Exciting 2021 Update: I am launching a new, affordable, in-depth, at-your-own-pace “How To Dremel Your Dog’s Nails” online master course! Packed with expert instructions, videos, and more! If you’d like to be notified when the course is ready, subscribe here (just to get a single email when the course is ready):
Dremeling dog nails is a fantastic alternative to the traditional method of clipping. It is not surprising that many dogs react poorly to nail clipping. Even if you do not cut painfully into the quick, the motion of clipping still pinches the sensitive nerves inside of the nail. Dremeling is a great way to maintain healthy nails and to lessen stress for everyone involved. You don’t have to be a professional to do a good job, but, there are some important steps involved in properly Dremeling nails.
Choosing a Dremel
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- Speed/RPM: Ideal dog nail grinding happens at between 10,000 – 15,000 RPM (a.ka. it’s speed -the sanding drum’s rotations per minute). Anything RPM lower than 10,000 RPM will be too slow, and anything higher than 15,000 is TOO HOT and will cause too much heat to generate as you Dremel. If you are new to Dremeling, it is ideal to start out at 10,000 RMP. If you have questions about models and RPM, please comment below, I am happy to help!
- Corded, or Cordless? I prefer cordless. Cordless is less tricky for you to maneuver, and much less disruptive to the dog. Just remember to re-charge your cordless Dremel battery about once every 2 weeks.
In my opinion, these are the three to choose from. They are all cordless:
- Dremel’s Pet Model. I am putting this here because so many people ask about it, but it is my least favorite. Model has two speeds to chose from: 6,500 or 14,000 RPM. The slow speed is under 10,000, which is too slow for dog nail Dremeling, making the faster speed it’s only useful speed. Ideal nail Dremeling happens between 10,000-15,000 RPM, making this model’s speed of 14,000 on the faster end of that spectrum. Please note if you are a tentative beginner, this speed can be a little fast. I have gone through a few of these for travel purposes because they are cheap and I wouldn’t mind if I lost one. They don’t have the best battery life and they die after about 2 years in my experience. These do the job just fine, but if you want to save money over time, the below models will last longer (the below models cost around 2.5x the cost of the pet model).
- Dremel 7760. This Dremel has one setting for dog nails – “2” (14,000 RPM). Ideal nail Dremeling happens between 10,000-15,000 RPM, making this model’s speed of 14,000 on the faster end of that spectrum. It is a bit sturdier than the pet model.
- Dremel 8220. This cordless model is the only one that has an actual “sliding scale” for speed (5,000-35,000 RPM), with tiny adjustments available to your exact liking. This means if you are a nervous Dremeler at first, you can slide the speed to your comfort level and you learn and get more experienced. I learned on this one and loved it. It is heavier than the other two listed above, but the adjustability in speed is unparalleled. In my experience this model is extremely durable and unlike the other two is unlikely to need replacing. Even though it is heavier I would only really notice that if I had arthritis or wrist problems.
Necessary Supplies
- Sanding Bands, 60 Grit, Dremel product #408 (1/2″ diameter): This is the drum you will use to shorten the nails. It is a courser grit. Replace once a month.
- Sanding Bands, 120 Grit, Dremel product #432 (1/2″ diameter): This is the drum you will use to smooth out the nails after shortening them with the courser grit first. These are essential for going over each nail one last time to smooth them out. No more scratched flesh or couches from dog nails! Replace once every month – 2 months.
- Dremel Ez-Drum Mandrel, Dremel product #EZ407SA. This inexpensive part makes switching between the two types of sanding bands a breeze. This tool (shown below) allows you to swap out sanding bands instantly. It doesn’t come with the Dremel kit, but almost all hardware stores carry it in the rotary tool / Dremel section.
Optional Supplies
- Safety Glasses, to keep dust out of your eyes.
- Dust mask or respirator, if you have asthma and/or are sensitive to dust.
- If you are nervous about grinding your dog’s nails down too much, a focused headlamp will be an invaluable tool for Dremeling — and for walking your dog at night! My all-time favorite is the Petzl headlamp.
Dremel Training
Miles is a dog that absolutely cannot stand having his nails clipped. I cannot emphasize how passionately he used to fear nail clipping! No amount of food or training could convince him to tolerate nail clipping. It was terrible. With training, however, he is completely content to relax while I Dremel his nails. This is because I introduced the tool slowly and carefully, and because I use it properly.
