Anyone use a Dremel for nails? - Page 2

I've been using a Dremel (multi-speed) tool for the nails for ~15 years. Never had any problems.

Most of the intructions in the above link are useful.

For myself, I prefer to sit on the the top of an aluminum grooming crate  with my back towards the dog. I have the dog lying in left lateral recumbency--because I am right handed. This allows me to be seated  on my left hip and to scoot my butt along the side of the crate ventral to the dog's body.

IOW, I pull the desired limb by the paw/pastern with my left hand and allow most of this leg to rest on the medial aspect of my left thigh/ knee for leverage (very important--also, use my left forearm against the dogs leg for leverage)--my right leg remains bent with its foot on the floor/cement.

After using the Dremel and cleaning up the tough/sharp edges to each nail, I also trim (with a #40 blade on an Oster electric trimmer) the hair on the bottom of each foot between the large heel pad and the toe webbing (not beween the toes). Finally, I clip away the long hair ahead of each trimmed nail to give the foot a more compact appearance. Trimming this hair does wonders to keep the dog from tracking mud/rain through the house during the wet winter months.

If I don't have access to a grooming crate, I use the same procedure seated on the floor with my back to the recumbent dog.

One more thing--when I introduce young pups to the Dremel, I usually have someone sit on the grooming crate with the dog resting on its rump and its head/neck/shoulders resting beween the helper's legs and leaning against his belly. During this time, the helper is usually feeding the pup small treats.

If I don't have a helper, I have the pup standing on a grooming table (higher than a crate) with a noose looped around its neck. Then, I go from foot to foot to remove the sharp tips of each nail. The noose keeps the pup from trying to jump off the table.

I also bathe (as well as groom--I don't have an elevated tub for bathing) all my dogs on a grooming table. They love it and are always jumping on the table asking to be groomed. When i used to show at AKC shows, one of my dogs could not pass a vacant grooming table (belonging to someone else) without trying to leap onto it.

I love the dremel. I too, use clippers to get length off and the dremel to smooth the nail and round it.  I teach my dogs "over"  and "head down" to lay on their side calmly for nails and brushing. I just use clippers on young pups (I just sit them in my lap) until they are old enough to learn this command also; none of my dogs have ever had problems with clippers or the dremel.