Twice a year is definitly not often enough unless the dog is naturally wearing the nails down anyway like on concrete. Monthly is good. You can even do it weekly if you want and just take the tiniest bit off each time.

Just some helpful hints if your dog is difficult. Don't put it off too long with a new puppy. Get them used to having their nails clipped on a regular basis or it will always be a difficult chore for both of you. I don't like holding the dog in my lap because she can just squirm away too easily and every time she gets away it just makes her squirm more next time because she has learned that she can eventually get away if she tries hard enough. With my girl I have her standing on a counter and put a harness on her and anchor it to a cabinet above her. Gently lift a back foot behind her so you are looking at the pad. A second person to hold her body upright is helpful because she may try to flip over and you would end up having to let go of the foot. You don't want to let go of her foot because again you have taught her that she will win if she fights enough. Hold the foot firmly and take just the tiniest tip off each nail. Praise her when you finish the foot and give her a treat if you want. It doesn't matter if you get every nail done the first time. As a matter of fact it is ok if you don't actually clip any nails the first time. As long as you manage to hold onto the foot and go thru the motions long enough for the dog to give up so you are releasing the foot on your terms and not her terms then you are making progress. Sometimes I just tap the clipper against each nail so the dog thinks I clipped something. As long as you don't let your dog win the battle you will eventually get the upper hand. Oh and one other thing I have learned - kisses and cuddles and sweet talk do not work during nail clipping. Your baby knows she has you wrapped around her little paw and will be much more wiggly if you are sweet talking her. It's hard to be firm and not give in with these little guys but it's in their best interest to train them to accept nail clipping on a regular basis.

My advise is -

1) Start doing it when they are just a little puppy.
2) Hold the puppy firmly - and do it quickly (don't make a big deal of it
and take a long time to do it).
3) Take only the very tip off. (You may need to do it more often - but it's
far less traumatic for the puppy - you're less likely to take too much
off, and it's less likely to hurt.)
4) If you're having a difficult time - do only one paw at a time.
Take a break - do another paw later. Before long you'll be doing them
all at one time.

It's really just experience that makes you good and fast at this. So - get going!

I started with my puppy when I first got him, and he hated it - and I was just learning. Now we're both used to it. I get a firm hold on him, do it quickly, and we're done. He still doesn't like it - but he has no choice. It's just something we do every couple of weeks. However, he is quieter now and stays more still - I think he knows that if he cooperates, we'll be done quicker, and he can get back to playing.

Really - a little Yorkie's nails are easy to trim. You ought to try a big dog.
Or -- as I have to do - you ought to try a bird!

Carol Jean

I get it done at Petsmart they don't charge me for it either lol

Carol

I have never had to clip Buckeye's nails. our walks are on the concrete road and they stay short. I have only had to clip ahia's nails a couple of times when we first got her.

I have had multiple episodes of cutting the quick in the yorkies nails. My one yorkie is a "digger" so everytime I cut his nail,s he bleeds. I'm convinced he wears them down himself and they don't really need to be clipped. My other yorkie, her's are much easier to cut and I just take off a little at a time. I also do this right after the bath when they are wrapped in a towel or even when they try to stand in the tub! They're upset about the bath so they don't seem to mind the nails, too. I try to kill two birds with one stone, if you know what I mean.