they make clippers especially for pets' nails so that you can only cut off a small piece... Generally speaking, it's better to cut a smaller piece and then come back and do more after a week if it still needs it. When a dog's nails are cut, the quick (the part w/blood vessels that will bleed if cut) receeds back further, so if you wait a bit, you can cut a little shorter w/o worrying about bleeding.

But, in the event of bleeding -- have cornstarch or flour around to stop the bleeding (it doesn't clot very quickly, and a hyperactive boston is not likely to help the situation :) )

In the beginning I took her to the vet to get it done and then I just started doing it myself.
My boston is tricking because one of her paws is all black so you kind of have to estimate, but in the beginning I was really scared.

I take Daisy to the vet. She HATES the clippers, can smell them coming from the next room, so I now pay six bucks for the vet to do it. After a few of these visits, she's gotten really good at being still :)

i cut mine at home, but i have a close relative that has cut them on occassion when we go over for dinner.

a lot of people on another boston list of mine use a dremel. i can't afford one of those, but it works real well.

My mom does Emma's at home. We have nail clippers for dogs, and usually it isn't a problem. A few times she has made her bleed a little, but we put flour on it to stop the bleeding.

Kong actually loves to have his nails clipped. He sees you touch the clippers and he won't leave you alone until you clip his nails. I just got him used to it and now he just lays on my lap and let's me do it.

we use the dremel on jack's nails too and while it's definitely not one of his favorite activities, it works really well. we are able to shape his nails so they are nice and rounded and i tend to like them better than the clippers (because they make their nails so blunt and rough).

we cut sadies nails. she has no problem with it either, she'll stick out her paw as if to say "go ahead and pamper me" shes a nut.

I cut Roxie's nails, and my bunnies nails, and my piggies nails. I just started at Petco in the grooming dept, and I cut nails there too. It gets easier with every time. I like cutting my own animals nails because I know their personalities and I can judge when they're starting to get annoyed with me, and then we take a break (not so much with Roxie, but with the others). One thing I tell people at Petco when they ask about doing it themselves, is to take it slow and patient and it's better to not cut off enough then too much, cause you can always go back later and take a little more off. Hope that helps, and good luck!!! :) :) :)