Nail clippers are the essential tools for dog nail grooming for both professional and at home use. There are many sizes and models available when it comes to nail clippers.  It is all about choosing the model that best suits your dog’s needs.  Medium-sized clippers usually work on all breeds except for very large dogs. Grinders are an alternative to clippers and lots of groomers used them for more delicate dog nail grooming tasks.

The difference between grinders and clippers is that clippers cut and grinders smooth off edges.  Dog nail grooming is complex and it usually requires a combination of tools to achieve maximum of efficiency. Some clippers come with a guard attachment that is meant to prevent cutting too much nail.  However, because of this guard, you may not see the nail when cutting and you could wind up injuring the toe veins. Such accidents are frequent in home grooming because of the wrongful use of tools.

More advanced equipment for dog nail grooming stems the bleeding and cauterizes the vein if the clippers touch it. The problem with dog nail grooming is that you have to be very careful and maximize the dog’s comfort, or you risk to make the animal nervous and agitated.  This significantly reduces the chance of trimming the nails properly.

Dog nail grooming should not be neglected.  Long nails can be very painful for animals, particularly when they live indoors and have few opportunities to smooth the nails against the ground.  Improperly trimmed nails also carry the risk of becoming ingrown, which is both very painful and very uncomfortable.  If you can hear the dog’s nails clicking against the floor you should cut them right away.

Sometimes dog nail grooming requires smoothing or filing because some dogs have very brittle nails that splinter when you cut them short.  Consider your dog’s tolerance and disposition when trimming nails. Don’t attempt to cut them all at once.  Breaks are usually necessary in order to allow the animal to relax. There have been cases when pets have bitten their masters during this kind of grooming episodes – Don’t let this happen to you.

With many pets it takes a lot of time to get used to nail trimming.  Try the reward system and give your pet a tiny treat after each nail cut. Wait for a while, then move on to the next nail.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dani_Waser

Edited by Dog Training Tips <http://www.dogtrainingtips.com>

Filed under: Dog Grooming

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