My dog refuses to have his nail cut with clippers- would it be safe to file them instead?

I have two dogs- a two year old Papillon and a four year old Yorkshire terrier. The papillon does not mind having her nails clipped at all. Plus it is easy to do since her nails are clear.





My yorkie, however, hates having his nails cut with clippers. That and he has black nails so I've always been fearful of cutting the quick. I'm thinking that when he was a puppy I snipped it and ever since he has been a fighter when it comes to nail clippings. Even the vet cannot do it. I can manage to clip sharp tips off with scissors which he doesn't mind. But scissors are not strong enough to cut the thicker parts of the nail and they may twist and crack it.





Can I file them down instead of clipping them? It might be a bit of work, but he shouldn't mind it as much.My dog refuses to have his nail cut with clippers- would it be safe to file them instead?
On some dogs the pressure the clippers create as they close on the nail is painful. In this case, what I prefer to use both for the comfort of the dog as well as a nice, smooth nail tip is a Dremel tool.





The Dremel is a cordless, battery operated rotary file. It has a small drum on the end that is sandpaper which revolves at a good rate and it files the nail down. It takes some time for you to get used to operating it, and thus don't go for the ideal short nail in the beginning. It also takes some time for the dog to get used to it.....but they do get used to it rather quickly and much more readily than the standard nail clippers.





You can get Dremel tools marketed towards the pet market, but they are the exact same thing as the Dremel tools in the hardware department in Wal-Mart. I have had both. Finding replacement sandpaper drums is easier for the Wal-Mart brand. $20 will get you a nice Dremel.





I prefer to use these over other brands of nail trimmers as my therapy dogs interact with the elderly who have thin, tender skin. I can not afford for my dogs to have ragged, jagged or sharp nails. The Dremel makes for nice smooth, safe nails.





And yes, you are right, a dog won't mind filing as much as being trimmed. A Dremel will make the job easier on you, by far.My dog refuses to have his nail cut with clippers- would it be safe to file them instead?
How about the clippers for dogs nails, there supposed to be safe, I get my Vet to do mine, I think they do sell files for dog nails in petco or petsmart but I think they may start getting antsy being worked on that long
NO!! Don't file the nails. They will splinter and shatter. If you cannot cut the dogs' nails with a dog nail clipper, then take the dog to the vet or a groomer. These individuals have the proper cutters to do the job.
You can try a grinder (dremmel is a popular brand), but being a yorkie, you have to make sure his fur stays out of the way. You can file, it won't hurt and it will be a bit of work.
i just saw an ad for a motorized pet nail filer, im sure if you research it you can find it easily. no cutting involved and the dogs in the commercial didnt seem to notice it at all. good luck!
i am having that problem too, like i have both dogs


only half done ?





i don't know, you have given me an idea, ask the vet, but it seems they would be too strong ? i don't really know, have to find our.
The same thing happens with my dog the vet said that the only way she can cut them for her is to put her asleep.
yep no problem, i've done it and some vet offices use a drimmle to file the nails down quickly
Consult a veternarian or an expert in a pet store.
I saw an ad on the TV once for a special nail file for dogs so other people must do it.
i might leave that dog alone, if it doesnt want to then ill leave it alone. i dont want 2 get bitten.
Take him to the Pet Groomers it works for my Shih Tzu.
u can buy a Dremmel and file the nails down,works great and is fast for a dog that hates nail trimming
Few, if any dogs on the planet, will willingly extend their paws and sit still for nail trims. Doing so violates their natural instincts to protect their feet. Filing takes longer and is actually more painful that using a nail trimmer. A dremmel on either of these breeds requires paws to be closely trimmed beforehand or the hair will get quickly caught in the dremmel head and can cause serious injury--making the entire nail trimming experience even more upsetting in the future.





Buy some powder Quick Stop from your local pet stupply store. Both of these breeds can be taught self control for nail trims. If you take control and get the job done correctly, they will become more cooperative. Both also tend to grow nails very fast and need trims at least every 10 days.





If a dog has learned that he can get away with screaming loud enough that you will stop trying to trim nails--he has taught you and not vice versa.





Here is a link that shows the proper trimming of nails.
Sure you can file them. Many groomers use a dremmel which in effect is just a high speed file.


In fact, the file might get her more used to having her feet handled and eventually you'll be able to clip them.





One other thing: I just read this in a book the other day and thought it was the most genius thing EVER, so I just have to pass it on:


One great way to get dogs to let you clip their nails is to smear peanut butter on the fridge and let them work on licking it off while you clip. (because you have a little dog, you might want to put a table up next to the fridge so you're not climbing on the floor) You just hold the dogs foot up behind them like a farrier would shoe a horse. Maybe it will work?
The only problem with the dremmel (power-tool most use for filing nails, can be purchased most anywhere) is that it makes lots of noise and can tickle your dog and you can file the nail to the quick just as easily. Veterinary behaviorist (especially the ones at prudue vet school) recommend clicker training for dogs like this. I have seen a dog go from will bite your head off if you even touch their foot to putting heir foot in their owners hand every time they want any attention. To start I would get a clicker training for dummies book and start from there ... it will be easy fun and most likely quick. Once you can clip the very ends of the nails you can take the dogs to your vet and they can show you how to not quick the nails.