Grinders vs. Clippers: What's Best for your Dog's Nails?

While many people seek out a veterinarian or a dog groomer for their dogs' nail grooming, pandemic restrictions have limited the availability of this option. This makes it all the more important to learn how to cut your dog's nails yourself (and make it a habit).

Maybe it's the tell-tale click when your dog drives the kitchen floor. Or the unmistakable and often painful arithmetic feeling when she pops up to greet you. Or maybe it is when you lounge around on the couch together and find that your dog's nails have grown so long that you're not sure whether to trim them or see what they would look like if you saw a sizzling shadow of one Fire trucks would paint red!

Whatever causes you to notice your dog's nails need attention, good for you. Nail care is important and is often overlooked by owners who are either not sure how to do it, are afraid of cutting their nails, or cannot get their dogs to follow the program. If this describes She, We can show you the easiest way to do it and how to get your dog not only to work together but also to volunteer for a trim.

BARRIERS

The advantages of DYI nail trims

T.Here are many DIY Doi-Pedis benefits, especially if you take the time to train your dog to work together during the procedure by slowly and carefully desensitizing and counter-conditioning first. (See “A Counter-Conditioning Protocol for Trimming Nails” on page 5.) Some of the DYI benefits include:

• • Iimproved health. Walking on long nails can affect the dog's movement and potentially contribute to the development of orthopedic problems like arthritis later in life.

• • D.increased stress. Teaching your dog to calmly tolerate a nail cut will help you avoid stress and possibly fear-based aggression.

• • Iincreased security. The dog is less likely to be injured from active resistance or panic threshing, and you (or your veterinarian or groomer) are less likely to get a bite.

• • B.ody awareness. The time you spend cutting your nails is also the perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with your dog's physical topography. Getting your hands on your dog regularly - beyond basic petting - can quickly identify changes that may indicate health problems.

• • F.financial benefits. The cost of professional nail cutting add up over time!

There are two ways to trim nails: cutting with a guillotine or scissors cutter, and sanding with a rotary tool such as a Dremel or similar product specifically designed for sanding dog nails.

Between the two methods, many snow groomers (and I) prefer to use a rotating nail grinding tool, although many dogs need to be desensitized to the sound and the feeling of vibration. The biggest advantage of using a nail grinder over hair clippers is that if you cut too much, hair clippers make you “quick” - either because you misjudged how much to cut or because the dog wobbled when you squeezed the handle The nail accidentally. (The quickening of a nail occurs when you cut into the blood supply to the nail. This can be painful and traumatic for both the dog and the person because of the screaming and reflexive effects that dog-induced pain creates be the nails.)

In contrast, sharpening the nail requires high-speed filing, gradually but rapidly grinding the excess growth as long as the tool is in contact with the nail. You can get a nail "quick" by going short with a grinder as well, but in our experience you have to work harder to do this.

The other advantage of grinding over cutting is that high-speed filing makes it easier to round the tip of the nail, while cutting often leaves sharp edges. If your dog has a tendency to ask people for attention, it can be problematic until the nails naturally wear off to a rounder shape.

We have published a number of articles about in the past Cutout a dog's nails; The following is all about using a grinder instead.

POSITIONED FOR SUCCESS

Writer / trainer Stephanie Colman taught her Golden Retriever Saber to relax on her back between her outstretched legs.