The Truth About Doberman’s Nails: Misconceptions and Finding Balance
As a Doberman owner and breed enthusiast, I recently had an enlightening conversation with my holistic/integrative vet about the length of our Doberman Persephone’s nails. Even though I was already leery of the super short nail trend, like many Doberman owners, I was concerned that her nails might be too long based on what I see in some Doberman’s nails on social media and the connected, often heated conversations. To my relief, my vet informed me that the recent trend of keeping dog nails, particularly Dobermans, extremely short, almost to the point of nubs, is unnecessary. It can even be detrimental to their health. In this article, I have compiled the information Persephone’s vet gave us on both too short and too long nails, combined with some extra research to help you find some balance in this conversation.
Where Did the Nub Trend Come From?
The trend of keeping Doberman nails super short, often seen in show dogs, seems to have gained popularity in recent years. While the exact origins are unclear, it likely stems from the desire to present a cleaner and more polished appearance. After all, the feet of a Doberman should be square, and the very short nails enhance that appearance to look, let’s say, the squarest. While I understand the show dog world to be very specific and competitive, I do not see the same aesthetic nitpicking as necessary in companion dogs. We’re very fond of conformation and preservation breeders, but it's crucial to remember that aesthetics should never trump a dog's well-being. The obsession with ultra-short nails can cause more harm than good, and we'd like to see more companion dog owners prioritize their dog's well-being over aesthetics.
The Problems with Extremely Short Nails
Lack of Grip: Dogs use their nails for traction and balance. Nails that are too short can make it difficult for them to grip surfaces, potentially leading to slips and falls, especially as they age.
Pain and Sensitivity: Even though you can shorten nails over time without implicating the quick, clipping nails too short can expose the sensitive quick, causing pain and making the nails more susceptible to infections.
Natural Behavior Inhibition: Dogs use their nails to hold onto objects, such as when chewing toys or bones. Ultra-short nails can hinder these natural behaviors.
The Issues with Too Long Nails
On the other hand, nails that are too long can also cause problems:
Discomfort and Pain: Long nails can cause discomfort when walking, leading to changes in gait and posture that can result in musculoskeletal issues. A picture illustration going around on social media substantiates this idea. However, while it is used to justify the super short nails we’ve been seeing, the graphic doesn’t mention dremeling nails to nubs. It just cautions that nails that are too long can have very adverse effects.
Injury Risk: Long nails are more prone to breaking, which can be painful and lead to infections.
Damage to Surfaces: Overgrown nails can damage floors and furniture, which, while not a health issue for the dog, can be a concern for guardians.
Scratching Puppies: If you’ve ever owned a growing Doberman puppy, you know you will need to teach them not to jump up. With some, like Persephone, it can take a while to want to cooperate, no matter how consistent you are with training. She definitely has a stubborn personality (that we love). However, nails that are too long or not shaped can truly scratch you and your kids up. Usually, this is especially a problem during summer with clothing that doesn’t cover as much of your body as during colder seasons.
Nails in the Wild: How Wolves Manage
To preface: the idea that nature should always be the “role model” is problematic. Not everything that happens in nature is ideal. However, when it comes to nails, in the wild, wolves naturally wear down their nails through constant activity and environmental interaction. Their nails are typically just the right length to assist in running while hunting (although they do not use them to attack prey) and gripping prey when eating without causing themselves discomfort. Unlike domesticated dogs, wolves are constantly on the move, which helps maintain their nails at an optimal length.
While some Reddit entries state that wolves chew their nails when they’re too long, we could not find any reliable source to corroborate this statement. What we could find, however, is that nail biting in dogs can, amongst other issues, be related to overgrown nails.
The Importance of Nails for Dogs and Wolves
Dogs, like wolves, use their nails for various purposes:
Traction and Balance: Nails provide the necessary grip for running and making quick turns.
Holding Prey or Objects: Nails help hold objects in place, whether they're wild prey parts during eating or chew toys. Persephone is raw-fed and eats raw, meaty bones (RMB). She does use her nails to hold onto the RMBs a lot. (Update 2026: Persephone has been eating ground up RMBs for about 6 months now. Nonetheless, we still do not dremel her nails to nub length).
Digging: Nails are essential for digging, a natural and important mentally and physically stimulating behavior for dogs.
The Role of the Quick
The quick is the living part of the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves. Regular trimming encourages the quick to recede, allowing you to maintain shorter nails over time without causing pain. This process takes patience and consistency but is beneficial for your dog's comfort and health. The question is simply: when is short too short?
Clippers vs. Dremel: Myths and Realities
Clippers:
Myths:
Clippers are always painful for dogs.
They are dangerous and can easily cut the quick.
Realities:
Clippers are effective and quick, especially for dogs with thicker nails. They also work better if your dog is unhappy about the noise and vibrations from a Dremel.
Proper technique and caution can prevent cutting the quick. Most veterinarians use clippers.
