cutting dogs nails

[Anniemacfee]

Never done it before always got it done at vets groomers etc how easy is it? Scared will hurt my dogs i have a basset hound and labrador basset has one nail which is black which makes me even more wary

[CarbeDiem]

My vet told me just to snip the ends to make them blunt.
She also said even if you catch the vein that's there - you will feel more guilty than what it would actually hurt the dog.
I'm scared too so just a snip :)
It's a 2 person job here. Dpup won't sit/stand/lie still and/or pokes her nose near the clippers so dh holds her while I grab her paws.

[ender]

I've given up trying to cut my lab's nails, they're very thick and black. I'd just cut tiny bits off because scared of cutting the quick, so they got longer and longer. Now get it done at the groomers and he doesn't make a clicking sound when he walks on hard floors any more, must be much more comfortable for him. Only costs £5. Vets would charge £18 .

[Buttholelane]

How easy?
Not very!

I started with pliers clippers that split and frayed her nails and quicked her.

Then bought guillotine clippers which are so much better but I still manage to quick her with alarming regularity despite most of her nails being clear!

The best thing is a nail grinder, either oster or dremel, I have never quick her using that.

[CarbeDiem]

The grinder looks good - I never even knew such a thing existed - so thanks Butt.