I have Jaden and Jewelina's done by the vet once every two weeks, if they go in for grooming before then I also have them trimmed then. I find it's easier to just nip them like you said rather than letting them grow really long and having to have a lot cut off. Sometimes theirs gets done once a week, sometimes it's once every two weeks depending on how they are wearing down. I'd go with whatever you feel comfortable doing and
on doing their nails all by yourself! Jaden had a bleeder one time a long time ago when he was getting his nails trimmed by my cousin and after I saw that I was like...I can never do that!
Sometimes I think I'm more afraid of trimming their nails than they are of having it done! Maybe one day I'll be brave like yourself and overcome my fear of getting a bleeder
