Clipping black nails

[sparks19]

I'm sure you guys have seen this kind of question a million times lol but...

My dog has black nails and I clip them myself and he is pretty well behaved. However they seem awfully long. I tried one time to cut a tiny bit shorter and he yelped but I didn't actually cut the nail lol. So my question is what is the best way to tell where the quick is. I usually will just shave thin layers off the end once i start getting lower. but like i said his nails seem really big and long. he is a big dog (lab/coonhound mix) but his nails still seem longer than they should be.

Thanks

 

[aurorab]

1 if you think that you are taking too much take less. You can always go back. Plus if he is crying even if you don't hurt him/ bleeds he could be scared. I had to put my little one under my arm pit until she got better with the whole nail clipping business.
If you look under the nail you can see the a piece the is closer to the paw, kind of on the inside/underneath. It's usually lighter. DO NOT GET ANYWHERE NEAR THIS (sorry for yell but they will bleed- Baby pushed her leg out once and it was horrible, I actually think more for me than her but still). Another thing is go tot the vets or the groomer (vets are usually cheaper). Tell them that you want them to show you how to trim them (some times they won't even charge you). Plus take your clipper and let them watch you do it after they show you. It really helps. Then you can see the length and be able to do it at home. I still do it a bit longer than the vets. I don't like getting anywhere near the quick and I do a little at a time and alternate so it not as bad for her. She doesn't like to sit there for all the nail at 1 time.

 

[sparks19]

That's perfect thank you

I know exactly what you are talking about under the nail and I have been using that as my guideline. I usually cut close to that but never on it. I think his nails are just big and I will have to start doing a little trim a little bit more frequently.

 

[frznbuns]

You may even try a grinder on his nails. My Dobermans go into the vet evey 2 weeks for nail trims as I am not strong enough to do it myself. Heck their nails look better then Mine. Lol As a good walk on a hard surface will also help keep the nail down as this will naturally grind them as the dog walks.

 

[Adrienne]

Also if you clip a little one day and go back a few days later the quick will receede so you can clip off a little more. I just learned recently (not too sure how true it is) that a dogs nails should not touch the floor when they are standing. Gunnar's, my GS pup's don't touch the floor, I have kept them very short from the beginning but my six-year-old pits do touch the floor and I haven't been able to get the quick back enough to have them not touch the floor.

 

[joce]

Dremmels are great for black nails. I use it on all my dogs now. Here is a tutorial I got off a dobe forum but I haven't read through it. It is really simple though even though I think it might make it look difficult.
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~merensjp/doberdawn/dremel/dremel.html

 

[BagelDog]

We need to make one of these nail threads a sticky.

 

[poodlesmom]

Dremels work great, especially for those black nails. You will see a tiny dot that is lighter right in the center which is the quick - when you see that, that is your cue to stop. If the nails are really long, every couple of days do a little bit more. For those whose furpals have longer hair on their feet be careful that the hair is kept out of the way or it will get caught & hurt. A helpful hint that really works is to take a nylon knee-hi, put it over the paw and push the nails through. The nylon will hold back the longer fur. I really like the dremel because you can easily round out the tips which helps alot with accidental scratches.

 

[aurorab]

I so wish I could use the dremel. It would be so easy and not more scrapes b/c their nails are sharp. I try to use a very corse nail file but I can only get a few swipe b4 Baby is done. I can't use the dremel b/c she is scare of anything that plus in and makes noise. That, the hair dryer, vaccum, my husbands clippers, you name it. She shakes like crazy, and a lot more than the normal chi shakes! I even tried what they calm a quite dryer, ha, it wasn't that quite it and totally freaked her out.
But the thing w. the nylon is a great idea it's even a good idea if you are just clipping.

 

[lee301]

One of my shelties is a beautiful tri with all black nails. At first first, I used a dog nail clipper but every time it seemed as if I nipped the quick. As a result, her nails became too long so I started taking her to the vet every month to be done. Now, I use a grinder and have not had a problem with any of the dogs. I am able to keep the nails short as they should be and have no pain, no blood ever, and much happier dogs. Even if I grind into the quick accidently now, it cauterizes the cut, she feels no pain, and I am guilt free doing their dog nails.