Nail clipping

[Susan Schue]

Forgive my ignorance, I know I should know this, but which is the better trimmer? The guillotine type or the scissor type? Which is easier on the dog and any tips would be welcomed.

[Stefie C]

I can't advise about a clipper as I didn't have much luck with either kind. We now use a dremel tool & sand them. It works great. Here's a link with very detailed instructions if you want to give it try.

http://homepages.udayton.ed u/~merensjp/doberdawn/index.html

Just click on How To Dremel Dog Nails in the left hand column.

[Dave Kersh]

The guillotine type makes a cleaner, straighter cut. I'd like to use a dremel too, but my Corgi would flip out. They're notorious for disliking anything you do to their feet (I don't think she even likes you to look at her feet) :wink:
I should post a sound file of me cutting her nails; she calls me all sorts of names!

[Summer Magic]

When I first got Magic she wouldn't let me even touch her feet. I started a program of desensitization by petting her feet every nite when she was on my lap. I stroked them with one finger first, then two, then I picked up each foot and massaged the pads, then between the pads, soon she would pick up her own foot and give it to me so I could massage it for her. I now use a scissors type cutter (and yes they aren't the cleanest cut) and then use a large emory board and file them down smooth so they aren't as sharp (can't get near her with the dremmel tool yet.) She just lays there and snoozes now when it's nail clipping time. Also shelties have a lot of hair between their pads and I clip that out with a baby nail scissors, she also lets me do that because the scissors have blunt ends and I can't poke her with them.

[Susan Schue]

I'll stick with the guillotine ones I have(unless someone tells me the scissors are easier on the dogs), and I have a dremel (thanks for the link) so I will start working them both towards that, as well as keeping them on the sidewalk when walking so we don't need to do it as often.

[Stefie C]

Just go slow & do lots of desensitization exersices. We played with the dremel & fed treats off it for at least 2 weeks before we turned it on. And then another week or so treating while it was running and have had great success with it. Good Luck!

[Melissa Irr]

When we'd cut our pup's nails, we give him something nice to distract him. He loves Bully Sticks, so we let him chew on one while we cut his nails. It works pretty well, although he is beginning to get a little suspicious of the Bully Stick...:)

[TimberWolf]

Bully sticks ...*shiver*

[Grace Erick]

I have styptic powder in case I cut Capri's nails too short. So far I'm doing pretty good, BUT I did get a cut from shaving my legs so I used some of it, and BOY did it burn!!!! I never heard a man say that it burns unless it's not exactly what men use for shaving when they get nicks.

Bye, Grace

[Lauren Frisbie]

I made the mistake of also thinking it was burn free lol. I came hopping out oif the bathroom screaming for my mom to help. She laughed for a good couple of days. ~Lauren