Because you will be using this tool once or twice a week for the rest of your dog’s life, it is critical for both you and your dog that there is no fear or force involved. For many dogs, the whirring sound of the Dremel can be suspicious at first, and understandably so! If you train your dog that the Dremel isn’t a scary thing long before you use it on their nails, there is a much greater chance it will be a tool they won’t mind for life. Please work with a experienced trainer who uses “force-free” methods if you are unsure of how to approach this task — update — see the beginning of this post!!!
Positioning
You can practice putting your dog in “Dremeling” position for short periods of time while giving them treats before you introduce the Dremel. In combination with Dremel training, your dog will realize that the sound and vibration of the tool, along with this position, are routine, and not at all scary.
For a medium or small dog, I recommend that you place the dog belly up on your lap, or on their side on a comfy dog bed. A large dog can be laid on his or her side on the floor in front of you, ideally on the couch or on a dog bed.
Safely Sanding
Turn your Dremel on, and set it to to between 10,000 and 15,000 RPM (again, if you are unsure what this means, comment below). Hold up one paw, carefully push any fur away, then select a nail, With your free hand, hold fur away from the nail. While supporting the nail between your fingers, touch the sander against the nail for 1-2 seconds, and then retreat. Never leave the sander touching a single spot on a nail for more than two seconds, and never apply pressure. The goal is to smooth little sections off, while never putting enough friction on the nail to generate any heat. That is why using a Dremel that has variable speeds is very handy for the safety and comfort of the dog, because the slower the speed, the longer it takes to build friction, and the more control you have over ensuring the process never creates any heat, or sands the nail down too fast. As long as you never put pressure, and you gently and briefly smooth the sander along the nail, and never remain in one spot more than a second or two, you will do just fine. The best way to Dremel nails is to focus on one paw at a time, rotating between all of its toes.
When to Stop Dremeling
Over time you will learn exactly when to stop sanding. A sure indicator of when to stop is when you begin to see a little white dot in the center of the tip of the nail. Also, the tip of the nail will start seeming a bit softer – and less dry and flaky. That is because you are entering the “living” part of the nail. That little white dot is the beginning of the quick. The first time, don’t do too much. You can always try again in a few days. If you don’t see a little white dot, but you get too close to the quick, your dog will lightly flinch. Stop sanding if your dog shows sensitivity, as this is an even clearer indication that the nail is finished.
Finishing The Nails
When you are finished Dremeling all of your dog’s nails (bottom left), the final two steps are:
- Smooth the nails with your 120 grit sanding band: Swap out your coarse 60 grit sanding drum for your 120 grit sanding band (see supplies list at the start of the article for details). Then quickly smooth the undersides and ends of the nails. This will remove any flaky bits and keep the nails from cracking.
- Oil the nails: The final step is to rub a thin layer of olive or coconut oil over each nail. Doing this seals the nail. Applying a little bit of olive oil prevents the nail from cracking, makes it very smooth, and lastly prevents the nails from absorbing nasty stuff outside. If you Dremel properly and moisturize the nails afterwards, you also won’t have to worry about your dog’s nails leaving marks or scratches anywhere!
How Often You Should Dremel
Over time, not trimming dog nails often enough can lead to all sorts of health problems. Every single part of your dog’s body depends on, and is affected by his feet. Nails that aren’t clipped often enough will to grow longer quicks over time. This means, if your dog goes for periods where his nails are on the medium/longer side, the live part of the nail will also longer, and that is the part that you cannot cut. Not regularly trimming your dog’s nails leads to them being longer, long term.
For most dogs, Dremeling once a week is a good schedule of how often to trim. If you can manage it, I like to Dremel twice a week.
How often you Dremel really depends on how fast your dog’s nails grow, and how often she is running around on rough surfaces, which also can aid in wearing down the nails. For this reason, avoid Dremeling your dog’s nails right before strenuous activity. The soft part of the nail can be a bit delicate for the first few hours after Dremeling.
