9 Best Tried and True Japanese Dog Nail Clippers in 2022 (Petio, Lavuky, and More)

Hirota Tool Manufacturing's ZAN Guillotine Type nail clipper was the best of all the dog nail clippers recommended by our editorial department and tested by our expert. It has a clean design with no extra thickness or protrusions around the blade. Our expert had an easy time fitting the dog's nails into the guillotine. 

The product's design made it easy to see what we were clipping so we didn't worry about cutting too deep. It's also comfortable to use; the fit when the spring is moderately engaged is good.

It's so sharp that it's possible to cut long nails easily without using too much force. However, it may be too sharp for beginners to use with confidence, and it has no rubber grip, which increases the risk of slipping. So, we recommend these clippers for those with some experience trimming pets' nails.

These can be used for prolonged periods of time with no discomfort if handled well. We think these clippers are a great choice for confident dog owners of all breeds!

These clippers were small, easy to handle, and sharp. There were no parts that blocked our view of the blades and the dog's nails.

The blades open wide, making it easier to grab the target nail. We were a little worried that the lock stopper would return to its position during use, but this wasn't an issue. Grip comfort was top-class. The curve of the lower part of the handle hooks right into your little finger, making it easy to control.

These nippers were the sharpest among all the nail clippers we tested. However, they make high-pitched snipping sounds that may scare pets who are not accustomed to having their claws cut. Still, for the price, you can't go wrong with these if it's your first purchase.

Most nipper type products were too large or heavy, but these were an exception. They fit right in our expert's hands, and she was able to clearly see the target nails too. Their small size makes for easy control, and the rubber grip makes them easy to hold for prolonged periods of time.

Inserting the dog's nails into the guillotine proved a little difficult because the blades didn't open that much, but they have top-notch sharpness that more than makes up for this minor flaw. A natural grip on the handle is enough to cut the nail without applying too much force.

While the lock stoppers on the other products featured in this list would sometimes return to the lock position during use, we had no such problems with this product. Men with larger hands may need to look elsewhere, though, as these may be a little too small.

Petio's Electric Nail File was the highest-ranking electric nail trimmer in our tests. The top file has no cover, making it easy to see the nails being trimmed. It's separated into a wide file and a narrow file by the arch on the top portion of the device, so you can choose which file to use depending on the size of the nails to be trimmed.

While most electric trimmers tend to remove too much nail material, this product has been adjusted to an appropriate power level. It takes longer to trim compared to other electric trimmers, but there is a low risk of injury to your pet, making it perfect for beginners.

Note, however, that it performed the worst in terms of operating noise. Loud noises mean that more timid pets will be less cooperative with this unit. Consider your pet's personality when buying this product.

Out of the electric grinders we tested, this was a particularly small model that was easy to handle. It fits well in most hands and is great for small dogs.

Note, however, that this product is surprisingly powerful. Exercise caution to avoid over-cutting. We recommend applying this for no more than 2 seconds per nail. The file cover blocks your view of your pets nails, but we do not recommend removing it as it increases the risk of over-cutting.

The reason we evaluated it this high was because of its relatively quiet operation. It is the quietest electric grinder of all the models we tested and is most suitable for timid pets. If you know what you're doing when it comes to dog nail care and want an electric trimmer, this is a good choice.

This is a different version of Hirota Manufacturing's ZAN series, which we chose as our overall best product. It features a beak-like blade that curves to the left. We felt that this made it harder to see the nails compared to the guillotine type cutters which have a blade at the center of their body. Left-handed people might also find this difficult to use.

The spring produces an audible clicking sound during cutting. These are very sharp, so they work great with ingrown nails. They also are much better for cutting the hard-to-reach dew claw than guillotine-type cutters.

While we loved the weight and fit, the only downside would be the metal grip which felt a little slippery after prolonged use.