How to Use a Dog Nail Grinder

If you have decided to use a dog nail grinder to trim your dog’s nails, the first thing to do is to get your dog habituated to the grinder. With most dogs this does not take long, but occasionally it may take as much as a couple of weeks before the dog is sufficiently desensitized to the noise and the vibrations the grinder makes.

Only when your dog shows no fear or reluctance towards the switched on grinder should you attempt to start grinding the nails.

If your dog has long-haired paws push the nails through gauze or an old sock to keep the hair out of the way. If you have a long-haired dog, you also need to pay attention to keep the coat away from the grinder so that it doesn’t get caught by the spinning part. However, if your grinder has a safety guard you don’t need to worry about this.

Make sure your own hair is secured and consider whether you want to use eye and mouth protection.

If you have a dog grooming table use it to help keep your dog in position. Using a dog grooming table will also be more comfortable for you.

  1. Ensure the grinder attachments – sanding drum and sanding bands, or sanding stone – are correctly assembled and secured onto the grinder.
  2. Decide on the speed to use. It will vary depending on the size and quality of your dog’s nails, the grade of sanding bands you use, or if you use a sanding stone. As a rule always start at the lower speed the first time. For small dog nails use low speed and experiment to find which grade of sanding bands work best. Higher speeds are only intended for larger dogs with big thick nails.
  3. Take a firm hold of both the toe and the nail to give them support. You need to steady both the nail and the toe against the vibrations. Be careful not to pinch. By squeezing gently you can make the nail extend a little more, making it more accessible.
  4. Turn on the grinder and start moving the sanding drum over the tip of the nail. Ensure that the spinning direction of the wheel is away from the dog, not towards him.
  5. If your grinder has a safety guard that covers the sanding drum, this involves selecting the right-sized hole in which to insert the nail before moving the drum over the nail tip.
  6. Don’t keep the grinder against the nail more than a couple of seconds at a time or the nail will get too hot and cause your dog discomfort.
  7. Progress by moving from nail to nail on one or two paws at a time, thereby allowing the nails to cool down in between.
  8. Don’t try to speed up the process by pushing down the grinder on the nail, it will make the nail heat up and may trigger the safety mechanism in the grinder and make it stop. This safety mechanism is meant to stop hair from being torn out if trapped in the grinder.
  9. On light nails you are able to see the pinkish outline of the quick. Stop when you are around 1/16˝ from it. On dark nails where the quick is not visible, stop when you see a darker dot on the grinded surface. That’s the beginning of the quick becoming visible as you get close to it.
  10. If your dog starts resisting you or showing other signs of discomfort, the nail may be getting too hot or you may be getting too close to the quick.
  11. When you completed the first two paws and if everything is going well, move on to the next pair.

Lastly, don’t forget to show your dog how good he is by giving him plenty of praise and healthy treats both during and at the end of the grinding session. The more positive reinforcement you give your dog, the easier it will be next time.

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