Additionally, say you’ve just discovered Dremeling, and your dog has a longer quick area than he should. I have found that if you Dremel on a schedule of around every 3-4 days, you can actually get the quick to retreat over time. With this sort of frequent trimming, you will need to be diligent and to trim every 3-4 days on a strict schedule. Once the nails have reached the desired length, you can go back to regular maintenance 1-2x weekly trimming.
Advantages of Dremeling Dog Nails
One great advantage of Dremeling your dog’s nails is that if you introduce the process slowly and positively, the likelihood that your dog won’t mind it is much greater than the alternative of nail clipping. I know this because my own dog Miles is extremely sensitive, and couldn’t have his nails clipped, and he is now very accepting of having his nails Dremeled (see below video).
If you Dremel using the instructions here, it is great because it is:
- Not painful for the dog
- Very difficult to cause your dog’s nails to bleed
- Easier to train the dog to relax than other nail trimming methods
- The one method that results in smooth nails that won’t crack of scratch people, floors, or furniture
Being able to trim your dog’s nails yourself doesn’t just save a huge amount of time and money, it will also lead to keeping your dog’s nails a healthy length and ensure that your dog will not be terrified or in pain.
Overview
- Stay between 10,000 and 15,000 RPM for the speed of your Dremel.
- Touch the Dremel to the nail to sand for 1-2 seconds, retreat, touch again, repeat.
- Never put pressure on the nail when sanding.
- Never leave the sander on the nail for more than 1-2 seconds at a time.
- After trimming the nails with your 60 grit sanding band, swap it out for your finer 120 grit sanding band, and smooth the undersides and ends of the nails to finish them.
- After Dremeling your dog’s nails, finish them by rubbing olive or coconut oil over the nails to seal them and prevent flaking/cracking.
- Dremel on a schedule to maintain healthy nails (depending on the dog, that will be once a week or twice a week).
Thank you for the clear and concise description of how to dremel a dog’s nails. Now I just have to decide if I’m up to doing such a thing as I have never even clipped nails…. always had it done. And, I wonder if my eight and nine year old pugs will be receptive. You’ve certainly laid out an understandable program.
Thank you.
Hi Sheila! Thanks for writing. I am really pleased that you found the article to be useful. For the first few times, have a helper handy to dispense lots of little treats. When your pugs see that nail time can be fun and easy, they too will relax at the idea! 🙂 You are most welcome for the help! – Emma
Hi,
Thank you for this guide. I have had my bichon nails dremeled almost every week since I brought her home. This service cost $18 where I live and it seems like something I should be doing (not to mention that I could do many things with $72 I would save). Which specific dremel model would recommend for a small dog?
Which dremel model are you using looks like 8000 but not sure?
Hi Karin, in the video I am using an older corded Dremel (similar to a 200). Shown in the picture is the model I’ve been using for the past several years, which is a 8200. I am happy with the function and battery life of the 8200. If you have more questions let me know.
Are there oils we can use other than olive oil? Thanks for your help.
Hello Jennifer, thank you for asking. I believe any foodsafe oil will work, or even a little bit of vaseline. The main idea is to moisturize the nails to prevent cracking and splitting – and to use an oil that is safe if the dog licks away any slight excess.
Coconut oil is great and actually beneficial if the dog ingests it!
As a Doberman owner, I introduce mine to the Dremmel very young. First with no power on then gradually. And in the very beginning patience is a virtue. I will do one nail per session and stop. Then next day try 2 nails and stop. And a treat or two during each session makes it a reward time rather than a scary time.
What a great article and video. I am going to start using your suggestions to train my girls so that I can do their nails. I had them to the vet recently and even though I have their nails clipped regularly when groomed they were very long. The vet said this is a common problem that she sees. The groomers don’t take off enough so the nail is still long and then it continues to grow. The vet had to cut their nails short which made them bleed and I am sure it hurt them. I won’t put them through that again. Now that they are short I am going to start doing it myself.
Hello Kim!
Thank you so much for the note. I am thrilled you are inspired by the article. I looked into Dremeling for the same reasons as you, plus of course, Miles’ crippling fear of nail clippers! As long as you use lots of treats, your girls should relax into the practice! As part of me and Miles’ ritual, I also now pour the finishing olive oil into a little dish. After I apply it to the finished tips of his nails, I release him from my lap, and let him lick the last little bit of oil. It is so cute how he holds frozen in anticipation just as I am finishing the last touches… He can’t wait for the finale treat!
