Nails: dremel vs clipper

[Babyblue5290]

I'm having some trouble getting Talon's nails done. I use a dremel, and with Art it is not a big deal; he doesn't love it, but he isn't super stressed out either. I'm able to do Art's nails with him laying in front of me super easily.

Talon on the other hand is extremely freaked out by the dremel. We took a step back and started just rewarding for relaxing near the dremel, then while the dremel was on, then me holding his paw, and we are at the point that I can touch it to his nail without him freaking out, but not at the point we can move to more grinding yet. The problem is it has been such slow progress with him that I almost feel it might be better just to clip them. His nails are getting so long in the processes, and I noticed one of them was cracked/split slightly. So now I'm worried by the time I can actually dremel all his nails down they will all be broken beforehand.

Problem is I haven't used clippers in a LONG time, I don't even own a pair honestly. So not sure were to start. I'm also worried the "click" sound will freak him out a bit, but I figure it will be easier to get over one click than the constant buzzing/vibrating of the dremel.

So, suggestions for clippers, favorite how to on nail clipping, suggestions in general are all welcome. Thanks!

 

[StompinT]

I will be watching this, since I am a nail clipping drop out.

 

[Southpaw]

Cajun HATES the dremel and won't stay still for it, but she's much better for the clipper. Still not great, but I can go much faster by just *clip clip clip* each nail real quick instead of having to hold the dremel to each one.

For the longest time I used this brand until it got dull. Worked fine for us
http://www.amazon.com/Safari-Professional-Trimmer-Small-Medium/dp/B0002RJM8C

I have no idea what brand I have now, I got it free at some sort of dog event so it's just black and has Hills Science Diet stamped on it lol. But whatever it is, it's working well too!

I have liver treats that Cajun LOVES but she only gets them for nail trimming time. I give her a couple treats after I have the trimmer in my hand but before I start cutting, a treat after each nail, and then a couple treats when we're all done. This works well for us.... for a dog that used to need sedation for nail trimming, I'm okay that she requires a ton of treats during the process still lol.

 

[BostonBanker]

I don't know if it will be easier, but with Meg, who won't easily tolerate the dremel, I often use human nail clippers. They are sharp, cut from both sides, and I just feel so much more in control of them and where they are cutting than with dog clippers.

They wouldn't work on really thick nails, but might be worth a try.

 

[k9krazee]

Ugh. Nails...my nemesis.

Pox, at 8 weeks old, would FREAK when I tried to clip his nails (and I did quick him the first time which only made it 10x worse). I tried having him lick peanut butter or a raw bone while Ken held him and as soon as he saw the clippers, he'd flip out. I finally took him to the vet and had them hold him down and clip them because they were getting so long and I was tired of being the bad guy wrestling with him.

Then I ordered a dremel and it's been a world of difference. Now I sit Pox on my lap on the couch (hold him under one arm usually) and put a pile of yummy treats on the table in front of us. I do have to use some squeezing pressure to hold him still sometimes, but he sits pretty patiently. I was giving him a treat after every nail or while he was the calmest, and now give him a piece of treat after each foot. The only other desensitizing that I did was teach him to shake and let me hold his paws. I am now constantly having other people in our classes handle his feet so he learns it's not a big deal.

The dremel that I got was really cheap (I think it's furminator brand) and relatively quiet. I can even use it on Crossbone who would panic at the dremel before. Crossbone was pretty squirmy and bad with nail trimmings when I first got him and I learned that if I stood him up on a high table he would stand nicely until I was finished. He didn't like being held or being on the floor.

I think there's a point in the desensitizing process where the dog has to learn that they don't really have a choice. They need to stand still and deal with it for 2 minutes and realize that no, you're not going to die. Tough love. I don't think every dog is capable of learning to love and relax around clippers or a dremel but you just need to find a way that works for that dog and makes it tolerable.

 

[Babyblue5290]

Cajun HATES the dremel and won't stay still for it, but she's much better for the clipper. Still not great, but I can go much faster by just *clip clip clip* each nail real quick instead of having to hold the dremel to each one.

