Nails

Bizzy & Howie · 09-13-2007, 10:48 AM

My boyfriend trims Bizmarck's nails once every two weeks. I guess it should have been done more often... When I checked his nails today (they were getting quite long again) it seems there is very little to trim without hitting the quick. Is there any way to push the quick back again, or Bizzy destined to have slightly too long nails forever?

hbwright · 09-13-2007, 11:03 AM

It seems it doesn't take long for the quick to grow long and give you very little to cut like you are describing. Two weeks is a long time to go between trimmings.

I started dremeling Jordan's nails after hearing about it on the forums and I've loved it. To get the shorter I dremel right up to where I can just start to see the quick and do this every three or four days. If I don't keep up with it I do notice that the quick gets longer and longer so I have to keep up with it every few days to get the quick to move back. Jordan took very little time to get used to the dremel and I was able to really do all four paws the first real dremeling session by having him cuddle with a friends son on the couch. Now he falls asleep and snores while I do his nails. I like it much better then trimming with clippers because I can get much closer to the quick little by little rather then just trying to clip a little off at a time which is much harder to do.

The nails may not ever be show dog short, but I'm sure you can get them significantly shorter then they are now.

**Burns** · 09-13-2007, 11:34 AM

Like hbwright said, the more you trim/dremel, the more the quicks will receed over time. Are you using clippers or a dremel?

Bizzy & Howie · 09-13-2007, 11:34 AM

hbwright,
I read about dremmeling here on the forum. Do they make specific dog nail dremmels, or should I just pick one up at the hardware store? My boyfriend may even have one in the tool box for all I know... I just wouldn't want to use the same grinders he uses on the tools! -Jen

Bizzy & Howie · 09-13-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burns

Like hbwright said, the more you trim/dremel, the more the quicks will receed over time. Are you using clippers or a dremel?

Well, I was using clippers... I have a feeling I'm going to make the switch though. Bizzy is very good about having his nails done, so I don't think he would have an issue with the dremmel. Sounds like it might be less scary too. I might even be able to do it myself instead of relying on the boyfriend!

hbwright · 09-13-2007, 11:48 AM

I use the regular mini-mite dremel and it works fine for the job. You use it with the 1/2 sanding thingy (I know, I'm way to technical).

I read this hundreds of times before I started. Now I don't know why I was so nervous. It's the most simple thing I've ever done.

http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merens...el/dremel.html

She uses the multi-pro but I don't think it is really necessary because the mini-mite has been working great for us and for my neighbors dane.

BTW--My husband had a dremel but now he uses mine instead. I just don't allow him to use my sanding bands.

charlesmdodson · 09-13-2007, 11:54 AM

Just like getting a manicure, not that I would know, but that's what I was told.

It takes a little time and getting used to but it's one of the greatest things ever. It'll take once or twice for him to adjust to the "whirring" but then you'll be fine. You can shape the nails so nicely into a great, blunt tip with a dremel. I think any rotary tool that goes slow enough would be fine but I have a dremel and like it a lot.

Bizzy & Howie · 09-13-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hbwright

I use the regular mini-mite dremel and it works fine for the job. You use it with the 1/2 sanding thingy (I know, I'm way to technical).

I read this hundreds of times before I started. Now I don't know why I was so nervous. It's the most simple thing I've ever done.

http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merens...el/dremel.html

She uses the multi-pro but I don't think it is really necessary because the mini-mite has been working great for us and for my neighbors dane.

BTW--My husband had a dremel but now he uses mine instead. I just don't allow him to use my sanding bands.

Very helpful site! Thank you very much. Looks like I have a plan for this weekend. Buy and begin dremeling. Looks like I'm going to need to do this quite often for a while. Thank you once again.

hbwright · 09-13-2007, 11:59 AM

I'm in the process of doing it every three days again since I went about a week and a half with the kids starting school and life getting busy. I always do it at night when he is the most tired and subsequently I have been too. Now, I'm regretting it. It takes no time at all if done regularly but if you let it go it can be a little time consuming to get the quick to receed.

Start off slow and offer loads of treats. Maybe you'll get lucky and have one that will find it extremely relaxing like Jordan does.

**BackInBlack** · 09-13-2007, 09:31 PM

My dogs all prefer the dremel! (and yes.........it came from Lowes

)