Are you looking for the best dog nail grinder on the market? If yes, then keep reading.
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Grooming dogs can be a little overwhelming, with so many product choices and solutions available to us. It’s no different when giving dogs their occasional nail care. The simplest solution to this is using nail clippers, but they don’t give all that clean a cut, plus apprehensive dogs and nail clippers don’t mix, and the likelihood of bleeding or improper cutting is too high. This seemingly simple procedure of dog nail grooming starts to become a headache when you factor in these problems. This is one of the biggest reasons nail grinders are replacing nail clippers as the dog nail trimmer of choice. If the gentle sanding process offered by nail grinders sounds better for you and your dog, take a look at my best dog nail grinder reviews to select the best model for you.
Pros and Cons to Using a Dog Nail Grinder:
Pros
Safety. As mentioned before, nail clippers are almost a surefire way to get your dog to not trust you, and if you have one bad experience with them your pet is not likely to forget anytime soon. Dog nail grinders are a safer alternative because less precision is needed in applying the pedicure. While nail clippers require alignment and your pup to stay still, grinding can be done more naturally, even in multiple sessions. Because using a dog nail grinder is in essence ‘sanding down’ the nail, a gradual process can be utilized to maximize your furry friend’s comfort.
Nicer-Looking Nails. While less precision is required to use a dog nail grinder, the outcome is actually more beneficial. This may seem counter-intuitive, however the grinding process gives you more liberty in how you shape the nail. Different breeds require different nail length, and the nail grinder’s ability to be adaptable to each dog is of enormous benefit to owners.
Healthier Nails. Dog nail grinders may shape the perfect nail, but what is of equal importance is it also maintains the health of the nail. Nail clippers are an aggressive tool because the sheer force of cutting can cause cracks or splits. In time, these will have to be smoothed over by your veterinarian anyway, so it is best to cut out the middleman (no pun intended), and just start with grinding yourself. Clippers give a sharp cut, but not necessarily a clean cut. This can cause bleeding and long-term nail decay. If you’re particularly concerned about your dog’s nail health, nail grinders may be the way to go.
A Happier Dog. If your dog is brave enough to make it through a grinding session, the aftermath is more like a spa retreat for your animal. Nail grinding advocates less future wear on the nail, and because of this there is less stress on the paw. A sunnier disposition of man’s best friend inevitably follows the use of a nail grinder.
Cons
Cost. A nail grinding trimming kit can be twice or even three times the price of a normal set of clippers. This may not matter to some, but if you are on a budget your wallet will be sure to notice. The old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ rings true in this area like most, but if you are seeking a quick solution while trying to save a buck, clippers are the safer bet.
Mess. The term ‘mess’ is relative, but dog nail grinders can still turn some dog owners off with all of the “nail powder” it creates. When using a nail grinder, nail particles often come out in the form of a fine powder, and even though it isn’t too difficult to clean up, clippers are the more practical stop and go solution.
Noise. This may be the biggest con to pet owners, with skittish dogs. If you are such a dog owner, this tool is surely not going to help their temperament. If your animal is a ‘go with the flow’ type, then it is irrelevant, however if your pooch flinches at the slightest of sounds, a grinder won’t ensure a relaxing environment. Similar to a child at the dentist, your dog will either be fine with it, or think it is World War 3.
Speed. Even though clippers can be frustrating to align, their main benefit is the speed at which the cut can be done. One clip and then it is on to the next nail. Grinding is more of a slow burn, especially if you are trying to maintain consistency from one nail to the next. This is especially apparent if your dog has thick nails.
How To Grind Your Dog’s Nails with a Dog Nail Grinder
Prepare their paws
The first thing you want to do when using a dog nail grinder on your kennel is to make sure each paw is ready for the process. This may mean cutting back fur or allowing more freedom for the nail grinder to do its business. A furry paw is of course an expected roadblock, but a slight trimming should be enough to give yourself room.
Acclimate your dog to the noise
Before you even start the nail grind, turn on the machine several times near your puppy. Take note of their reaction and determine what the best approach would be for usage with minimal aggravation. Sometimes just holding the device against your pet’s body for long enough that they can get used to the vibration is all it takes for them to be fine with it.
