How many of you cut your dogs nails?

[Barrett]

I always take my dachshund, Bailey, to the groomer or vet to get her nails cut because I am too scared to do it. She has never been hurt and is very calm when she is having her nails trimmed. Her nails are black and I can't see the quick so I am to chicken to try it so I don't hurt her. Do any of you trim your own dog/cat nails? Do you have any tips for cutting black nails?

Barrett

[Pinscher Mum]

I trim the dogs, cats and guinea pigs nails. Tiffany has black nails, and Dax the guinea pig, his back feet have black nails also. They are so much harder to clip, l dont know if there is a technique really, mainly its a guessing game, but if you do look on the underside of the nail you can kind of tell where you can cut to. Oh and lve not cut to far once to date **touch wood**

[Taz]

I do all my dogs nails. Its easy with Duke because you can see the quick, but the puppies have black nails, and they can be tricky sometimes.

I do them when they are sleeping. I started by lightly rubbing their paws when they were sleeping, I did this few times before cutting. Now they don't even move when I cut their nails. My vet told me to use flour or cornstarch to stop any bleeding. I also have a first aid cream made by Hagen, which stops bleeding very well, and its good to have around for any cuts, and scrapes.
I find that the scissor style clippers are the easiest to use on the bigger nails.

but if you do look on the underside of the nail you can kind of tell where you can cut to

If the nails are nice and clean, you should be able to see the quick, and if your lucky, you should be able feel it as well.

The puppies like to jump up on you( we are working on that), so I normally file their nails too. Newley cut nails can be very sharp ( I've got the scars to prove it) if they are not filed.

[fireworksinjuly]

So far Ive only let the groomer do it. He told me if I walk him enough it should keep them pritty shirt cuz the sidewalk will "file" them down. Im not sure how true that is but for now I think Ill let him do it if they need it.

[Pinscher Mum]

Conrete and hard surfaces do help to keep the nails a nice length, it kind of wears the nail down as they walk due to them scrapping the nails along the hard surface like concrete.

Our girls walk fairly often so l dont have to do their nails too much. But when they need it l do clip them

[Taz]

I only have to cut the puppies back nails, they have started digging everytime they go outside. But it does keep the nails short. They have had their dew claws removed (done at birth), so I don't have to worry about them.

[boxerlover]

I do the nails....I have got a few too short! I feel so bad! During the summer I dont need to very often because we have a very long concrete driveway...they run and play it wears the nails, like PinscherMum said.

[stardust]

i cut Rockys nails.. but he has black nails so i am very nervous. and i cut maybe a sliver off at a time... so i guess i have never really cut them... just kinda grazed them LOL. but he is going to the groomers for his first real trip tomorrow... kind of nervous about that. he lets me wash and dry him.. but he will even snip at me if i try to go near his butt if he doesnt want to. anyway.. the groomer will cut his nails tomorrow also.

[Pugdawg1]

When I got Oscar, he was HORRIBLE about nail trimming. Fought me with everything he had. Thankfully over time things got better and now he is very simple.. rolls over, i give his tummy a rub and clip clip clip those nails. He has very thick nails that are white with the black striping here and there. Winston has solid black nails.. I tend to clip them every two weeks.. I just tip them, since I keep up on them often. Bentley as not needed his nails trimmed yet, he too has solid black nails.
I am starting to think that just walking a dog, depending on the dog,doesnt always wear down the nails. My mother has a toy manchester terrier that she walks MILES with, nearly every single day.. and those nails are always needing trimmed. They grow like weeds and the walking doesnt seem to help wear them down.
Anyhow, i'll always do the pugs' nails.. I trust nobody with them when it comes to that. I am careful, i dont take a whole lot at once, and so far (knocking on wood) i have never quicked a dog's nail. Yet. Probably just jinxed myself. LOL

[NicksBuddy]

We are clipping Nick's nails about once a week now - they grow fast, and need to be kept short for Agility training. I'm thinking about investing in a cordless grinder to use instead of clippers. His nails tend to splinter - or flake - when clipped, and the cut edges still need to be filed, so I was thinking the grinder might work better overall. It's expensive, but I was told that the clippers need to be replaced, or sharpened, about once a year - sooner if you use them alot - so the grinder may be cheaper in the long run.

[Merle]

I always do my dogs nails. I've been using a cordless Dremel tool for over a decade & it makes it pretty easy. The dogs don't mind it & it makes the nails nice and smooth on the edges. The only bad thing is a couple of times I've managed to get their tail caught & believe me, they aren't happy when that happens!

[Ruby~Eyes]

Well I have my mom do it, because I cant seem to cut the nail to quick and by the time I actually have clipped her nail a bit, she is squirming around. So I just let my mom do it

[Mellie]

I clip, my boyfriend dremmels.
But when we know a vet appointment is coming up, we slack. Then when the dogs get to the vet, the technician thinks, 'Oh my, look at those nails', which results in the dogs' getting nails neatly trimmed by a professional.

I only ever clip a little at a time. I've read somewhere that if your dog hasn't had its nails clipped in a looong time, and the quick has extended, you can start by clipping the tiniest, itty-bittyest, tip of nail. This will cause the quick/blood vessels to gradually retreat back up into the nail bed area. If you keep this up once every several days, the dogs nails should be back to normal. Then you can clip on a less regular basis.

[Taz]

I've been using a cordless Dremel tool for over a decade & it makes it pretty easy. The dogs don't mind it & it makes the nails nice and smooth on the edges.

We have a Dremel, but i've never used it on the nails. What kind of tip do you use? I was thinking I might just turn it on around them a few times, so they can get used to the sound, before using it on their nails. I cut when they are sleeping, but I'm sure that the Dremel would wake them. I'm very concerned that they won't stay still, and it will slip. Do you have any tips for me before I start?

[boxerlover]

Melanie.....thanks for the information! That is really good to know! I am learning so much from you today! LOL