My girl hates it, really kicks up a stink when I try and clip her nails.. It's got to the point that I don't want to upset her any further and doing it on my own is a huge struggle..

Is there any other way to keep her nails short?

dremmell. I wouldn't use anything else now

Yup - I have had the same issue with my bitch.  I have now switched over to a Dremel.  There's a really good article/link I think somewhere here about how to do it - and also how to introduce it.  It's early days but my girl is tolerating it a lot better than the nail clippers.  In addition - longer term my plan is to use it to help the quick shrink back without any pain or blood!!  Apparently you dremel away the nail around the quick - leaving a bit of nail - but not much.  As this wears, the quick shrinks.  At least that's what I hope.

Just any dremel? That looks like sandpaper on an electric whirrer?

There is a product from JML which can be bought quite cheaply of eBay. It is called Pedi paws. It sands down the dogs claw collecting the dust as it goes. It has a small groove which the claw goes into and a rotating circular sandpaper grinds it down to the desired length.I use it on my labrador and i find it so much better than clippers. Hope this helps.

That looks good Katalina, will buy one of those and see being that they are a lot cheaper than the Dremel..

Yes, the regular workman's dremel. :-)

I bought a Pedipaws from Amazon for 1p (bargain!) and the slower speed and less power has got my pup used to the idea, and now I can use the proper dremel without problems. The Pedipaws took much, much longer to do each nail, but it was a great way of acclimatising her (without using the Pedipaws recommended method of pinning the dog to the floor to let you do it).

Here's a really good link explaining how to do it:  http://homepages.udayton.edu/~jmerenski1/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

Thanks for that ginjaninja, that's a really good link.

Thanks JG.. I've ordered a Pedipaws and we'll see how we get on with that. If she is fine then i'll consider paying out for a Dremel..

Good plan. :-) The Pedipaws is so cheap that you can't lose.

I bought a Pedipaws when they first came out, even bought a battery charger for the rechargeable batteries as the normal ones didn't last that long.  There's not much power in the pedipaws and we only have small dogs! Certainly would be no good for the Boxer! but he takes his down himself playing so not needed for him. Put up with the Pedipaws for a while then bought a Dremel, it's fantastic, took a few goes to get them used to it but now what used to be a "2 man fight" I can now do myself. Worth every penny.

> dremmell. I wouldn't use anything else now

Same here...can do 5 of mine in a fraction of the time used to take using a file...it's a doddle...

> I've ordered a Pedipaws

Nooooo. I found the pedipaws absolutely useless, it stopped spinning the second it touched a nail. Can't go wrong with a proper dremel :-)

My Rottie wasn't a fan either but he tolerated the hard skin file (like a big emery board) from the Body Shop.

> My Rottie wasn't a fan either but he tolerated the hard skin file (like a big emery board) from the Body Shop.

You replied to my post

I havent used a file for well over 3 years...I use a Dremmel & dare anyone try to take off me!!!

just adding on the end

i had the same problem with nail clippers
so got a wahl pet nail grinder from argos it was 29:99 and she is alot better with this.

Had the same problem with the pedi-paw stopped spinning when put on nail

hth

Nessa

WS, if this doesn't work i'll bring to yours to help me with a nail file, pmsl!!! 

We need a catch up anyways x

Is the Dremel 200 ok or do I need something like the 300 or 400?  Just been looking at them, just in case and the cost of them.. the 200 is reasonable in price if they work.

Another thumbs down for the pedipaws here too - hopelessly underpowered :-(

I too have been pondering a Dremel for some time now - and am not sure which to go for.  Also found this one (not a Dremel)

http://www.groomers-online.com/product.php/1315/pro-nail-grinder-and-polisher

has anyone any experience of these?  Thanks

Mine is the Dremmel 300 but I cant see any reason why 200 wouldnt do the same job...
They do seem expensive but it will be the best money you spend, particularly if you have lots of dogs to do, as it will same time & effort in the long run & as they say time is money...lol

Ours is a Dremel Model 800 10.8v, it's cordless, love it. I do the Frenchies one after the other with it, never had a prob, lots of power. Worth every penny.

I use a wood file on my Dobe's nails. A wide one is best so there is less chance of missing if they are fidgety. I have a Dremel but the noise spooks some of my dogs, and as it takes a while on their thick, strong, nails, it can get a bit hot.
Clippers are okay for a Dobe that is not in the show ring, just to take the point off and keep them comfortable, but most Dobe nails are the same width to the ends, with the quick right to the tip. To get them to a nice length for show, as they grow so quickly, I have to file them every other day just a little bit.
I am interested in the suggestion about filing round the edges with the Dremel to make the quick recede. Might try that. 

> I too have been pondering a Dremel for some time now - and am not sure which to go for.  Also found this one (not a Dremel)
>
> [url=http://www.groomers-online.com/product.php/1315/pro-nail-grinder-and-polisher" rel=nofollow]http://www.groomers-online.com/product.php/1315/pro-nail-grinder-and-polisher[/url]
>
> has anyone any experience of these?  Thanks

This is the one I have, and I'm very happy with it :)

Thanks for letting me know, Silver :-)  I've been dithering for ages!

I have been pondering getting a Dremel for a while, after reading this thread (and the link on how to do it) I took the plunge last week!! So glad I did, the dogs are fast getting used to it and it really is very easy to use. I bought one for £49.99 from Argos, 300 I think and it easily copes with my Pointers claws! It is great on black claws as I've always been so scared about cutting them too short.

My only problem is now I keep catching my husband using my Dremel for other stuff!!! Naughty man!!

My Dremel was my Christmas pressie - very useful, I use it for allsorts of things as well as dog nails.  Just reporting back on progress.  I spent a lot of time accustoming her to the Dremel as she was already a bit shy of nail clipping.  Then I just started taking a little off each nail - but possibly because she is raw fed, her nails grow fast & I think I was barely keeping up.  So have now switched to just working on 2 nails.  I am going to get them to the right size/shape and then start on the others.  So far I am really pleased w/ the 2 I have been working on.

My top tip with a big dog is to hold the actual nail itself - it makes it easier to work with and significantly reduces the vibration.  Wish I had used this ages ago - ideally from when I first had her.

tilly lola
:)