Mission to Dremel!!!

[Adina P]

As much as I promote use of a dremel tool for doggy nail trimming...I suck at getting the job done. By that I mean I suck at being consistent enough to dremel regularly to actually get those nails to shrink. I am reminded of this every time Rosco scratches across the floor when running fast...or when Thule springs into the air to meet her collar at walk time and her claws scratch my legs. Or when Rosco's fat paws land on my bare foot. Those claws are tooo long!

There is a very distinct image in my mind of a pair of perfectly short doberman nails I saw once at our kennel club meeting. I looked at those nails with amazement at how unclaw-like they were. They are my GOAL:

I heard/read somewhere that to get those nails short enough and to help the quick recede I must dremel a little every 2 days. As of yet I have not been successful...but I will be. Thus I created a chart that now hangs on the fridge and am checking it off each time a doggy gets dremeled. So far since August 16th Rosco and Thule have had SIX nail dremel sessions. RECORD HIGH! So I'm hopeful and determined given that claws and upcoming soft baby skin are not a good match. Wish me luck and if any of you have managed to accomplish short nails via dremeling alone, please share with me your experience and tips!

By the way...I used this guide loosely to get my dogs okay with the dremel: http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

Mine don't actually lie down like these dobes, but they tolerate it mostly.

[TrevorDoodle]

Perfect timing for this thread. I have a Dremel Multipro 7700-02 coming in the mail any day now. Trevor's nails are CRAZY long and he is continuously scratching me. The quicks are really close to the end too. I've tried to cut his nails but one time I cut the quick and it bled forever. I think I ruined him as far as getting his nails clipped. He HATES it - so I have been taking him to the vet or groomers to do it for me.

Thanks Adina for the link - it was helpful and hopefully he will tolerate the Dremel.

[Adina P]

Just go slow and take as looong as you need to get him to LIKE seeing the Dremel...it will take you far.

[Gwen A]

How I acclimated Gabby:

First I turned it on and she of course freaked. I turned it off and let her smell it. GoodGirl, Treat. I did this often for a day or two until it was no big deal. Then I would turn it on and give her a treat. I did this until I could turn it on and she would willingly come to me for her treat. Then I touched it to her foot - not on - GoodGirl, Treat. When she was perfectly calm with this, I turned it on and for just one second held it to her toe area (just so she could feel the vibration, but no grinder to nail yet). Again, GoodGirl, Treat until she was OK. The Big Day: I held the grinder to nail for just a nanosecond. GoodGirl, Treat. After a few days of this I actually was able to grind on nail for long enough to see results. GoodGoodGirl, Treat. Then I was able to do two nails. Then one foot. Now I do two feet every few days so that I keep on top of it and she has constant positive reinforcement.

Yes it took weeks but it is certainly worth it as both of my dogs now calmly sit or lay down for their nail grooming and I don't have to pay an arm and leg at the groomers.

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

I have used my dremel once! lol I am thinking now that we have one dog, who lets me clip her nails with out help.I can try the dremel again.
Back to the hair, do you trim the paw hair or can you leave and what happens with the hair and dremel?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think the hair on the paws definitely should be trimmed.If it gets too long it can interfere with walking, it gets dirty and hols moisture. If it is long it can get caught in the dremel head which is very painful.

[Adina P]

The way I hold the paw/nail...hair is just not an isssue. At least so far there has not been any problems with fur getting caught in the spinning head. I just hold the fur back and it's been fine.

But I do agree it's good to keep paw hair under control.

[Adina P]

EEEEEK! I've gotten behind!!! Was doing REALLY well at getting at least 2 sessions in a week, but need to buckle down and quit forgetting!