For the longest time I used this brand until it got dull. Worked fine for us
http://www.amazon.com/Safari-Professional-Trimmer-Small-Medium/dp/B0002RJM8C

I have no idea what brand I have now, I got it free at some sort of dog event so it's just black and has Hills Science Diet stamped on it lol. But whatever it is, it's working well too!

I have liver treats that Cajun LOVES but she only gets them for nail trimming time. I give her a couple treats after I have the trimmer in my hand but before I start cutting, a treat after each nail, and then a couple treats when we're all done. This works well for us.... for a dog that used to need sedation for nail trimming, I'm okay that she requires a ton of treats during the process still lol.

We are currently using steak pieces cut up into small cubes for his treat. That's pretty much what we are doing with the dremel now. I treat, then hold his paw (he willingly gives it to me now) and put the dremel like close to his nail without touching, then release and treat, then over and over again with a few times touching the nail. He's definitely making progress, it's just so slow. I think it might just be easier for him and me to do a clipper :/ Heck, he use to be so stressed by it he wouldn't even let you touch his feet, he'd pull back the second you made any contact so this is improvement lol

It doesn't help I've never been the best at keeping up on their nails. I clipped Talon's fur around his feet, which is what made me realize how much his nails have grown. Art's are easier to see because he has smooth hair.

Is the scissor style clipper better than the guillotine style? Forgive me, stupid questions, but it been so long... you clip from the sides right? So pushing the sides in rather than pushing top and bottom in?

I don't know if it will be easier, but with Meg, who won't easily tolerate the dremel, I often use human nail clippers. They are sharp, cut from both sides, and I just feel so much more in control of them and where they are cutting than with dog clippers.

They wouldn't work on really thick nails, but might be worth a try.

As in regular nail clippers? I can try it, that might work for the dew claws but I think Talon's nails are too thick for his other nails. Definitely worth a try at least so I can get them a bit shorter ! thanks

 

[Babyblue5290]

Ugh. Nails...my nemesis.

Pox, at 8 weeks old, would FREAK when I tried to clip his nails (and I did quick him the first time which only made it 10x worse). I tried having him lick peanut butter or a raw bone while Ken held him and as soon as he saw the clippers, he'd flip out. I finally took him to the vet and had them hold him down and clip them because they were getting so long and I was tired of being the bad guy wrestling with him.

Then I ordered a dremel and it's been a world of difference. Now I sit Pox on my lap on the couch (hold him under one arm usually) and put a pile of yummy treats on the table in front of us. I do have to use some squeezing pressure to hold him still sometimes, but he sits pretty patiently. I was giving him a treat after every nail or while he was the calmest, and now give him a piece of treat after each foot. The only other desensitizing that I did was teach him to shake and let me hold his paws. I am now constantly having other people in our classes handle his feet so he learns it's not a big deal.

The dremel that I got was really cheap (I think it's furminator brand) and relatively quiet. I can even use it on Crossbone who would panic at the dremel before. Crossbone was pretty squirmy and bad with nail trimmings when I first got him and I learned that if I stood him up on a high table he would stand nicely until I was finished. He didn't like being held or being on the floor.

I think there's a point in the desensitizing process where the dog has to learn that they don't really have a choice. They need to stand still and deal with it for 2 minutes and realize that no, you're not going to die. Tough love. I don't think every dog is capable of learning to love and relax around clippers or a dremel but you just need to find a way that works for that dog and makes it tolerable.

Art was pretty much the same way, it got to a point where he just learned he had to do it, so he's given up the struggle and deals with it. However, he's never been as freaked out by the dremel as Talon is.

He'll deal with everything up to the point of the dremel touching a nail now. However, I don't think he's at the point of "tough love" on the dremel right now. To be 100% honest, he is so freaked out by the touch of it that I think if I went with tough love he'd end up screaming, hurting himself trying to pull away, or possibly biting or attempting to bite. So that's not really the approach I want to take right now. I do however think a nail clipper we can get away with. It's a quick *clip* and over for each nail. I'm pretty sure that won't scare him nearly as much.

I figure if we do the clippers to get them down a bit, we might try to continue with the dremel without worrying about his nails getting too long in the meantime.