Reward good behavior
Anytime you successfully grind a nail, reward your dog with positive praise and/or their favorite treat. Obviously you don’t want to use up the whole goody bag, but the first few times during the process it is vital your pooch associates getting a pedicure with positive reinforcement. Dogs don’t forget how and when they get their treats, and you will find each successive time you start trimming with a nail grinder, they will become increasingly more patient.
Less is more
Eventually you will get the hang of using a grinder, but because each tool is different, always ‘sand’ slowly in the beginning to not overly file the nail. Some spinners are more powerful and grind quickly, so liberally test on one nail to find out the amount of force needed on your behalf to get the job done.
Keep grinding sessions short
If you have a particularly nervous dog, make your grinding treatments short and sweet. You may not get the desired nail length the first time thru, but it is essential that your dog attributes the process to speed so they aren’t as apprehensive about it in the future.
The Best Dog Nail Grinders Right Now
If you’ve got your heart set on switching over to a pet nail grinder instead of plain old nail clipping, it’s best to know the ins and outs of each device to know which is right for you and your dog. Some are more suitable than others for a certain dog type and size, and quality-of-life features that you might deem essential may be available on some models and absent on others.
1. WJHA Dog Nail Grinder
The first thing that jumped out at me about this grinder is the brand itself. WJHA is an already universally trusted pet grooming brand, as they also create mainstream options not only for dogs but for a variety of species. So I came in with high expectations, and for the most part, this device did not disappoint.
Powerful enough for the toughest of nails. This product offers a robust several thousand RPM speed to handle all your grinding needs. This kind of energy can easily handle even the toughest of dog nails.
Ease of experience. The WJHA dog nail grinder excels not only in its effectiveness, but in its ease of use also. This device charges very quickly and is very portable, with its non-intrusive design and light weight. It also has ergonomic finger grips. As far as dog nail trimmers go, this is one of the more comfortable ones to handle.
Super silent motor. When I saw the RPM rating, I immediately braced myself for extremely loud operation, regardless of its claims of silent operation. I was pleasantly surprised when I found that this product’s claims to low noise were completely true. The WJHA nail trimmer was especially designed with low noise and low vibration levels – great for pets who scare easily from those things.
Versatile grinding heads. The WJHA pet nail grinder is a versatile product, as its multiple heads gives pet owners the ability to use the grinder on a variety of pets like dogs, cats, rabbits, and even birds.
Pros
This kit comes from a brand that has well earned its good reputation. In line with all of their other products, the WJHA dog nail grinder is built around making the experience of tending to your dog’s nail health as easy and hassle-free as can be with its quick-charge battery, ergonomic features and customizability.
Cons
Because the nail grinder is designed for several different animals, it also makes the instructions a bit vague. If you can easily intuit the tool, though, it is a non-issue. But if you’re unfamiliar with dog nail grinders, you will have to navigate through some trial and error because of its many different approaches.
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2. Dremel PawControl Dog Nail Grinder and Trimmer
Dremel is also a reputable name in the field, though not necessarily known for their grinders first. Nonetheless, this device is still quite a strong contender.
Flexible. Ease of use is a key point of emphasis for this cordless rotary tool. It has multiple grinder bits for different situations, and changing out the attachments on the sander is quick and intuitive.
Tailor-made. Dremel is well-known for their power tools, but they exhibited their engineering prowess with the PawControl, with all of its trappings specifically designed for a dog’s nails.
Safe. The cordless rotary tool has a protective nail guard to prevent you from grinding your dog’s nail too far. The nail guard is easily adjustable and isn’t too bulky so as to preserve the device’s portability.
Pros
With its well-designed nail guard, grinder bits and power settings specifically designed for dogs, the PawControl is every bit a strong candidate for one of the best dog nail grinders out there. It’s only narrowly beaten by the #1 entry on this list because of that model’s simplicity and user-friendliness. To sweeten the deal even further, you get up to 3 hours of fantastic performance on a single charge.
