pooing, nail cutting

Question
Hello. I was wondering if you could tell me how to cut my 2 month old female unspayed pug puppy's nails. they are black. also, i am trying to teach my puppy to pee and poo in a litter box (actually, it is just a cardboard box filled with newspaper). my puppy will pee and poo in the box but it sometimes will not. do you know why?

Answer
This is a good nail clipping tutorial: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/dog_nails.aspx and has good photos of the dark nails and what to look for as you clip, so that you won't "quick" your dog.

Your dog is just not trained well yet.  She isn't sure of the right toilet spot, but you can help her learn.  Litterbox training is virtually the same as regular house training, meaning that you take the dog (on leash, just as you would outdoors) to the litter box every half hour or so.  Point to the box and say "go potty" or "toilet" (you pick the phrase, just have it be the same each time).  Reward with a happy "good girl" and maybe even an occasional small tidbit as she does the right thing.  Never punish for accidents (that makes the dog afraid to eliminate in front of you), but you can gently say "eh-eh" and then lead her to the box.  Clean any mistakes with Petastic or other enzymatic cleaner, and do not give your pup free reign of the house yet.  Crate her when you can't watch her, or have her tethered to your waist with a "buddy leash".  House training takes time and energy, but well worth it.