Emma
Thank you Emma for the clear concise explanation. The video was a big help too.
My dog who is six years old has been having his nails dremeled since he was a pup..but with a groomer.
I have decided to step up to the plate so I can be a bit more consistent with trimmings. I never realized it had to be done as frequently as you mentioned, so I’m grateful for finding your article.
Thank you.
Desiree
Desiree,
Thank you for the comment, I am so happy to share my findings! I know — it is so much more often than I thought too. Now that I’ve made it part of my routine over the last few years, I am really happy with the results. I think you will be too! And hopefully doing it yourself, you will save a little bit of money, too! Let me know how it goes.
Emma
Thank you so much for your article! My french bulldog tore a nail when he was a puppy, and ever since has been deathly afraid of clippers. His nails got so long they were curling towards his pads. I just dremeled the first time today and it was a success! My main goal is to make his quicks retreat back to a manageable length. Do you think if I do it every 3-5 days, it should work?
Hi Cody,
Aww I love Frenchies! Poor little guy. I don’t blame him for his fear. I am so excited that the first Dremeling was a success! Definitely continue to keep it positive by giving him lots of little high-value treats every time you Dremel.
To safely and gently urge the quicks to retreat, Dremel on a strict schedule of every 3-4 days. Mark it on your calendar or program your phone to remind you. You will soon get the hang of how much to do from experience — just be sure to use the tips suggested:
Never press down on a nail
Dremel a single nail for only 1-2 seconds
Alternate between nails
You’ve reached the right spot when the tip of the nail seems supple and moister than the rest, and/or if you see a faint white spot in the center of the tip
Stop of your dog twitches or seems sensitive
Treat freshly Dremeled nails with a light coat of Olive Oil
That will be your best shot. Good luck! And please let me know how it goes, and if you have any questions!
Emma
Hi, I was trying to see which dremel to buy for my dog. I was looking on amazon and saw a 7700 series. I’m not sure which series I should buy. I was given a dog who had never had his nails cut and I’m worried about hurting him because the quick seems to be very long and the nail is as well. Should I also buy a quick stopper to stop bleeding should it happen? I found the dremel #432 but I’m just wondering what series to buy. I’m trying to do his nails as soon as possible. Thank you so much!
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for writing! Any of the cordless or corded models that have RPM between 5 – 20 or 25 are great. 2-speed is essential, variable is even better. The 7700 is 2-speed, which will suit your needs just fine. I own this model and use it for travel because it is light. It doesn’t have the adjustability that my bigger one has, but it does the job. I am going to update the article above to include all of this information, thanks to your comment!
You won’t hurt him if you follow the instructions carefully. Start very slow and have someone feed him lots of little treats as you go. You’ll have some idea of how close you are to the quick by the instructions.
If you Dremel a little bit every 3-4 days on a strict schedule, it is possible to see the quick retreat a little bit.
It should be rare to see blood, but if you do, definitely, a quick-stop product would be good to have on hand. However it is best to go in tiny bursts, with no applied pressure, and to stop the second the nail begins to feel soft, the white tip shows, and especially if the dog shows any sensitivity.
Let me know if you have any other questions! 🙂 That dog is lucky he came into your life, how wonderful!
Emma
Thank you so much for this helpful video. I have a bischon/terrier mix (rescue) who is terrified of nail clippers. He’s also had back surgery so it’s imperative that I keep his nails short (not easy with his fear). Going to the groomers doesn’t keep them short enough. Recently I bought a dremel, and for some reason, he doesn’t mind it at all. After watching your video several times, I am still a little confused exactly how I should be approaching the nail. Are you mostly touching the bottom of the nail? the tip? Do you touch the sides also? Thanks in advance for any help you can give; seeing your dog so relaxed gave me hope that this might be the answer for mine. Lynn (That olive oil tip was great too!)
Hi Lynn,
I really appreciate you writing. I am planning an update to this article, so I’ll add more video to help clarify! That is really helpful.
I am THRILLED that your little guy doesn’t mind the Dremel — isn’t it amazing how different it is compared to nail clipping?!
