Nail Trim YIKES~

I think the one I bought came with a couple of the sanding bands, and they also had a package of spares so I bought that too, but this was several years ago. The last time I was at Walmart they didn't have my little Dremel, and no accessories for it either. If you can't find the sanding bands locally, just search amazon.com - they've got EVERYTHING!

 Well shoot, I'm ticked now.  I went to Home Depot and got the sanding drum and extra bands of various grits and got home to discover THEY DON'T FIT!!!  The hole for the bits to go into the  MiniMite is teeny tiny and in the owner's manual it only shows a few accessories.    I did notice that my Home Depot had the Dremel 100 for only $29 so now I get to try to return the MiniMite to Walmart and get the other Dremel instead.  What a pain!

Jumping in late - clicker train!  

There are seperate components to this issue.

1.  The first one I would tackle is the laying still.  He doesn't like to be held down, so I would work first of all on frequent gentle handling and restraint.  Make it positive and brief initially and work up.  All dogs need to be OK accepting this - you need to crack this NOW while he's "little" (ha ha) because otherwise it won't JUST be a nail issue!  Having said that though, it's better if he can learn to co-operate with minimal restraint.  This, I think, is kinder and less stressful for the animal.  So...

2.  I'd also (and this part is key) shape the behaviour of lying very still and work on that till I could put my hands on him, touch him briefly all over (ears, tails... feet!) and he still wouldn't move.  A fun way to do this is to teach "play dead".  I use a cue ("Bang!";) and 2 pointed fingers (like a gun) and the dog drops, rolls on to his side or back and freezes.  I usually sit on the floor with the dog on his back between my knees, his paws in the air and I clip their nails like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgEwiH8CeUE

I bought my Dremel Mini Mite at Walmart in the tool section. It came with several different accessory tools, including the 1/4" sanding drum mandrel. It also came with both the 120 and 60 grit sanding bands [extra fine (240 grit), fine (120 grit) or coarse (60 grit)]. When I went through the ones that came with it, I went to Lowes and ordered a box of them. They come 6 bands to a package, and the smallest available special order was 5 packages - more than enough to last me! Wasn't very expensive either, less than $12 I believe for 30 bands.

But you will need to make sure that you pay attention to the manual that comes with the Mini Mite. The one Walmart carries was packaged and marketed especially for them, so some of the standard Dremel mandrels, batteries, etc. won't fit. You have to be sure when ordering a spare battery that you get the correct shaped one (one is square, the other is egg shaped - I had to order my spare direct from Dremel - a real pain in the tush). If you don't want to deal with this problem, then look for the Mini Mite somewhere else. It is all the same thing, but they have to be just enough different to be a pain in the backside.

Amazon.com has this one - which is the same one I have, just shouldn't have any parts problems with it. Ace hardware stores also carry it. Lowes, Home Depot, (and Amazon and Ace) carry the Multipro that is a 7.2v vs a 4.8v. Of course, Amazon has the cheapest price of all. :) Dremel's website has the info on all the accessories.

Keela lays on her back in my lap when I dremel her nails. Most times she falls asleep. Jezzy on the other hand, is a diva and I don't care how much treating I have done with her - she carries on like I am killing her. She stays on her back, but she is a wiggle worm more times than not. We still get it done, and I definitely like their nails dremeled over clipped! 

HUH???   Now theres a dremel golf kit??????

Gee,,,we are golfers..maybe I can talk my DH into buying it and I can buy the parts needed!! 

 They must've changed the design or something.  The MiniMite I got takes 4 AA batteries and only comes with 2 wire brushes.  I'm giving up on it and getting the regular Dremel I saw at Home Depot.  I saw a grout grinding attachment that I want to use on my showers and for the same money I'll get a more multi-purpose tool. 

ETA: Aha, I see the difference now.  The one I got from WalMart was a 760, maybe that's the difference.  Geez, you'd think they'd just make one size bit attachment, then you could use any attachment you want to! 

 BCMixs I have the cordless rechargeable minimite and it takes normal size bits etc.  I really wanted the cordless aspect so I could do them anywhere.

Dyan I wouldn't buy a specialized one - this one is really great if you want to go cordless

Kpwlee, I think that's the newer version of the one I have. Mine uses the square battery rather than the egg shaped one like yours. At some point I'll probably have to buy a new once because I won't be able to get replacement batteries for mine since it's not being sold anymore. You can only recharge those batteries so many times before they start not holding the charge as long. Amazon had them recently, but once they sell out they'll be gone forever.

jeez!  i can't, nor do i want to imagine the horror with trying to clip a dane's nails!  i have enough issues with coco and she's only 14lbs!

i find that with the family trying to clip her nails, she is such a baby, doing everything you describe, plus even crying before you actually even TOUCH her nails!  With strangers at the vet/groomers though, she merely hides her face in their arm pits... lol

I said enough though, because i was tired of paying $10 every two weeks just to trim her nails, so my father, who she listens to VERY well, held her and talked to her, while I quickly clipped away.  Black nails, so I only do a little at a time and have yet to quick her! knock on wood!

Food doesn't motivate her so no go there, and the dremel?  Well, I clip much faster with a squirming dog then attempting to dremel...

I also bought the minimite from amazon....watch their prices (put the item in your cart and if the item goes up or down whenever you sign on, it automatically tells you), i got mine for ~$15, plus two extra pieces.  (they also do price adjustment... their policy is 30 days, but ive had them price adjust months beyond that!  i <3 amazon!)

