The reason most people give up trimming claws at home is the quick, the vein running down inside the nail that bleeds impressively and hurts, and which you generally only locate by cutting into it. Once that has happened the dog remembers, and so do you, and the next attempt is worse. A guard that limits how far the blade can travel takes the worst of that guesswork out of the job.

These are scissor-style rather than guillotine, which means you can see the nail and the blade at the same time and come in from whatever angle you want, whereas a guillotine hides the tip inside the mechanism. The handles are spring-loaded, so they reopen themselves between cuts and you are not fighting the tool while also holding onto a paw. A non-slip grip covers the part your hand is actually squeezing, which matters a great deal when the dog moves mid-cut.

• Scissor-style blades, so the nail stays visible as you cut
• Built-in safety guard limits how far the blade travels
• Spring-loaded handles reopen between cuts
• Non-slip grip on the handles
• Suits both dogs and cats
• Shipped tracked to the UK with our 30-day returns promise

On the guard, and what to keep nearby. A safety guard reduces the chance of over-cutting, but it does not remove it, and on dark nails where the quick is invisible it is no substitute for taking several small slices rather than one confident one. Keep styptic powder or cornflour in the same drawer as the clippers. If your pet already dreads nail trims, a grinder may be a kinder route than any clipper.

Who it's for: Owners doing claws at home who want a simple, controllable tool and a sensible margin for error.