Mine have not dulled at all.
oops duplicate please delete
I have 30 year old Miller’s Forge nail scissors that were used professionally almost all that time that finally got too dull for me to use any more. I use them to cut small wires and other chores now. I love Miller’s Forge - they are a good brand.
I prefer clipping to Dremeling. Dremels work fine, but take far longer than I like to in order to get the job done. I clip my dogs’ nails every week, and rarely hit the quick. Even if I do, it’s a non-event for the dogs…I suspect because they are more interested in the good dog cookies than anything.
I’ve learned a few things over the years as a professional dog groomer:
- Clipping the nails is less distressing if you hold the dog with soft hands, like you would a skittish horse. I never fight the dog, but I don’t let go, either. Once the dog settles a bit, praise, set him so he’s comfortable, and go.
- Pick up the feet and clip from behind, like you would a horse’s hoof. The dog cannot fight easily, you end up supporting him with your body that way, and you can easily see the ridge that is the quick underneath the nail, even in black nails. Besides, people tend to want to force a dog’s foot up to see the nails when working from the front, which is very uncomfortable - if not actually painful (especially in arthritic dogs!) - to the dog.
- Clip with conviction. People who are hesitant often yank as they close the clippers. That hurts! It pulls the whole nail in the nail bed. No wonder so many dogs get frightened!
- Be aware of conformational problems. Many dogs who struggle with nail care have bad stifles, hocks, hips, or a back problem. Look for a position that is comfortable for your dog to work with.
- Dogs often stand quietly for nail care during a bath. I haven’t the foggiest notion why.
All that aside, though, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a Dremel. Whatever tool you and your dogs are comfortable with and gets the job done is a good tool.
Also, groomers are happy to clip nails for $5-$10. I’ve always charged $5. It’s an easy job.
I am not impressed by my Miller’s Forge clippers. They crush the nail, too.
It doesn’t really matter since I’m a total convert to dremeling. I have to for the show dog, but it’s so easy and the results so nice and it’s so much less traumatic for my skittish older pet dog that I wouldn’t do anything else. He runs from the clippers but not the dremel.
how strange that some people have dull Miller’s Forge clippers, while some of us have had great luck with them and mine are super sharp. I use the smaller ones, maybe the larger are made differently?
[QUOTE=Nezzy;7410275]
I use the smaller ones, maybe the larger are made differently?[/QUOTE]
I use the smaller ones. These. It’s probably time for a new pair but they are only a year old, maybe? My friend, with a BC and houndy/pointery mix, asked for a suggestion and she got these which, right out of the box, seemed under-powered for the job.
yes i have the first kind. They are always sharp and i have had them for about 5 yrs. i was told about them from a groomer. I’m thrilled with mine.
Interesting. I don’t have that kind. I have these:
http://www.healthypets.com/nailclip727c.html?mr:trackingCode=DF689EFC-909B-E011-8D66-001517B188A2&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=28625347127&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=47048603167&origin=pla&gclid=COmdz6j_sLwCFVJk7AodChMAng
They certainly cut nails but they do mash them and I far prefer the results I get with the Dremel. But if the clippers work for you, that’s great.
since i have hairless dogs and also dogs with long toe hairs, i have to use both. Just wanted to share that the Miller’s forge were sharp and therefore work great. i guess others have had mixed results.
I just clip. My dogs don’t show, and clipping is just faster. Im not trying to recede the quicks. Ive never crushed a nail or made them bleed either.
I bought a dremmel, used it twice and then decided it just took too much time. I do agree it makes the nails look nicer for show dogs, or dogs who naturally have longer quicks.
I do show, and I clip…but I think it has more to do with decades of clipping nails vs. messing around with Dremels. I am very comfortable with clipping nails, it’s very fast for me, and I can shave off super-thin slices from the nails when I want to.
Same here, but I usually smooth/round the edges with a dremel afterwards. I was at a show last weekend and my dremel batteries were dead, so I borrowed a corded dremel (I’m guessing a hardware version).
Holy moly…be careful if that is what you use and you are new at this. It certainly was FAST! But a little scary to me, and I use mine a lot.
One of our Bull Terriers is a terror to clip. We have tried de-sensitising her while she watches tv with us at night by playing with her feet, and she’s never got used to it. She just panics, and gets ten times worse if the clippers appear.
As she has got older, she’s become more sedentary and her nails have elongated badly, curling around. The vet had no better luck, so then I persuaded him to sedate her. He seemed to think it was a bit mean, but he did it, and they cut the nails drastically back to show-dog length. She’s looking grand now. She had no after-effects or pain and her callouses under her pads are improving. She’s so much more comfortable.
Along with her arthritis shot, she’s a new, younger dog.
Our other Bull Terrier just stands there, like a horse, while we pick up his feet, and doesn’t care.
I like Emryss’ comments for the d.i.y. person.
Gee - taking care of our oldies, darling things, is a lot of work and $$!
