Dog nails should be trimmed short enough so they do not touch the ground when the dog is standing or walking. Ideally, the nails should be about 2 millimeters away from the "quick," which is the living tissue inside the nail containing blood vessels and nerves. Cutting too close to or into the quick can cause pain and bleeding

. Key points for proper nail length:

• Nails should not extend past the paw pad or touch the ground when standing still

• The quick is visible in some dogs (especially with light-colored nails) as a pink or dark vein; trim cautiously if the quick is not visible, especially in dark nails

• Nails should be short enough to prevent clicking sounds on hard floors but still provide traction when the dog moves on different surfaces

• Regular trimming is recommended to maintain this length and avoid overgrowth, which can cause pain, walking difficulties, or infections if nails curl into the paw pads

In summary, keep your dog's nails trimmed so they are short but not cutting into the quick-about 2 mm away from it-and ensure they do not touch the ground when the dog stands