Few dog owners see clipping a dog as an art. They tackle the scraggly foot hair to minimize dirty feet tracks but ignore other areas. In their effort to get rid of unwanted hair growth, owners can forget that it's possible to cause injury during clipping of the dog's paws.

Keep your dog's breed in mind when you decide to clip his fur. In longer haired breeds, if the clipping is not done correctly, dust can accumulate in the coat and lead to skin diseases. Ticks, fleas and other skin parasites can breed more freely in a coat that is not properly clipped and cared for.

Toe nails must be trimmed to avoid accidental breaks and painful walking. Long toe nails cause the nail to turn sideways. In severe cases, the nail can dig into the foot and break the skin. If a dog's claws are too long, it's easy for him to catch them on surfaces and split or break them.

Injuries can occur easily during toe nail clipping as the "wick" inside the nail can bleed if it is cut. The wick is the blood and nerve source to the nail. It's what keeps the nail alive. The wick sits back well within the nail. If the nail is cut too short or if the nail splinters, however, the wick can become sensitive and exposed, causing pain to your dog.

Always use sharp clippers for cutting your dog's hair and nails. For nails, purchase proper utensils from your local pet supply store. Human nail clippers are not suitable for dogs. There are some excellent new nail clippers available that are designed to minimize damage and pain.

If you live in a cold climate, do not clip your dog in winter unless absolutely necessary. Winter seasons can expose your dog to considerable stress, especially if the coat is insufficiently long enough to protect him from the cold climate and snowy weather. Dogs can get frostbite, too.

By the same token, don't cut your dog's hair too short in summer as you will expose his flesh to harmful suns rays. While we might not understand it, a dog's fur helps to keep him cool in summer. Shortening slightly is fine but be sure to leave enough to maintain this protection.

Avoid clipping your dog when he is unhealthy as it can put more distress on the animal. Only clip as necessary to remove soiled fur or broken nails.

You can help to keep your dog's nails healthy by walking him on concrete every day. This will wear down the nail gradually and evenly. It provides a more natural method of control that avoids your having to struggle with nail clippers.

For best results, find a dog grooming professional who knows how to clip specific breeds correctly.