 

[BostonBanker]

As in regular nail clippers?

Yup, I just went to CVS and bought the biggest pair I could find (after having used my own smaller ones on Gusto as a puppy and loving them). Meg's nails are pretty much the length I want them, so it is just me clipping off the tip each time. The clippers sadly wouldn't open wide enough to get into the real meat of the toenail (which is nice for knowing you can't mess up and get the quick, at least).

I do still work with her a bit with the dremel whenever I do Gusto, but she's basically at the point where I can touch one nail with them on, give her a cookie, and we are done for the day. I could never keep them short using it at this point, and it isn't worth the fight for me.

 

[Maxy24]

I LOVE dremeling, I do it at work all the time and it's just so much better than clipping. They're smooth, they're really short with the quicks exposed, and I very rarely quick anyone. But I cannot dremel Tucker and don't think I'll ever be able to. Every once in a while I decide I'm just gonna hold him down and do it and then he tries to violently attack the dremel. So no, we clip and he's good. He's just never going to have super short nails. His nails are black and I'm terrified of hitting the quick and when you clip you can't really see it coming like you can with the dremel. So I opt for a little long to be sure I never quick him.


He used to be impossible to clip too. I spent months trying to counter condition him to the clippers. Pick up a foot, treat, move clipper toward the toe, treat, etc. It didn't work. As soon as I clipped one he'd completely freak and I'd have to start all over for the next toe. I was starting to think it genuinely hurt (which is why I tried a dremel for the first time). But then I read about someone putting their dog up on a table and smearing peanut butter in front of them. I decided to give that a try. Tucker doesn't like PB so I squish cheese onto the table for him to lick. First time I did that and I could clip all his nails. It was like magic. I think watching me clip his nails freaked him out more than anything, so keep him distracted works wonders.


As for types of clippers, I like plier style NOT guillotine style. They cut from both sides which I think means you can use less pressure. I also just think they're easier to maneuver.

 

[Babyblue5290]

So I found a pair of clippers that looked really well built on clearance while I was out so I just got them. I must say, though I much prefer the look of deleted balls, clipping talons masks is a million times better with clippers! He let me do all of his nails without so much as pulling back! .yay

Still going to work with the Rendell, but at least I can start to beat back the quick a bit

 

[Romy]

So I found a pair of clippers that looked really well built on clearance while I was out so I just got them. I must say, though I much prefer the look of deleted balls, clipping talons masks is a million times better with clippers! He let me do all of his nails without so much as pulling back! .yay

Still going to work with the Rendell, but at least I can start to beat back the quick a bit

deleted balls?

 

[Babyblue5290]

:rofl1: :rofl1: :yikes: :rofl1:

Oops. That was my phone stupid auto correct. I meant dremeled nails. I like the look of dremeled nails better. Lol

 

[Elrohwen]

I haven't tried a dremel. I can't decide if Watson would freak out or not, and I'm worried about it making a mess and getting nail dust all over my kitchen. Some day I will try it!

Here's what I do for clipping. I put Watson on the grooming table, because he's pretty good up there. Just knowing that he can't run away calms him down a bit. I used to do it on the couch and he was always running away and trying to play "can't catch me" games.

So I put him on the table, and then I have been luck if I hold out my hand and ask for one of his paws, vs just grabbing them. Then I set the paw down and give a treat. Then I pick it up and just touch the clippers to the nail and squeeze the handle without cutting anything, then paw down and treat. Then I pick the paw up again and cut one nail, paw down and treat. I usually treat every nail for the front paws, then by the back paws he doesn't care that much and I just treat once per paw.

Watson does much better if he feels like he's in control of the situation and I move slowly. If he pulls away too much I will let go, but then gently insist he give me his paw again. Holding onto the paw until he stops struggling just makes him panic. I tried taking him to PetSmart and the woman was gentle but firm and did not let go of his paws when he struggled, and he was screaming before she even clipped his nails. Now I can barely get him to walk into the pet store at all because he was so traumatized by the very non-traumatic nail clipping experience.

The clippers I use are guillotine style made by Master Grooming Tools. I find them to be sharper and easier to use than the scissor style ones I bought from the pet store originally.