Here is my routine: alternate between the nails on one foot (to prevent each nail from overheating). You are targeting primarily flat across the bottom of the nail. Once the nails on the foot are short enough, I then smooth in a circular motion the sides of the nail. So basically, touch the end of each nail multiple times, and when short enough, move the dremel carefully in a circular motion around the sides of the nail a few times, slightly more on the underside of the nail, and at a slight angle so you are smoothing the nail to make the end rounded. Please let me know if you need further explanation and I’ll be happy to explain more.
So happy to hear from you! Give your guy a little treat for me.
Emma
I’ve been using the Dremel on my Standard Poodle but your tips are very helpful, I wish I had thought to research earlier on. I have a 5 speed Dremel so I think I am good there but my husband purchased a Chain Saw Sharpening Stone rather than the bands you show here. The grind number is 454. Do you think this will be ok to use for her nails? I think his reasoning is that these stones will last longer which does make sense but I want to be sure. Please let me know so I can get started on our new 3 day practice of grinding.
Thanks
Hi Murphy,
Thanks for writing! Your Dremel sounds great. If you know the model name/number I can offer you some RPM (speed) tips too.
You should be able to easily swap out the stone for a mandrel with sandpaper, which is inexpensive. The main concern with the stones are the heat they generate. The inside of the nail is very sensitive, and the heat can cause considerable pain when you get close to the quick. Thankfully the sandpaper isn’t too bad price wise.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Dremeling! 🙂
Emma
Hi Emma, thanks so much for getting back to me. I checked the work bench and found the Dremel Sanding Bands #432 which are 120 Grit, yippy, however I don’t have a model number on this machine it only says…Dremel Multi Pro Variable Speed 5.000 – 30.000 RPM. Oh wait, it also says…1.15 A Ball Bearing Model 395 Type 5 so maybe that’s the model number of the machine? Anyway if you have any suggestion on which speed to use that would be great otherwise I’ll just start with the lowest and go from there. Your pooch is so darn cute…may be my next choice after my wonderful Standard is only in my memories. Thanks so much.
Hi Emma,
Thank you SO much for the wonderful instructions and video! They’re both perfect!
I have an older Dremel-Model #395. It is still brand new in the box and I was getting ready to donate it. However, if I can use it on Rigsby’s (Boston Terrier) nails that would be awesome! The booklet that came with it says the RPM’s are 4,500-30,000. In a reply to someone else you said to start at 25 I think. Can you help me figure this out?
Thank you so much!
Katy
Hi Katy!
I am so glad the article is useful for you! I will be updating it soon to include everything that has been discussed in the comments, and the exact RPM info. I really need to sit down on Miles’ next nail trim and write down the RPMs and what they are good for. I just looked at my Dremel right now, and I *think* around 10,000 RPM is a good starting point. You want it fast enough to sand the nail efficiently without pressure, but not so fast that it is very loud and creating too much friction (heat). I will double check once my battery is charged and reply again — but try starting at 10,000. Is it variable speed (sliding scale button), or two-speed (only 2 speed options)?
Thanks for writing! 🙂
Hi Emma!
Thanks for much for ALL of this excellent info. My dog has severe anxiety, but especially when it comes to trimming nails. We have bounced around so many places because every single time she ends up bleeding. I normally try & clip her nails but she is so uncomfortable every single time & the more research i did, the more i received recommendation about the dremel. Her nails have gotten long & i literally hate the thought of her being in pain. So while this process might suck in the beginning, i know it’ll pay off! Saving this article so that i can always come back when needed! Thank the good Lord for people like YOU who do these awesome posts!!!!
You are some welcome, thank you for the kind comment!
Emma— Dremel makes a flexible shaft #225 that will make this job exponentially easier. You will be able to hold the mandrel like a pencil with much more control, especially with a fidgety dog. I have been doing my other labs for years with no problems but the latest mixed lab does not like her feet messed with. I will try your method. Thanks for the video.
Thank you Donald! I have seen the shaft used too. I am really glad you liked the post! Let me know how your Dremeling is going!
Emma, I am SO distressed tonight! Picked up our dog from “camp” yesterday & at our request, had his nails dremeled while he was there … “ever since” he’s been holding his right paw up (in the air) ~ obviously IN PAIN!!!! This has never happened before, but his regular groomer was not there, so another person did it.
