How do I trim the hair around my dog's paws?

Excess hair around and between the pads collects mud, ice in winter, and debris that can cause discomfort or slipping on smooth floors. Breeds with naturally hairy feet, such as Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, and many doodle crosses, tend to need this trim every three to four weeks, considerably more often than a full body groom.

Holding the paw firmly but gently, spreading the toes slightly with your fingers, and using small, blunt tipped scissors to trim hair flush with the pad reduces the chance of an accidental nick. For hair between the toes, angling the scissors or a small clipper with a guard comb downward, away from the skin, and trimming in short, controlled passes works more safely than one long cut.

Since paws are a sensitive area for many dogs, doing this trim in short sessions, one paw at a time with treats between, especially early on, helps a dog stay relaxed rather than pulling away, which reduces the risk of an accidental cut considerably more than trying to rush through all four paws at once.