Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:47 am Post subject: Nail clipping...clippers or grinder?
Bo's nails grow at an alarming rate and it's costing me a fortune to keep going to the doggy parlour. I cannot do them myself I have a complete phobia about doing them.
On the Cesar Milan prog last night he was using a nail grinder. I think I'd be happier using one of those. Does anyone use one? If so where do you get them?
I understand where you are coming from regarding the growth rate - my girls don't get walked on concrete very often so they don't have a chance to grind them down so if I don't cut them weekly they get ridiculously long. Someone once told me about using a Dremmel on nails but was my reaction and I must admit that the noise puts me off. I have no problem cutting nails and I cope just fine with doing Pheebs' because she lies on her back with her paws up turned for me to do them - she loves it
...but Ria it is a military operation to do hers - she WILL NOT sit/lie/stand still long enough for me to do ONE nail let alone 20 of the buggers!! Luckily I have a mate at ringcraft who is also a dog groom so she does them for me - I hold Ria and she hacks away - usually on the morning of a show that we're both at as she has gundogs as well
You can pick up a Dremmel for about £40 and of the people I know who use them say they are great. Personally I would rather take the tips off every few days myself - that way I know I can't over do it - there is still the risk of bleeding with a Dremmel if you catch their quick. If you take the tips off every few days the quick will shrink with the nail so over time, the chances of you catching the quick will reduce. My problem would be remembering to cut them every few days though
A lot of people use a Dremel with a sanding disk. (Have a look for them on ebay) The genuine Dremels are quite dear but the "Look alikes" are not bad and quite good enough for that job. But be careful, you can still grind the quick.
I tried the Dremel route - should have saved my money - mine all went into psycho mode the minute they saw / heard it - and wild horses wouldn't convince them otherwise
I tend to use the 'Poodle Parlour' - she only charges me 50p per foot - and comes out to the car so I don't even have to pay the car park fee
I tend to do them myself.....one dog whose an absolute woose when it comes to doing her nails to 4 absolute angels and lie on thier back with all 4 paws in the air.
After just looking at the dremel online ( I dont think I will go down that road Thank You)
Sue, I get charged either £5 or £6 here. If it was 50p I'd save my money and use the parlour My hand literally shakes if I have to try to clip them myself. Have found a grinder on diamond edge and I'm going to order it. Realistically you have to be as careful with it as the clippers so will bare that in mind, thank you John and Lucy.
Daylight robbery - I can get three of mine done for the same price - and that assumes they have nails need cutting on all their feet - my last visit cost me £2.50 for Clover and Solo
When you get it Sally, take plenty of time to de-sensitise him before you start using it. Leave it laying around where he can see and smell it. Pick it up, switch it on, turn it off and lay it down again. Generally mess about with it until he takes no notice at all. Maybe grind a match stick with it so it makes a bit of a noise.
When you come to use it note the direction of rotation. Imagine it touching the claw. Can you see how if it rotates one way it's trying to lift the claw off and the other it's pressing the claw down against the claw bed? Always try to use it pressing the claw into the bed as in this drawing.
Really pleased to see this topic come up as my mate who breeds and shows Norfolk Terriers is thinking of getting a Dremel as she has such problems cutting their nails. I used to do it for her but I don't always get the time to go round there just before a show when she needs them done and I must admit they are all real little b*****s.
I did say to her that I didn't think they would like the noise and as they don't keep still for manual cutting I'm not sure how she will get them to keep still for the Dremel either .
Luckily all of my dogs are as good as gold for nail clipping, but I will definitely tell her to find someone with a machine for a trial before she buys.
When you get it Sally, take plenty of time to de-sensitise him before you start using it. Leave it laying around where he can see and smell it. Pick it up, switch it on, turn it off and lay it down again. Generally mess about with it until he takes no notice at all. Maybe grind a match stick with it so it makes a bit of a noise.
When you come to use it note the direction of rotation. Imagine it touching the claw. Can you see how if it rotates one way it's trying to lift the claw off and the other it's pressing the claw down against the claw bed? Always try to use it pressing the claw into the bed as in this drawing.
Regards, John
Thank you so much for that info John. Bo is a very laid back dog and is completely relaxed about having his nails done luckily. He's not worried about noises either ie chases the hoover around,drills etc. I know thats no guarantee that he won't freak out over a nail grinder but I will do exactly as you have suggested. Thank you.
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was my reaction and I must admit that the noise puts me off. I have no problem cutting nails and I cope just fine with doing Pheebs' because she lies on her back with her paws up turned for me to do them - she loves it 
My hand literally shakes if I have to try to clip them myself. Have found a grinder on diamond edge and I'm going to order it. Realistically you have to be as careful with it as the clippers so will bare that in mind, thank you John and Lucy.
