Sally holds a BA in English from James Madison University and began her writing career as a graduate student at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism & Mass Communications. She’s been researching and writing about dogs for Canine Journal since 2015, specializing in dog health articles. But she also has written extensively about dog accessories, pet insurance, training, and many other dog subjects. Her work has appeared in several notable media outlets, including The Washington Post, Entrepreneur, People, Forbes, Huffington Post, and more. Dremel nail grinders are so good that dog nail grinders, in general, are sometimes called dremels (just like you’d call tissues Kleenex), so it should be no surprise that a Dremel is our top choice. Nail trimming works best when your pup is relaxed and comfortable. Find a position that works, offering you easy access to the feet – cutting blind is a very bad idea. Lift your pup’s paw, but hold it close to the body so that they can’t pull away.

Lightweight & easy-to-maneuver, the portable nail grinding rotary tool weighs just 9 ounces and empowers pet owners with the confidence and freedom to groom anywhere But the thing that really stands out about this grinder is its safety features. It has a nail guard to ensure your dog’s fur doesn’t get caught up in the grinder and an LED light so you can always clearly see what you are doing.

Repeat On Each Nail: Continue the process on all the nails, being patient and cautious with each one. Use treats and praise as positive reinforcement throughout the process. The grinder has three different sized openings, which are appropriate for different sized paws. This means a single machine can work well in a multi-pet household. All in all, we loved the grinder and couldn’t find many faults with it. It doesn’t come with an LED light, like some others, so you’ll want to be sure to use it in a well-lit area. It’s also a bit more expensive than some other models, but we think it provided great value. But, many companies have started to produce grinders that are quiet, which means it is easier to keep your dog at ease during a process that is rarely fun. Clean Up: Use a damp towel to remove any nail dust and maintain its performance. This step often gets overlooked but is important for their hygiene.

This Dremel grinder is a high-quality product from a respected brand, so you shouldn’t expect it to be cheap. In my house, nail-trim day usually requires both humans (even for the smaller dog, a 30-pound Terrier mix) and creative contortions of humans and dogs to hold our pups in place while simultaneously finding a good angle to trim from. Even with treats, it’s a challenging process all around. While the batteries add hidden expense to this option, the fact that it is quiet and comes with lots of features that will help nervous trimmers mean it is still a fantastic option. Why Choose Nail GrindersYou might think this speed seems quite slow, but unless you are a professional who has a lot of experience working on dogs’ nails, you probably don’t want to be working with anything faster. Rather than cutting the nail, a canine nail grinder will grind away at the nail with a high-speed, rounded grinder that uses a material similar to sandpaper. Pros and Cons of Using a Dog Nail Grinder It also comes with a variety of sanding cylinders included, so you probably won’t need to buy any extras, though they are available.

But even if you go with a quiet nail grinder with a nice feature for catching and cleaning up dust, you need to use the grinder properly. Here’s what we recommend. COMPARISON: Dremel vs. Safari vs. Epica: What are Best Dog Nail Clippers? Dremel Tool Dog Nail Grinder Review With this tool, you don’t have to take a trip to the vet or doggy parlor, traumatizing your poor pooch just to get their nails trimmed. Are Dog Nail Grinders Better Than Clippers? You can hear the noise made by this grooming tool in my video review. The buzzing noise that nail grinders make and the grinding sound made when they are trimming the nail may scare some dogs. If your dog is timid or has anxiety about grooming, it's likely that a nail grinder isn't going to be a good choice for him.Another common mistake is holding the Dremel tool against the nail for long. Here, heat builds up, burning your pup’s nail and foot. If you avoid these two common mistakes, your pooch probably won’t even realize that they’re getting a pedicure. How Often Should You Dremel Your Dog’s Nails?

Trim Excess Hair (If Needed): Some dogs have hair growing around their nails. Trim this hair away so that it doesn’t interfere with the grinding process. Dog nail grinders or trimmers may not be fit for everybody. Some groomers prefer traditional pet nail clippers over battery-powered trimmers. I recommend you read about how this tool works, and maybe even try it within the 30-day return policy, to see whether Dremel tool is the right product for your Fido. Smooth The Edges: After you’re done, you can use the grinder to smooth the sharp edges of the nails.

In the long debate of nail grinders vs. clippers, most pet owners have extreme opinions. Without intentionally stepping on any toes, here’s our humble opinion: This tool features a rechargeable battery for cordless operation and is compatible with most other Dremel rotary tool bits and accessories. My favorite feature is the 45° paw guide that assures you to file the nails at the correct angle to prevent injury. Begin by applying the band or disc to your dog's nail for no more than three seconds. Do not press—the grinder doesn't need additional pressure. Because the rotary tool can heat up your dog's nails, it's better to move from nail to nail: applying the grinder for three seconds and moving on to allow time for each nail to cool down. If a nail still needs further trimming, return to it in a second or third pass. If you are happy to invest in a professional style grinder, then you won’t find much better than this premium product from Wahl.