[NAGDU] trimming a guide dog's nails

[Sherry Gomes]

I know quite a few handlers who use the Dremel and like it a lot. I don't do my dog's nails, because I can't do it physically, due to my arthritis, but I know enough handlers who do it regularly, either with traditional dog nail clippers or the Dremel.



-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of sunshine via NAGDU
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2019 3:59 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: sunshine <halogirl817 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] trimming a guide dog's nails

Velvet's nails are so thick that I can't cut them. My husband did them the last time. I had a dog whose nails were thinner and I could cut them all the time. Someone recommended the Dremel, but I don't know from where to get one.

Sunshine


Sent from my iPhone XR

> On Jun 22, 2019, at 4:51 PM, Danielle Sykora via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I don't know of any guide dog program that teaches students how to trim nails. They either don't really talk much about it, or make a big deal out of how only experienced sighted people should clip nails.
> I trim all of my dogs' nails myself. To be honest, it's not as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be. By feeling the nail, you can tell how long it is and know approximately what a good length should be. The overgrown part of the nail will be sharp, pointed, and curved. A nail that is short enough will usually have a more flat naturally worn feel. Press gently with the nail clipper, and if you are cutting at a good spot, the nail will feel brittle. If you have gone too far back, the quick will feel spongy. 
> I do not use the guard on the clippers, because it makes it impossible to feel how much of the nail you are cutting. I prefer to be able to know exactly how much nail is through the clippers, which is how much you will be cutting off. I personally use a plier style clipper. And yes, I am totally blind and have yet to cut the quick in the last five years of nail clipping. 
> Danielle
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jun 22, 2019, at 5:05 PM, Nancy VanderBrink via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> We were actually just able to find a pair of nail trimmers that have a guard on them so that you do not cut too far. They worked really well. We figured we were just going to do it every couple of weeks just to make sure that they didn’t get too long.
>> 
>> Please forgive the typos as this message was most likely generated 
>> using voice dictation Nancy Irwin Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>> On Jun 22, 2019, at 4:40 PM, Madison Martin via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> I was just wondering, do guide dog schools teach handlers how to trim 
>> their guide dogs nails? If so, how do they teach handlers where the 
>> quick is so that you don't cut your dog's nails too short? The reason 
>> that I'm asking is because as some of you may know I am hoping to 
>> become a professional dog groomer and I'm wondering if there's some 
>> way for a totally blind person like me to know where the quick is so 
>> that I don't accidentally cut a poor dog's nails too short. I'd 
>> really hate to do that. Look forward to hearing back from you guys!! 
>> Have a good weekend!! Thanks Madison
>> 
>> 
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