Cons
Although this nail grinder can deliver plenty of energy, it seemed like I needed to apply more pressure than I should’ve, especially with thicker dog nails. The other speed settings provide more power, but in my case, the lowest power setting wasn’t enough, and anything higher than that seemed like too much.
This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker – after all I may have been an edge case with the specific thickness and toughness of my dog’s nails. But if your dog is anything like mine, the grinding procedure may take a little more time to complete. More force in grinding usually means a bit more mess, so be prepared. I certainly would have appreciated a finer way to tune the power output of the device. In addition, this dog nail grinder doesn’t come with a free carrying case.
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3. TACKLIFE Cordless Rotary Tool
Tacklife is a brand known for their particular focus on control, as well as fairly ergonomic designs overall.
User-friendly. One of the benefits of the tacklife is that it has a skinnier base, which means increased precision when it comes to dog nail grinding. The grips compliment this design, making this model very intuitive to manipulate.
Variable speeds. Believe it or not, not every dog nail grinder provides speed options. This is absolutely crucial when it comes to more panicky dogs, letting you adjust speed to low enough levels to calm them down, without having to abort the whole session.
Generous attachments. The Tacklife Pet Nail Grinder has 60 bit grooming bands, grooming drum, grinding stone, 100 grit grooming bands, and replacement grinding stones. You’re absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to the configurations you can put the Tacklife Cordless Rotary Tool in.
One of a Kind. The tacklife is the only pet grinder that has a safety feature allowing the spinner to stop on a whim. Called ‘automatic spin stop,’ the add-on places emphasis on being error-free in its performance.
This particular model also comes with a solid carrying case, ideal for any situation or on the go.
Pros
With its comprehensive set of attachments, the Tacklife Cordless Rotary Tool is compatible with a wide range of dog sizes. It also creates a minimal amount of unpleasant odors during operation. As far as battery operated grinders go, this device from Tacklife is one of the more robust and reliable designs.
Cons
This dog nail grinder makes quite a bit of noise on the higher settings, which you need to get a good trim unless your dog has particularly soft nails. So although you can tailor the speed to lower levels to calm your pup, you definitely need to get him used to the racket it makes if you want to make any real progress in trimming his nails.
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4. Dremel 8220-1/28 12-Volt Max Cordless Rotary Tool Kit- Engraver
One of the most reviewed grinders on the internet, the Dremel name is almost synonymous with dog nail care. Like the other Dremel model on this list, the 8220 is quite the powerhouse, but unlike the PawControl, this model is more of a general rotary tool than a dedicated pet nail grinder.
Low-stress Spin. The rotation of the Dremel, based on user feedback, is extremely conducive to a pet’s patience. The two speeds of said rotation offer a simple, elegant solution to trimming dog nails.
Easy-swap attachments. Much like the other Dremel contender on my list, the 8220 can quickly switch bits on the fly with its EZ twist nose cap. No need to fiddle with the device too much if you need to change attachments for a particularly stubborn nail.
Fast Charge. Taking only about 45 minutes to gain full power, the Dremel 8220 is ready to go in a snap.
Pros
With 1/2 inch diameter sanding bands, fine-tunable power levels, and quiet ambient noise, the Dremel cares as much about your dogs as you do, even with its more generalist models like this one.
Cons
Compared to the other Dremel model on this list, it’s also a lot more expensive at over $150 versus the PawControl’s ~$50-60. You can’t use it while it’s charging as well. And while the complete package does have attachments that make nail grinders safe and easier to grind dog nails with, less confident dog owners may be better off going for a dedicated pet nail grinder, like the Dremel PawControl.
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Conclusion:
Diverse breeds come with unique requirements, and thus grinders emerged as a solution that offers a wide array of benefits for both pet owners and their furry companions no matter their specific needs. Clippers, while simpler, can be abrasive, troublesome, and tricky to align accurately. Dog nail grinders present a more meticulous, potent, and pet-friendly approach to nail trimming.
If you’ve decided nail grinders are for you, I hope this list leads you to the product that fits perfectly with your dog’s grooming needs.