Dremel:
Myths:
Dremels are too noisy and scary for all dogs.
They don't work well on thick nails.
Realities:
Dremels can be less stressful for dogs once they get used to the noise and vibration. If your Doberman is still a puppy, we recommend to slowly introduce them to a Dremel. It may take a lot of patience, but you will thank yourself in the long-run.
They are excellent for smoothing edges and gradually shortening the nails, making them also ideal for dogs with thin or brittle nails.
Which Tool to Use and When:
Clippers: Best for initial trimming, especially if the nails are long and thick. They allow you to make precise cuts and are quick to use.
Dremel: As discussed, they’re ideal for smoothing edges and maintaining nail length after clipping. They are also great for dogs who are sensitive to the pressure of clippers.
Finding the Right Balance
Of course, modern dogs don't run after prey, but they still greatly benefit from having nails shortened to a proper length. To us, the key is to strike a balance: nails should be short enough to avoid discomfort and injury, but long enough to allow natural behaviors.
So what’s the best length? If your dog’s nails remain just clear of the ground when standing square on a hard surface, they are still at a good length, and this is not according to us, but our veterinarian, dog groomers, and what some people may call the ‘dog grooming bible.’
Many people state that nails should also not ‘click’ on the floor when a dog is walking, although we would argue that ‘clicking’ can be an indicator of nails being too long, but: Floor type matters. Gait matters. Nail shape matters. Quick length matters. Toe conformation matters. Some dogs lightly tick on hard flooring even when they are not functionally overgrown, while others can have problematic nails that do not make much noise, especially nails curling toward pads or dewclaws that never contact the ground.
Thus, what truly matters is that you examine your dog’s paws, nails and any other interconnected factor. Additionally, when you push between your dogs paw pads, you can tell how much your dog can extend their nails. Use your best judgment from the information provided and from your observations of your dog if the length likely supports the natural behaviors and avoids the discussed issues.
Practical Tips for Nail Maintenance
Regular Trimming: Trim your dog's nails regularly, but avoid cutting too close to the quick. Depending on your dog’s lifestyle, how often you have to trim can vary. If your dog lives mostly on rugs, carpets, and your soft lawn in the backyard, you likely have to cut or Dremel your dog’s nails every 2-4 weeks. If your dog enjoys regular hikes, you walk them daily, or they get to exercise on any other surfaces than soft lawns, rugs, or smooth tiles, you likely only need to trim them every 6-8 weeks.
File if Necessary: Use a nail file to smooth any rough edges after trimming.
Observe and Adjust: Pay attention to your dog's behavior and adjust the nail length as needed.
Visit our Blog Post: If you have issues with your dog’s nail routine (about 60% of dogs show distress with nail cutting/dremeling), visit our blog post written specifically for Doberman owners.
While trends come and go, we believe the health and well-being of our dogs should always be our priority. Avoid the extremes of ultra-short nails and overgrown claws. Instead, aim for a balanced approach that respects your dog's natural behaviors and needs. Persephone, like many dogs, uses her nails to hold onto her toys and RMBs, loves to dig, and runs and darts aside with her 4 siblings as if tomorrow never comes, a testament to the importance of nails in her daily life.
Lastly, we see people borderline cyberbullying other Doberman guardians for nails that the internet deems too long. While we love a good hint or tip, please be kind to others. If you’re at the receiving end, we hope this article gives you good guidelines for approaching your Doberman’s nail needs.
You understanding and respecting the natural functions of your dog's nails is an important part of them remaining happy, healthy, and comfortable.
Further Readings:
Dallas, S., North, D., & Angus, J. (Eds.). (2006). Grooming manual for the dog and cat. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470751084
Edwards, P. T., Smith, B. P., McArthur, M. L., & Hazel, S. J. (2022). Puppy pedicures: Exploring the experiences of Australian dogs to nail trims. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 255, Article 105730. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159122001885
exotics. (2017, September 13). [Comment on the post “ELI5: how do wild dogs and wolves keep their nails trimmed?”]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/6zu65s/comment/dmy9rg1/
Finlay, K. (2019, January 19). Why do dogs dig? https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-do-dogs-dig/
Midshore Veterinary Clinic. (n.d). Why is my dog biting their nails? https://midshorevet.com/blog/dog-biting-nails/
Wolf Education& Research Center. (n.d). Ask the biologist. Do we trim the claws of our captive wolves? https://wolfcenter.org/ask-the-biologist/
Dog Nail Length Statistics:
https://gitnux.org/dog-nail-length/ (Update 2026: This article with the cited statistics is not available anymore. We have contacted Gitnux to get an update. We will provide any new information on the missing article once we have any new information).
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other healthcare professional. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease or prescribe any medication or other treatment. Always consult with your veterinarian or other qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your pet's healthcare regimen, especially if they have or suspect they may have a health problem. The author and publisher of this article are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, products, or procedures mentioned in this article. The use of this information is at the reader's discretion and risk.
Article last updated: June 2026
