Cutting Claws - Amaze me with your magic techniques

[BadNavyWife]

1 year old black lab is a NIGHTMARE. It takes two of us, even when he was a pup and we were just "pretending" to get him used to the clippers with treats etc. Now DBF is away with Le Navy I have to find a way to do it alone. Any tips? Are groomers worth the effort /cash?

I don't mind doing the white nails, but hate doing the black nails - which I felt bad about until the vet told me she didn't like doing them either. And ddog (dpuppy bites his own nails every night which is useful) is such a drama queen about it as well.

So I pay someone else to do it.

Buy a nail grinder - oster or Dremel and slowly desensitise.

It's very, very difficult to quick the nail with a grinder and if you do accidently, as long as you don't go too far the grinder cauterises do no pain or bleeding.

The grinder allows you to get much closer to the quick then clippers ever could and therefore gets the nails back quicker.

No point going to a groomer imo unless they are going to take a sliver off every few days.
Most dogs nails are far too long and to shorten, you need to be trimming every few days really

I used to have to muzzle my Lhasa Apso to clip his nails as he would go for me but I've now developed a technique which kind of works.

I approach him from behind and lift the paw backwards if that makes sense and snip the ends off without him seeing the clippers.

Yeh he's got black nails and I'm always worried I'm going to cut them too short, which probably doesn't help his anxiety. Might give the over the shoulder thing a go tomorrow. And I've never heard of a grinder, googling now...

Snipping the nails from the paw backwards is a trick of groomers, some dogs find it less stressful as they can't see the clippers and by only nipping off the tip of the nail where it starts to curve in most dogs you will avoid the quick.

It won't be much help to overgrown nails though as you often don't get close enough to the quick that way to make them recede.

Do they actually need to be cut? If dogs are walking lots on a reasonably hard surface they should wear normally. It's usually just an issue in elderly or infim dogs

Ooo tempted by grinder now I've read the reviews (not Grindr, very different thing that) can you recommend a favourite ButtHoleLane? my dogs fine with noises so long as it's not the postman

And they do need a trim, usually we can get away with it as he gets a good run on paths with DBF. But lately we've been going on softer terrain as I prefer a slow and pretty amble around the farmland near us. His dew claws especially seem really long.

I use the standard household dremmel on its lowest setting with a part worn sanding pad. He seems to enjoy lying on his back on my knee having it done (he is odd).

Mostly his claws don't need trimming but occasionally he gets a sharp one and obviously dew claws don't wear down.

I use a cheapy own brand pedi paws from pound stretcher but any will do.
For a big dog like a Labrador with probably quite thick claws you'll probably want a fairly powerful one so I would try a Dremel or an oster.

Remove the protective cap, it's difficult to shape the nails into a nice smooth curve with this attached.

If you go down the Dremel route you'll need to make sure its not too powerful as they vary.

You only spend 2 or 3 seconds on each nail then repeat until you have the teensiest weeniest red pin prick on the nail, that's the very start of the quick.
Don't go any further!

Yes try not to cut the quick, happened to me once and it was horrendous, took ages to stem the blood. Always have some stypic powder (think that's what it's called) in just in case and a bandage.

I have two large Lurchers. One sits and hands me each paw and waits for his front nails to be clipped, then lies down and puts his back paws on my knee one at a time. The other is a proper drama queen and has to lie upside down between my knees, looking for all the world like I'm trying to kill him.

Best thing is to take just a sliver off each nail a couple/few times a week, this will reduce the blood supply and cause the quick to shrink back gradually, reducing the chances of you catching it. You can then gradually reduce the length of the nails in a painless way, which helps the dog become more accustomed to the process. This diagram shows you what I mean.

Mine both get a treat after each session too, which helps motivate them to put up with it.

I'm reading this with interest. Our two golden retrievers are absolute angels at getting their claws clipped..really, couldn't give a damn.
Our lab on the other hand...you'd think we were trying to drag her straight to the fiery halls of Hell when the clippers come out, even though we try our best to make sure she doesn't even see them. Too clever for her own good, that one

I use a grinder too, one dog sleeps through the whole experience, the other is not keen but tolerates it, whereas he is terrified of clippers.