Chinatola 927 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 So...here's a neat little trick that my sister in law passed along to us recently, Thanks Dee Ann. I'm sure a few of you do this but it struck me as brilliant & immediately began bashing myself for not coming up with it first! Grab a Dremel tool (or similar) & use the drum sanding attachment to file down little puppy nails with a quick high speed pass. Quick & easy the pup never has the time to complain because the Dremel operates at such a high speed that it removes material quickly & you're pretty much done as soon as you start! It's good for Old Lady Dog's nails too. Although the Older Lady wasn't too terribly impressed by this new 'procedure' she was happy when it ended. I'm using a Dremel 8000-03 which has variable speed which is kind of nice as the sound changes when you speed up & slow down which I've found is just enough of a distraction to the dog to keep her from losing her mind. Plus it allows you to 'see' the proper speed for the task at hand. I think it's so much easier & less stressful because I've made the mistake (sadly, a few tiimes) of clipping too close & hurting the dog. This is so simple & easy to accomplish because it's lightweight, works quick, is very portable allowing almost unlimited angles to get at the spot to be smooved ovah & is cordless! I'm clumsy. Cordless = Good We've had such an easy time now with nails compared to years past that I just had to share! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
miz molly 1,800 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Absolutely brilliant. Thanks China for passing this one on. I love it, it is so obvious...... but not! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karen 41 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 My dogs hate the dremel as much as the clippers. That's because I'm incompetent - I've traumatized every dog I've had at least once during a nail session. Next dog, though. I'll do better next dog, I swear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starghoti 466 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 I got the cordless- battery powered doodad for that. The dogs like that it is over in about half the time. And they know when it is nail time, they get goodies. Little bits of hot dog can go a long way to over coming nail-anxiety. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chinatola 927 Posted August 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 Lili can identify the sound of the Dremel case being picked up in the back room after only two sessions & she's halfway to Alaska by the time I bring it into the other room! Little Snit. She's hard to pin down but reluctantly sits still for it if you give her no option. You literally have to pin her on her back & hold her fast in your lap to make it work which can be trying. Tell you what though, those Blue Buffalo Duck Treats make up for the inconvenience apparently. She's nuts for that stuff. Ida though is hilarious. She just sits there with this look on her face that says, 'Oh, for Cripes Sake! This again? Allright fine! Just get it done then!' Then she rolls on her side & occasionally emits this strange low growlish-type noise that sounds very odd. Not threatening...more like....put off. I've discovered that the hardest thing about it is getting the speed right & remembering the direction of rotation. Rotation direction is very important. I've put a little sticker on there so I don't forget the rotation thing because it's not pleasant for the dog when the Dremel starts bouncing around on the end of the paw there...chipping it up & generally disturbing an already tough situation.....not good...no sir! I'll try to have Julie take some video of me doing this so you can see the look on Ida's face. It's priceless. I have to admit it's tough to keep your authority in check when you're laughing at the look on the dogs face! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dcunger 0 Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 The vet I used to work for used a dremel on the dogs nails. We still used clippers, then just filed off the sharp edges. Works great if the dog isn't too scared of the high pitched whirring noise most of them make. I would not attempt it alone first for safety concerns. I have also seen a doggy paw after it jumped and the pad got dremmeled. Poor pup! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
judyk 43 Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 We thought about using the dremmel but were told the high pitched whirring sounds hurts their ears and the AIDs have very sensitive ears!! So, off to the vet we go for pedicures!!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chinatola 927 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 Lil doesn't seem to mind the motor noise but then I don't crank it up to 35,000 RPM either! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Allison 2,369 Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 I'll try it! I usually hurt myself with those clippers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chinatola 927 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 I know...that's probably the toughest part...not zapping your own fingernail off! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sherab 2,337 Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 We tried something like that but the GSDs are totally un-cooperative. The one thing Waki has picked up from them is a loathing of nail clipping. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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