If you are still uncertain about how far to cut, clip the nail in several, small cuts instead of making one large cut. Once your pet has been kicked (had a nail cut so short that it bleeds) it will be very difficult to convince him or her to sit down for a nail trim in the future. You should cut your pets nails every three weeks hope this helped some.

 Not too close to the quick or you will cause pain and an animal will bleed badly if its cut too short, it can be dangerous to cut the quick in an animals nail because it does not clot well and they can bleed to death. Just use a nail clipper and take off the sharp point.