Is it possible she dremeled too low into the quick? As all animal lovers think, our guy is just SO precious, wouldn’t hurt a flea, very docile, tame, laid back…. just THEE BEST animal!! I so hate to see him in pain like this!! Just breaks my heart.
And as diplomatic as I possibly can be, I want to make sure this groomer (who seems rough anyway) never touches him again!
TIA for your response!
Hi RJ! Have you considered Dremeling your dear pup’s nails yourself?
AMAZING!!!!! Mungo, our welshie, HATES getting his nails clipped, and started looking through your blog again on tips of how you groom Miles. We will have to start with a sand paper on a board to teach how to scratch then move up to this, just so he gets use to the feeling. But I am flabbergasted that you got 1) a welsh to lay on his back and let you hold his paws 2) how much he loves his nails groomed!
You should do an article / video about stripping. We are working on that part with our welsh too. He loves his face and tail to be done, however, the body and feet he dislikes which leads to sadly muzzle :(. Least I know we have a goal for nail care in mind, now the stripping!
I should say Hand stripping, not stripping just in case someone doesn’t know what I mean! Ha!
Very important, take care with dogs that have long tail hair as it can get caught in the tool if they wag their tails, as happened once when I was doing it, securing it with a Woggie does the trick.
I just push the fur up with my hands, but thanks for the tip! Whats a woggie?! I will share this once I know!
I see that you recommend 120 grit sanding drums, when you purchase the drill the replacement sanding drums they offer are 60 grit so I am confused
Thank you
Terry
Hi Terry! I highly recommend using two drums — the 60 grit for sanding the nails down, then the 120 grit for smoothing them and getting closer. The 60 is pretty coarse so it will do the work — the 120 will safely sand them down the rest of the way and smooth the nails nicely. Here is the link to get the 120s!
I’ve been doing this incorrectly for many, many years. Thank you for teaching me the right way.
Hi Sandra, I am so happy to hear this! Thank you for the kind comment!
This is the best i have read in a while.I have been doing my dogs nails now for about 8 months,still not quite there,for instance today certain nails looked longer then others,but when i went to sand he pulled away as soon as i touched the dremel to his nail. I am not sure if it was a heat radiating from the disk,because i know i was no were near the quick.However does the dremel you use have a speed guide,because the one i have has 2 speeds,slower and faster,with the slower speed it seems like i have to do the work were the higher speed does the work maybe to fast.And the other thing that is frustrating is my dog has all black nails,and from what i saw from the picture so does yours.So here is the real question have you ever been curious to try and find a way to see thru the nail to see the quick.I know an ex-ray will not work because the quick is not bone,at least that is what i was told.Can you think of anyway in the world to see that quick,and make this job easier. Jim
Hi James! It sounds like you are using the pet model. In your case, the Dremel 8050 or Dremel 8220 might be better options. They both have speed ranges that are much more ideal for Dremeling dog nails! The first one you’d want to start by setting it at 10,000. This will be fast enough to really get trimming, but without being too overwhelming! The later model I just linked has 100% adjustability — the speed controller is a sliding scale that you can adjust perfectly to your liking! I can’t recommend either enough!
I just bought the model you recommended. The micron. How do I know which is the speed
To use. It has about five options. Thank you!
Hi Nancie!
Thank you for writing. The micro is amazing. It’s speeds are based on RPM. For dog nails I like between 10,000-15,000 RPM, so the best settings on it are “10” or “15.” Start with “10,” and see how it goes. If you start feeling you could use a bit more speed, try “15.”
Please let me know if you have more questions!
Hi Emma. I get the impression you’re not a crazy about the “pet specific” Dremel nail grinders, which aren’t mentioned at all in your comprehensive article. The more general purpose Dremel tools you suggest cost two or three times more than those specifically meant for pets; and most of them seem to meet your requirements for speed and versatility. So is there a reason for your recommending the industrial grade tools – especially for those of us who aren’t heavy use commercial groomers?
Hi Neil, they are actually! The first model listed is Dremel’s pet model. It retails for around $29.99! I explain why it doesn’t last as long, but I do like it! I understand it might be easy to miss because the article is very long. I hope this helps.
Just wanted to say thank you so much for the clearly detailed instructions on how to go about this.
