Speaking of nails... question?

JacksonsMom

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#1
So, the groomer came this past Thursday and this is as short as she got Jackson's nails.





I know it's because I don't keep up with them in between. But I'd like to get them to be able to be shorter and I know that involves clipping little bits off at a time and kind of "building up" that quik, right?

I honestly can't even tell when I should stop, so that's why I took these pics right after groomer left, for my own reference, but I still don't really SEE anything on his nails that would teach me THAT'S as far as I can go... if you know what I mean.

So would a dremel would better for something like this? If I were to begin dremeling his nails, how often would you say I should do it, to begin getting those nails to go shorter back? Once a week? I don't want to do to short. On Thursday, it'll have been a week, if I were to dremel them a bit, would I hold it on each nail, for what, just about 3 seconds or something?
 

Oko

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#2
I would definitely dremel, it's much easier to take them back that way (no dramatic chopping of nails = less hair raising. Thank you dark nailed dogs). I'd probably start with every 3rd day, if you can. I don't really hold it in one particular spot, as it can get hot. I just kind of round it about the tip, and then take it off, repeat.
 

JacksonsMom

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#4
I would definitely dremel, it's much easier to take them back that way (no dramatic chopping of nails = less hair raising. Thank you dark nailed dogs). I'd probably start with every 3rd day, if you can. I don't really hold it in one particular spot, as it can get hot. I just kind of round it about the tip, and then take it off, repeat.
Ok thanks! Maybe I'll try tomorrow then. I would think the same thing about dremel vs. clippers.

I only dremel my guys (I don't like the compression action of clippers, or the rough edges) and I honestly don't have much of a guideline as to what I do. Instead of explaining it, this is my favorite 'guide' for dremeling.
http://www.doberdawn.com/doberdawn/dremel.html
Ok thanks! I watched a few videos too, but this is a great link.
 

Upendi&Mina

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#5
Yeah I only dremel because if you pay attention you can get right up to the quick without actually quacking them which helps get it to recede. I would do it ever other or every third day. I do twice a week on my guys and I'm not trying to work quicks back.
 

Southpaw

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#6
As far as how to know when to stop cutting, I describe it to clients like an m&m. Lol. Which is still confusing without a reference to look at, but... you'll have the soft, meaty area in the middle, and then a thin white circle around it. It's like if you bit an m&m in half, you'd see the chocolate and the ring of candy coating around it. :p

I don't really like dremeling much but I clip weekly just to maintain.
 

kady05

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#7
Definitely dremel. If for some reason you do hit the quick, it's a lot less blood vs. regular clippers (maybe a drop or two vs. OMGMAKEITSTOP).

I dremel my dogs every 3-4 days, that's just our routine, I'm not trying to get quicks to recede or anything.
 

*blackrose

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#8
Since we are discussing dremeling...I have an actual Dremel tool. Like, for shop work. Would it have too much power to use on dog nails? I don't want to grind off a nail. o_O
 

iriskai

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#9
Since we are discussing dremeling...I have an actual Dremel tool. Like, for shop work. Would it have too much power to use on dog nails? I don't want to grind off a nail. o_O
My first one was Dremel brand, the one I have now is.. WEM I think.. variable speed. But yeah, I prefer the 'real' power tools. :)
 

kady05

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#10
Since we are discussing dremeling...I have an actual Dremel tool. Like, for shop work. Would it have too much power to use on dog nails? I don't want to grind off a nail. o_O
That's actually what mine was originally bought for haha. It's a Dremel brand, cordless. It's awesome.
 

k9to5mama

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#12
I don't dremel, it's just something I've never done, nothing against it.
If you're just going to use regular dog nail clippers, just keep cutting bit by bit until you see a dark dot in the middle. The bigger the dot the closer you are to the quick.

 

Doberluv

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#13
I've always used a regular Dremel power tool with a hose attachment thingy. It has variable speeds. I use a faster speed on my son's dog with big, hard, thick nails and a middle range for my little dogs. I don't hold it on but instead sort of make quick swipes...about 3 or 4 then move onto the next nail. I have quicked them and I think it hurts but it won't bleed much because it cauterizes them. So, keep peeking to see if you can tell when to stop. I see a little circle and a little bit of white...must be the quick starting to show through. They usually let me know by flinching if I'm getting too close. To get them back shorter, do just a tad every 3 days or so until they're back where you want them, then probably once a week will do.
 

RGarr

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#14
I think I might just try using a dremel now. I was afraid to before because I thought it might be easier to hit the quick by accident, but it sounds like it's less nerve wracking than using regular clippers.
 
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#15
When cutting the nail, clip where the nail starts to curve. As pictured above, stop when you see a dark dot in the middle.
 

DJEtzel

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#16
You can see in the pictures that there is a "bulge" underneath the top of the nail that is rounded and almost seems like a separate part of the nail. That is the quick growing under the nail- so you can dremel or clip up until that point.

I have this dremel, I believe, with a flex shaft. The flex shaft is awesome so that the loud device isn't right near the dog. It's a few feet away on a pillow. :)

I love it. It's so much quicker than the battery powered devices, and you don't have to worry about replacing batteries every few months at $20 a pop.
 

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