Really scared to clip Tess's toe nails!!!!

[Bev and Tess]

I have been doing all of Tess's grooming myself since her first cut, but clipping the nails really is scaring both my DH and myself. I have seen that there is a line you can see, and not to clip past that, but Tess's nails are black and I don't see any line at all. I looked for some discussions here, but none popped up. It's time again to go get them done (once in awhile I can hear her yelp as they have gone to short) or make a purchase and do them myself. Every month I go through this, thinking I should be able to do this too. Does anyone have some advise clipping black toe nails? Thanks!

[Jackie]

Sorry, wish I could help but I've had the same problem with Beckett. I used to trim his nails but it was always hard to see cause he has black nails too. I would only trim a tiny bit. One time I did cut too much and he started bleeding so I'm too afraid to do it anymore. He goes to the groomers about once a month and I let them do it all the time now! :)

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

There are stickers you can buy that stick on the nails and they indicate the live and dead part of the nail. You could use them a few times until you got more use to the look of where to cut.

Also, you could change to a grinder. There is less chance of going too far.

[BG and Gavin]

Get the plier type nail cutter as opposed to the gilotine (sp) type.  It has a guide on it.  The only time I have gone too far is when I reclipped the same nail thinking I did not get enough.  Please don't be too hard on yourself if it bleeds.  It hurts you more than them.  Have some steptic powder on hand in case you do.

[Meghan & Buster]

I started clipping Busters every week...just a tiny bit.  I was told the shorter you get them, the quick will start to receed back further into the nail.  I was doing good until one day I was finished.  A few minutes later, I was looking around on the living room floor wondering "where is all this red fuzz coming from"?   Well...it wasn't fuzz.  It was 42 spots/piles of blood all through the livingroom/hallway!!!  Its been a few weeks since then.  I know I have to do it again soon.  But I will make sure it is not in the living room where there is carpet! ( yes, I was able to get all the blood out)  But Brucegirl is right.  It hurts us more.  When I did it and even afterwards, Buster never gave me any indication I clipped one too short.   I am thinking about going to a grinder, too.  I also have a German Shepard I have to wrestle with to do his nails also.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I agree..just clipping a tiny bit at a time will take some of the scary out of it. There are some clippers available through Drs Smith and Foster's catalog and I have seen them at Petco -- they have a light that signals when it is "safe" to cut. It's kind of like the same idea as the stud finder you use when trying to hang a heavy picture on your wall. I'd check those clippers out. And the next time you take Tess to the vet, have either the dr or a tech show you the place where you can cut up to without hitting the quick. If you ever cut too close and don't have any Quickstop around, you can pour some corn starch in a saucer and put the pup's fingernail into the corn starch and it will stop the bleeding if you get it too close. (My vet's asst told me this)

I hope this helps. This is a scary thing for everybody at first. :-)

[Val,Cooper and Bently]

My groomer actually told me to hold their paw so that you are looking at the pads and the back of the nail.Don't know if this is any help but that is how I do it.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Oh I have this!  it worked a little while when Zoe was a puppy but I noticed that although the light sensor does help, the actual clipper part is not so great (quality) and started to split/crack her nails as her nails got bigger/thicker.  I no longer use them and try to use regular ones but she has black nails too and it's SO scary!!!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I use a grinder on Cubbie's black nails and find it to be easier than using nail clippers because you can only take off so much at one time.  

[Bev and Tess]

Thanks everyone for the help. I have ordered the plier type on line. They get the best reviews, and quite a few were groomers.....that's a very good sign. I will take it slow and easy, so wish me luck! Oh, I ordered the powder too, just in case :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have found the Bamboo clippers to be the best I've used. Every now and then I do have some slips though.

[Linda And Loo]

I have a black doodle with black nails. I just can not bring myself to clip her nails. My solution is an electric nail file or grinder. I love filing their nails. I started using this when they both were puppies. You start by getting them use to the sound and the first time or two you just get the tips. RB is 1 1/2 yrs and Loo is 10 months and they just set in my lap and let me do their nails. Since we have hard wood floors, I touch up their nails once a week.

[GBK]

I've only had black nailed dogs, and I find it works really well by cutting from behing.  Lift the paw backwards, and when you go to clip the nail, you will see where the quick stops and the nail keeps going.  Cut a little at a time, but don't cut into the solid quick part.  Wish it were easier to explain, lift your doodles paws and see if this makes sense.  I've never cut the quick doing it this way.