Like your dog – my dog will NOT allow clipping. I spent nearly a year with treats trying to train and counter-condition her to it. (I am unsure WHY it became such a problem. I have my suspicion, but no proof. But regardless, its been an issue.) I finally hit a point and realized that she is NEVER going to accept it. So I put away the clippers, made a scratchboard and have spent the last year training her to allow me to handle her feet instead. (Something I started when she was tiny. . .but she’s always been a bit weird about it, moreso when the clippers became an issue. Then again, it’s just one of the things she’s been weird about. Strange dog. Lots of anxiety-related issues I’ve had to work her through one at a time. :P) The scratchboard HELPED keep things in check, but despite that, walking her on rough surfaces and trying to hand-file the claws that didn’t get worn – things have slowly been getting worse. I finally got the money to buy a dremel. It came last Thursday.
After reading your article and a video on Youtube, I got it out and started on her. WOW WOW WOW. What a difference. Armed with the knowledge (though still lacking practice) of what I was doing, I started her slowly and. . .she was fine with it. By day 2 I had her lying on her side calmly letting me grind away at her nails. 4 days in and her claws are looking miles better. Still not where they should be, of course, but she’s totally chill with it. Yes!!! So thank you so much for helping us get a grip on what we were doing.
(Note, I ended up spending more getting the Dremel Micro 8050. More expensive, but I figure it can be used for other stuff and will last long enough to be good for other dogs, too. I am also planning on coughing up the $210 for the Diamond Pinnacle bit as well – when I can work up that much money. Crazy-expensive, but I figure I’ll probably save money on the one bit as opposed to replacing the cheaper ones. And again, I can use it on other dogs as well as this one. So, yeah.)
Hi there, I really appreciate your sharing your similar experience. Miles was the same way with nail clipping.
I am absolutely ecstatic hearing that things are going well, just so happy for you to finally have a good solution. It makes my day!
I 100% agree that the $70 range Dremel is worth it compared to the $29 model! Both work but the $70 lasts so much longer.
I am worried about the Diamond Pinnacle getting hot easily, although I see reviews that say it doesn’t. Let me know what you find out! I think in my years of Dremeling I’ve spent so little on sanding drums that I’ll stick with them for now, but I am very curious about what you find out!
Emma
Thank you for this video. I have a dachshund whose nails had grown so long even though I was getting them trimmed every 3 weeks. Now with the corona virus, I went and bought a dremel and started doing her nails myself. I’m going slowly and at first I was only able to do a nail or two at a time. She now lets me do two paws. Every second day I work on either the front or rear paws. Slowly working up to where she’ll let me do all of them at one time. I use lots and lots of treats (broken into small morsels) and she and I are both getting better at it. Thank you so much for your tutorial. It helped tremendously.
I am so happy to hear this Kim!!! Your dachshund is a lucky pup!
Our medium sized dog is nine years old. As a pup we used to clip her nails, but later on she became very fearful and would fight the two of us. She is part English bulldog and beagle, so being a little older now, it’s hard to hold her down. So we’ve been getting her clipped at the vet. I’m still not sure they even know how to clip properly. With the recent pandemic going on, our vet is only seeing patients for necessary health issues. So, I have introduced her to the dremel, and treats. She has tolerated it unexpectedly well! I have done it twice now and still need to get her nails down to a desired length.
That is fantastic Carol!! I am SO happy this article helped!
Hi Emma
I’m long overdue on learning this. I have two welsh terriers. One is ok to let me dremel but the other won’t tolerate it at all. His nails are sadly terribly long. I love all your spelled out instructions and videos. Do you have another video showing close up all the angles you apply the dremel or an illustration? The one close up shows the dremel on the bottom of the nail…but do I need to also apply on tip or on top and what angle? Thanks!!!
Hi Debbie, sorry for the slow reply! I am working on something exciting that will come very soon RE Dremeling and Dremeling challenges, so stay tuned! To answer your question about angles — I basically start by Dremeling the nails flat. If you imagine the nail is a slightly curved pencil I flatten the tip until the nail is the desired length. Then, I round the edges, then, I smooth the underside of the nail. The underside tends to be flaky so quickly smoothing it at the end prevents nail cracking/flaking/chipping. Again so sorry for the late reply, and thank you for writing!