I got a dremel from the home improvement store, one that came with lots of attachments. I regularly use one of the stones to sharpen the lawnmower blade, I have cut off bolts that were froze, cut PVC when I could not find the hack saw, sanded down the side of a drawer that was sticking, shortened some bolts that were too long, sharpened a pocket knife, and I'm sure there are other things that I just can't remember.

So I highly recommend getting the full kit.

   Ok first, I'm an idiot.  But then, I've never been good with power tools.  Once I got the 100 model which comes with the little wrench thing, I realized there wasn't one with the minimite and that's why I couldn't open it up to put in the sanding drum.  Once I used the wrench, I was able to put the sanding drum into the minimite and it worked like a charm!  The 100 only has one speed and it was way too loud, scared me and Woobie.  I liked the low setting on the minimite to start them out.  Woobie took to that immediately, especially with the motivation of some Pet Botanical training treats which he enjoyed quite a bit!  (Hope they don't upset anybody's stomach tonight and give me an unpleasant surprise!)  Indie was more hesitant but I was able to grind most of his front nails and a two back nails.  Much faster progress than I was anticipating.  And much better results than clipping!  Nice and smooth!  I'm a believer now!

(And I'll keep the 100 to grind the shower grout!)
 

I have found that most dogs have their biggest problem with being held down, and the rest of them get a little loopy when you get on the floor with them....* you wanna PLAY?!?!?* and some have both problems which can make life...interesting...for those of us who cut our dogs nails ourselves. My Golden will flop right over and let me cut them or dremel them or medicate him, or anything else I want as long as I am touching him. Yup, he's a total velcro dog when he's not working

My Pyr...well that's a totally different story! He made it VERY apparent very early on that he would not tolerate this type of behavior from his humans. To which his humans replied.....oh yes...you most certainly will! Pyr's are notoriously difficult for nail trimming, and although when he was young we were able to force him, I did not at all like the stress and distrust this practice could bring. So I tried a different approach. I would lay on the floor in my living room with him every night for an hour while watching TV. He would lie next to me and pass out. I started gradually touching him more and more while he was lying next to me. He enjoyed being petted and learned to be calm, because that's the ONLY way I would pet him while lying there with him. (Yes, many times I had to cover my head to protect from giant puppy pounces). I did not use treats as they excite him too much and I wanted him relaxed. Within a week I was bringing the clippers with me and just laying them near him. Gradually moving them closer to his feet. Then hubby started breaking sticks in them a few times a night (for some dogs that 'crunch' sound is as upsetting as being held down). By the end of three weeks I could cut his nails at will, anytime I want, and he has NO reaction at all. He does not have to be restrained, he does not need to be held in any way and I can do them 100% by myself. When I tell most people I can do that with a Pyr, they don't believe me....LOL!

We're now working on desensitizing to the Dremel (I HATE clippers). He doesn't mind the sound but the vibrations freak him out a bit Hope this helps???

SirDrakeOfTheCreek

By the end of three weeks I could cut his nails at will, anytime I want, and he has NO reaction at all. He does not have to be restrained, he does not need to be held in any way and I can do them 100% by myself. When I tell most people I can do that with a Pyr, they don't believe me....LOL!

WOW!!!  Unbelievable....really!

Are you saying though...that you would not pet him EXCEPT that hour when you guys were laying on the floor every night?

Gibson would die if I didn't pay attention to him...I end up holding him on my lap ( while I still can ) for a little while every day.....

dyan

SirDrakeOfTheCreek

By the end of three weeks I could cut his nails at will, anytime I want, and he has NO reaction at all. He does not have to be restrained, he does not need to be held in any way and I can do them 100% by myself. When I tell most people I can do that with a Pyr, they don't believe me....LOL!

 

 

WOW!!!  Unbelievable....really!

Are you saying though...that you would not pet him EXCEPT that hour when you guys were laying on the floor every night?

Gibson would die if I didn't pay attention to him...I end up holding him on my lap ( while I still can ) for a little while every day.....

LOL, yes really!

Goodness no! I couldn't go all day without petting my babies!!!! But when I was lying on the floor with him during that hour everynight he wouldn't be pet unless he laid down and was calm. This way he learned 2 things 1) It's okay for mommy to play with my feet when I'm on the floor 2) When mommy lays on the floor I lay next to her, like a good boy....I do not pounce on head, I do not pounce on head, I do not pounce on head......

SirDrakeOfTheCreek

..I do not pounce on head, I do not pounce on head, I do not pounce on head......

Can your lovely Pyr (I adore any and all breeds of LGD by the way) come and teach my lab this?  LOL!

I've just ordered a dremel for Ben....I give up on the clippers.  I've spent 2 years trying to desensitise him to them and he still just HATES it.  I can touch and play his feet no problem, he will touch the clippers with his nose, he'll lie down and be still but the moment I put clipper to nail it's freak-out time.  Also, of course, he's black and so his nails are, which means I am still after all this time terrified of quicking him.  Maybe that's what makes him so nervous?  The fact that I am?

I ordered the Multi Pro because I wanted to be sure that it will be powerful enough.....not just for Ben but for the future Maremma....let another round of desensitisation begin!  *mental note:  go out and buy great treats*