Grinding Nails

That's all I use on Teenie's nails, because they're too black and I get them too short every single time (I clip toenails every day, and I can't get hers right... it's bad!). I have a $20 cordless Dremel from Walmart. Absolutely perfect for the job. 

Dremel's are great, and I love how the dog's nail's look when they are done.  

Ditto on the Dremel. Does a good job and keeps nails from being "fresh-cut sharp".

I use dremels on all of my own dogs and my handling and grooming client dogs. You can get the nail shorter, faster. I deal with a lot of dogs that are foot shy because they either have had a bad experience with a nail trimming or they had not had their feet touched much as a young dog. I keep a good supply of sand paper bits on hand as I go through them quickly. Just be patient on the first grinding job. Some dogs do not like the noise of the tool. Others don't like the vibration they get through the nail and foot. It can be hard on older dogs to deal with the vibration if they have joint problems with their feet. When I start a new dog on grinding, I only do one foot and then let them run around. Gets them used to it slowly and less stress involved. Once you start grinding, you'll never go back to traditional nail trimmers. Best of luck.

All right, thanks. I will get the dremel. I was actually considering this 50 dollar one ny oster at petsmart. Thanks.

I think the one you're talking about has a cord. The cordless rechargable dremel is much easier to use.
 
There are a bunch of different dremels. You want one that is approx 5000 to 6500 RPM.  About $35.

I got the cheapest Dremel Walmart had.  I think it was around $20.  It is rechargable.  The thing I really like about it is that it is not very powerful, so if you happen to snag hair, it will just stop instead of yanking hair out.  I suspect a more expensive and powerful one might not behave that way.

What the heck, I just went to two walmarts, and they didn't have it. And my mom is flat out afraid of it. anything I can do to convince her its better than regular nail clippers? and why doesn't walmart have them?

and my mom is flat out afraid of it. anything I can do to convince her its better than regular nail clippers? and why doesn't walmart have them?

Here is a fantastic website on dremmeling your dogs nails (includes some helpful pictures)...take a peek...this might help you with your mom![]

http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

and why doesn't walmart have them?

Where were you looking? They're in the tools section near the car parts and screwdrivers. They're not in the pet section or the nail polish section (which are the first places I looked[]).

ORIGINAL: jjsmom06

and my mom is flat out afraid of it. anything I can do to convince her its better than regular nail clippers? and why doesn't walmart have them?

Here is a fantastic website on dremmeling your dogs nails (includes some helpful pictures)...take a peek...this might help you with your mom![]

[linkhttp://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html]http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html[/link]

 
Thats a pretty good site, thanks, but I doubt my mom would read that entire thing.

IF you were looking in the tools (literally it's near the sandpaper and wood-crafting supplies) you'll see they have every accessory, and gizmo any woodcrafter could dream about (all with the Dremel name and logo) and they come in about 10 different sizes and prices.  You just want the little cheap one.
 
If you were in the right spot then the reason they didn't have them is because they are one of the greatest "Let's get Dad one for Christmas" gifts on the planet!  But you aren't going to find them in the pet section.
 
Your mother probably doesn't like the computer or other electric gadgets??   The biggest thing is you have to charge it up first, and then do a bit of training with the dog to get them to accept the vibration of it.  You just firmly grasp the paw in your non-dominant hand pulling the hair/fur back away from the one nail you are holding between your thumb and first finger. 
 
USE TREATS -- treat them the first time you even let them look at it.  Let them get the idea that every single time they are near that Dremel that you are going to make it worth their while!!  You can wean off the treats later ... but that creates a better atmosphere.
 
sooooooo why don't YOU dremel their nails?  don't try for every nail the first time -- in fact, I usually don't even DO a nail the first time with a new dog.  I turn it on, on successive days letting them sniff it, then holding it in my hand while it's on and just resting my hand on their paws so they can 'feel' the vibration, etc.
 
You gradually work up to touching the Dremel to their naill.  PRACTICE with it -- literally use it to grind/shapen a pencil FIRST and give yourself some time to get used to handling it. 
 
but the biggest advantage to it is control -- with the regular nail 'clippers' if the dog pulls or if you put it on the wrong place on the nail you will make them jump and hurt them when you clip.  If they bleed it DOES hurt and then a dog can get really resistant to getting it's nails done.
 
The Dremel does it a little at a time.  No bleeding, no quicking the nail.  The dogs also won't be snagging people's clothes with ragged, sharp nails.
 
You may have more patience to train the dogs to the Dremel.  it DOES take training. 

ORIGINAL: calliecritturs

Your mother probably doesn't like the computer or other electric gadgets??  

 
Hehe, thats funny. how would I be posting? She just thinks of it the same way some people think about the prong collars. Same idea. Anyway, I do understand that you have to gradually get them used to it.

I found it today. Was thinking about getting multi pro cordless, but it looked like it was used/returned. Anyway, so I got the 20 dollar one. Its charging now.