Our dog hates to have her nails trimmed, I did it once or twice. She bled quite a bit once and has never forgotten it. I have to muzzle her to do the job and so does the Vet. Ironically the groomer at the kennel we use can do it without a muzzle but it's hard to work in appts. to fit their schedule and mine and traffic (they're not right up the street). Besides, our dog shakes like crazy in the car thinking she's staying at the kennel.

Just wondered if anyone has used one of these hand held, battery operated nail grinders before. And if they're loud/scary for a dog. Or quick, silent and very easy to use.

Target has one for £20 advertised in the Sunday flyer.

Thanks.

I've got a mains powered one that I use on puppies' nails. The battery operated one I tried was useless. The adult dogs won't let me near them with it, it's not quiet and they don't like the vibration either.

I have heard good things about them, but obvioulsy you will need to condition the dog to it (as you would to trim it's nails, ride in the car etc).
I'm lucky that I've never had to trim my dogs nails (other than the occasional dew claw), so just out of interest, what surface does your dog do most of it's excercise on?

I have used a corded Dremel for at least 6 years & wouldn't be without it..worth every penny I paid for it....I would not want to use the ones with the guard, they look difficult to me.

I tried without success to use a dremel, just had to touch the nail and he'd go berserk one the was after months of desensitising, so now resort to hand filing with acrylic nail files (grit size appropriate for dogs nails).  They will tolerate hand filing far more than clipping or dremelling.  You get a nice finish.   Helps to soak the feet in warm water for a few minutes to soften the nails for filing.

I use a Dremel after using clippers for years.  It takes a bit of extra work to get the dog used to the noise at first but once you've over that hurdle, I think they are much happier and also I am much happier - because I know I won't accidentally cut the quick.  The Dremel is more gradually sanding it down, so there is no risk of quicking the dog.  Plus I think most clippers compress the nail momentarily as you cut and that is uncomfortable for many dogs and why they hate clippers.  The Dremel doesn't do that.

I use a Lickimat thing and smear soft cheese spread on it and put that on the floor.  The dog is licking the Lickimat whilst I pick up a paw and Dremel.  I only do one paw each session because otherwise I think it's a bit much for the dog. 

I would recommend not wasting time or money on so-called 'dog nail grinders' which I never found powerful enough to do anything whatsoever(!) and instead just purchase a cordless Dremel and use the sandpaper attachment on the low setting. 

You need to work through:  Running the Dremel and just holding it in your hand whilst training the dog to do other stuff (sit or down etc).  Do that for several sessions till dog is ok with noise.  Handling dog all over whilst holding dremel.  SPLIT SECOND holding Dremel to nail at first -don't try to hold it there.  And so on. 

People run into problems when they try to go too far, too fast with it and instead just sensitise the dog to it.

Before the Dremel I used a huge file(with a not so nice name) usd for metalwork/woodwork...As I show, I want to get close & have a good finish (no snaggy bits). I hate using clippers & always have

I was considering buying a Dremel at one time, for my Whippet who hates me clipping her nails and they need doing far more often than my Bassets do, for some reason.   I did buy a corded one, but it was old and noisy.   Yes she'd probably have eventually accepted me using it, but in the end, I didn't bother to take this idea any further.   I only have two hounds now and my Basset runs to his bed and lies on his side, letting me whip round his nails with no complaints.    I have read that the non-corded ones don't work well.

My non-corded one works great.  It is rechargeable and I just plug it in on the dock for a few hours before I need to use it.

Are the Lucky Tail grinders available in the UK?   If I were to buy one, I'd need something quiet!