My silkies don't scratch the dirt as much as the other breeds. Scratching wears down the nails to keep them in shape.
I trim the ones that get too long as it gets painful to walk on them.
Just take off a tiny bit at a time, every few days. It gives the quick a chance to recede so that there is no blood.
If you happen to get blood and do not have Quick Stop on hand, use a bar of soap. Just take the bar and bury the nail in it for a half-minute or so.
Only bar soap works, not liquid.