Greetings Emma,
I watched your videos and read your article and found that your knowledge was very extensive. You have captured how to use a dremel to trim a dog’s nail in an informative and simplistic way. Thank you very kindly. I appreciate your love for dogs.
Aww thank you J! I really appreciate your feedback!
Thank you for the very helpful instructions and videos. My shepherd boxer mix adopted me in February. She came to me with remarkably lovely nails, then covid quarantine. I am handy and can do most diy things, but cutting a dog’s nails terrifies me. Rightfully so. Recently, I took her to groomers and they can’t get them short like they were before. I bought a Dremel Lite, and after finding your detailed instructions, will try to get them into the shape they were before. As well as save trips to the groomer. Your pup is adorable, I can’t believe he was so still!
Thank you so much MamaBear!! 🙂
What an insightful article on what may seem as a relatively mundane procedure.
I learnt a lot reading this article & look forward to properly treating my dog which I will invite to be part of my life in the near future. At present, I am learning all I can so as to be prepared once the doggo is with me.
Thank you !!
Thank you so much, that is wonderful to hear!
Hi – I don’t know if you are still responding to questions on this, but you didn’t do the dew claw … is that one not needing to be filed?
Thanks!
Hi Jess! My dog sadly had his dew claws removed as a pup by the breeder. If your pup has dew claws, you will want to do them as well! Just take care to push the fur away from the claws as not to snag any accidental fur. 🙂
Thank you for the thorough explanations and advice! This is very useful.
You are so welcome RD!
Amazing thanks !
Glad to help!
Hi Emma, I have the pet model dremel its ok for me as a beginner and quiet to train my dogs. Can I fit a drum sander as shown above to this dremel? It is supplied with a flat disk. Thank you for your informative article.
Hi Grace! Is it Dremel brand? If so, then yes, it will!
Hi, I just ran across this article with video and illustration of using the dremel to trim dog nails. I may be wrong, but in the first video it looked like you were going from bottom of nail up, and in 2nd video from top of nail down? I watched 2 YouTube videos from other sources today and they all showed top down as in your 2nd video. I have always laid my Terriers on their back, with head against my stomach, their back legs extended down thru my legs, and did it from bottom up. So I think I have been doing this wrong all along? My one dog hates it and has ever since she was a puppy (she’s 7 now). So far my 5 month old is pretty good with it.
Hi Patti! When I start the nails, I am just touching the Dremel really, so either direction is fine as long as you aren’t putting pressure. When I go into smoothing with the fine band, I do the sides from different angles to smooth the nails. I don’t really focus on direction as much as not putting pressure. I am releasing an extremely in-depth course that I have been working on for over a year soon that you may find useful. It will be affordable and packed with details if you are looking for up-close broken down techniques and steps. It also goes into detail about preventing “Dremel burnout” where dogs start out fine, but then start hating it, which happens a lot too. I am really glad you enjoyed the article, nice to have you here as part of this terrier loving community!! Welcome!!
Once a week! I thought I was doing good when I scheduled every 12 days. A lot of people just wait until they take their dog to the groomer.
My dog’s nails are waaay too long. I’ve never had a dog with nails like that. I do use a Dremel, and it’s much easier on both of us. But I’m paranoid of accidentally hitting the quick. Besides upsetting him, they can really bleed a lot.
So, I have him lie on his side, and I work up to that area under his nail, and slightly over the top. But, I must not be going far enough, because I’ve gotten nowhere. However, seeing that you do them once or twice a week, I’m going to see if doing them more often will help.
Thanks for the video, and your instructions. Very helpful! I’ll be thrilled if I can get them to receded!!
Hi Emma
I came across your article on Dremel of nails. I am a retired nurse practitioner and have taken care of plenty of diabetic nails but I’ve never done my dogs and it’s now time. I find at the vets office it’s a hit and miss who you get. I have a corgi, a Daschund and a miniature Australian Shepherd. I see where you list a lot of equipment but could you please tell me The best dremmel / kit that I can buy to accommodate my three fur babies? Cordless would be preferred.
Also my Daschund has black nails so seeing the quick should be easy.. What about my other two who have white nails, how can I tell if close to quick.
Thanks!
Craig in California