Right now I'm currently just taking Triton to petsmart to get his nails trimmed for $10. But I'm realizing I might as well invest in something to do it at home.

What do you use?

We just use a standard heavy-duty nail clipper that we got at the local pet store. We had one of those grinder things you see on TV but it really doesn't do much to file them down. If you ground the nails once a day or at least once a week it would probably work okay, but I just don't have the time or patience for that. So I just learned how to clip them (my vet showed me how-- Koda has a couple of black nails that I'm careful with, but you can see the quick on the white ones).

I haven't trimmed Ginger's nails since the first time she got groomed in August of 2010. We've had Storm for a month and a half and haven't had his nails trimmed either....I guess all the walking on sidewalks file their nails down enough.

Speaking of nail cutting. Kody needs it bad! He's only had it done once at the vets and it's about that time again. Thing is that he goes NUTS!!! I have 2 heavy duty nail clippers also for Mya and she's always given me a struggle also, but lately she doesn't really need them cut. I'm guessing because of the walking like Claudia said. If Triton doesn't have an issue with his paws being touched or held down then you should be able to do it just fine.

I don't do nail care either. The sidewalk walking files them down. I do trim sierras dew claws as they need it.

I've always used a tool that looks like this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/PetsUnited/T190806_1943&imgrefurl=http://fun2shop.biz/products/Pets/Dogs/Dogs%2Bgrooming/Dog%2Bnail%2Bcare/Dog.com.html&usg=__NCaNFlYmasZLyCZesk4ur-fvJbI=&h=350&w=350&sz=9&hl=en&start=19&sig2=Jg7AwBfQQCotfdivn07qGw&zoom=0&tbnid=MnY46NwuaIS_NM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=120&ei=9O_mTa-aA8OdgQeA-OyqCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddog%2Bnail%2Bclipper%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address%26rlz%3D1I7ACGW_enUS412US412%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D609%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1163&vpy=290&dur=729&hovh=120&hovw=120&tx=87&ty=91&page=2&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:19&biw=1366&bih=609
(Sorry for this pitiful way to link to a picture!)

I try to clip a little each week or two. They get used to it the more it is done. As long as you stay below the quick, the dog will have a positive experience.

tritonsmom wrote:

What do you use?

Contact with various ground substances at 30+ miles per week. .................... <---Biko this morning at 4:30AM waiting to start his walk

I use this kind of nail clipper:


And a pedipaws nail filer:


I trim Siku's nails with the clipper (the Resco Pro-Series Scissor-Style nail trimmer brand) , because she doesn't like the filer. I trim Elara's nails with the filer (there are probably better ones than the pedipaws), cause she doesn't like the clippers. lol. I trim their nails once a week after their baths. It's best to trim them after they've had a bath or have been playing in water, so their nails are softer and there is less chance of breaking their nails. Just be sure to watch out for the quick. I have them lay down with their feet pointed toward me to trim their nails. But it took a while before I could get them to be calm while I did it. That's one of the reasons why I do it every week. After x many times, they get the point and just lay there until you're done. Siku is weird though. She thinks she HAS to eat her nail clippings! Acts like they are treats! Strange girl.

I used to use just this type of clipper:


But found the sissor type one to be easier to use and cuts better since there are two "blades" on the top and bottom rather than just one on the bottom. And it's easier to see what I am cutting with the sissor ones.

Sara,

So you like the scissor-type ones? I think they look scary and have never tried them. Being young, Sabaka tries to wiggle himself into all kinds of weird positions, so I think those scissor ones would be easier to maneuver to get to the correct angle for cutting!

I may have to try a pair...

Also I just file of the jagged edges with an emory board. I think he hates that worse than the clipping!

I use the guillotine style nail clippers and either the Pedi-Paws or Dremel nail grinders.

If the nails are longer I find the clippers to be easiest, for shorter nails I like using the Pedi-Paws or Dremel.

I do like them better. I liked the guillotine style a lot, but my dog trainer let me try her sissor type ones and I liked them even more. Both are fine to use, but the sissor ones a just a little easier for me to use.

I have all the tools at home (a guillotine style trimmer, file and Dremel) but I'm too chicken to actually do it myself because most of Nikolai's claws are REALLY long (like, Howard Hughes long) and he's sweamish about having anyone filddle with his feet. All the walking we do on sidewalks doesn't seem to help - they grow mad fast. :-(

My boy hates to have his claws clipped.. and it doesn't help they they are all black. Yep, I have the tools, but they grow so fast, and we are close to some parks, so he walks a lot on grassy ground rather than asphalt or concrete, so they don't naturally get filed down. Fortunately, a local pet supply chain offers free claw clipping from time to time -- they suggest that you make a freewill donation to the local organization that trains seeing-eye dogs if you make use of the service. Usually, the folks doing the clipping are veterinary students, and it takes me and the student to steady and hold my boy...

Its not a fun outing, but I try to always follow up immediately with a trip to the dog park, so that, maybe, one day, he will see it as something slightly not fun followed by a thing he enjoys very, very much.

I use an Oyster dremmel and love it! Koda's nails usually run down pretty good from walks, but I like smoothing them out