 4

   Prep the paws. Before you start polishing, you should make sure that your dog's nails are trimmed to the appropriate length. If your dog has long hair, trim it back around the nails so you don't get nail polish in his hair.

5. 5

   Apply the polish. Dip the brush into the polish and gently stroke the nail brush over the dog's nails. Work as quickly as possible.

   • You may want to apply gentle pressure to the top and bottom of your dog's paw as you are painting.
   • For front paws, you can simply ask the dog to sit and you can hold the paw you are working on. For back paws, you may need to work with your dog standing up, or you may need to have someone hold the dog off the ground.

6. 6

   Stay calm. Try not do anything to excite or scare your pooch as you apply the polish.

7. 7

   Keep your dog still. While the nail polish is drying, you will need to keep your dog calm and prevent him from touching or licking his nails.

   • Try giving treats to keep your dog happy and encourage him to enjoy getting his nails painted.
   • If your dog is very small, you can hold him while his nails are drying.

8. 8

   Add another layer of nail polish. If necessary, apply a second coat of the same color, or use a nail polish marker to apply a design.

   • Your dog will need to be still once again after you apply the second coat. If you are using a topcoat, he will need to be still three times.
   • If your dog seems too hyper, consider giving him a break after the first coat is dry.

• Question

  Can I use non-toxic acrylic paint?

  Yes, that should be fine. If you want to double check that it's safe, you can call your vet and ask them.

• Question

  I use nail polish designed for dogs, but her fingers still swell. What should I do?

  Do not use the kind that she is allergic too anymore. You can ask someone at the pet store for another brand or not use any.

• Question

  Do I polish all the dogs nails or just the front?

  It's up to you. It is probably best to do all, but either way will work.

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 14 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 33,506 times.

Co-authors: 14

Updated: September 16, 2021

Views: 33,506

Article Rating: 70% - 42 votes

Categories: Dog Grooming

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  "My dog looks so happy now!"