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Is it something that's easily done?
My parent's dog needs a trim but there's no way you'll get him in a vets without sedating him.
If it's a DIY job recommendations of clippers would be welcome.
Dunno what clippers we have but they're probably much of a muchness, as long as the dog will lie at peace when you do it the job is easy enough. Make sure you read up on what bit of the nail to cut, you don't want to be cutting into the quick. White nails are easy, black are harder, mixed is just an annoyance.
We have these for Fin, makes the job easy. Can be bought from elsewhere. Her main ones never need doing but the thumbs need to be done usually every six months
rather wrestle an octopus than cut my dogs claws. He gets his done a the vets cost £15 and needs a muzzle on not because he's a biting dog just old(17) and a bit cantankerous.
We've got the above clippers. Think you can only take 3mm cuts due to guard. Our old lab wouldn't let vet do it so we do a couple now and again. He gets stressed after a couple. His nails are pretty tough.
I have some a bit like Tracey's pic. The plate to limit claw insertion depth is the key component.
FiL got a bit carried away and used it without. Blood everywhere. Children still traumatised.
Be quick and deploy a little treat at the same time to distract.
As above, dog nails have a blood supply, apart from that it's just like cutting brake outer.
Is it something that’s easily done?
Depends entirely on the dog. Some will sit there like they're enjoying a pleasant manicure, some, like our old one, need to be held down whilst they wrestle, snarl and attempt to bite as if possessed by the very devil himself. In fact, it took two people to hold him down, which is pretty impressive for a dog the size of a Jack Russell.
Try to do it after a wet walk, the claws are softer.
Our dogs are much happier having their claws ground rather than cut.
We have a Pecute PGT-NG07, battery powered with a light.
Grinding claws smells, makes dust and it takes longer, but you can do a bit at a time so reducing the chance of a bleed. And the dogs sometimes fall asleep rather than wriggle like a mad thing during clipping.
You used to be able to get a Dremel adaptor. **** that.
You might get some handy tips here
Build up to it. Get them used to seeing the clippers and giving them treats when they see the clippers. Build up to it.
Tiny amounts at a time, but only once they are comfortable with the clippers being around them.
They will read your body language.
I only see the dog once a month so the softly softly approach may take a while!
Get your parents involved as it’s their dog after all? Unless they’re extremely elderly and can’t get involved but then surely they wouldn’t own a dog.
How have they been cut up to now? Or is it a new dog? Tricky to help once a month but if you want the dog to enjoy it and not hate it then it’s going to take time.