Possible a drug store would still have the old stop sticks that we use to stop shaving nicks.
Then you stick a piece of tissue on it and....... never mind! I got lost in old memories.

Just for the record, in my post above, I was not advocating quicking the dog. When I said I use a Dremel more frequently to try to get long nails down to what I consider a more desirable length, I am very careful not to cut into the quick. It does happen once in a great while, and when it does, it's clearly painful, at least to my dogs. And the last time it happened, it took me close to fifteen minutes to stop the bleeding (all the more reason I don't want to do it intentionally).

I know that professional groomers and conformation handlers have a different take on things like this, so I guess it just comes down to personal preference.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

And the last time it happened, it took me close to fifteen minutes to stop the bleeding

This is not correct. And should not be done.
I have NEVER clipped a dogs nails that far into the quick.

When done properly, if making quick recede with clippers, there will be a tiny drop of blood visible if you hold the dogs paw and look closely (like in video).
You MAY see a TINY drop hit the surface you are grooming on. (blood bath exaggeration i was joking about)
With a dremel no blood will be seen.

Blood should never be pouring out from your dogs nails.
Be careful with those nails.. as you know Too far can be very painful for dogs.
Take the time to nip JUST the tip 1-2 times a week if you have "snail nails" (nails that effect the dogs posture, or ability to move)

Again, i think my posts mislead, or was misunderstood.
You CAN nick the tip of quick and NOT bother the dog, and it is what professional groomers do to quickly recede the nail on neglected snail nailed dogs.

Dog should not cry or jump, or bleed excessively.
If they are you are not correct. Ask a trained and experienced groomer to do nails or teach you.

Hey! Just like using the Ecollar, nail clipping is also a bit of an art to master!

 Quote: Brianah Maloney

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

And the last time it happened, it took me close to fifteen minutes to stop the bleeding

This is not correct. And should not be done.
I have NEVER clipped a dogs nails that far into the quick.

When done properly, if making quick recede with clippers, there will be a tiny drop of blood visible if you hold the dogs paw and look closely (like in video).
You MAY see a TINY drop hit the surface you are grooming on. (blood bath exaggeration i was joking about)
With a dremel no blood will be seen.

Blood should never be pouring out from your dogs nails.
Be careful with those nails.. as you know Too far can be very painful for dogs.
Take the time to nip JUST the tip 1-2 times a week if you have "snail nails" (nails that effect the dogs posture, or ability to move)

Again, i think my posts mislead, or was misunderstood.
You CAN nick the tip of quick and NOT bother the dog, and it is what professional groomers do to quickly recede the nail on neglected snail nailed dogs.

Dog should not cry or jump, or bleed excessively.
If they are you are not correct. Ask a trained and experienced groomer to do nails or teach you.

Hey! Just like using the Ecollar, nail clipping is also a bit of an art to master!

I may not be a professional groomer, but I have been Dremeling my own dogs' nails for about 25 years. I believe I have the technique down quite well. Perhaps you misunderstood my post. I said "once in a great while," I have quicked a dog. To be more specific, maybe once every six or eight months at the most?

And, yes, it usually is just a drop or two of blood. In the instance I mentioned, I was being careful not to cut the quick, as I always am. In using the Dremel, when I know I'm getting close, I touch each nail only for a second or two until I feel I've gone as far as I should. It was one quick pass, no bleeding, the next pass, bleeding, and while it was not pouring or gushing, I did spend a long time holding a paper towel to it before it stopped. (I didn't have any of the quick-stop stuff on hand.)

"Again, i think my posts mislead, or was misunderstood."

I know, oftentimes, conversational tones and nuances don't come across well in the typed word. I am not trying to be argumentative with you, Brianah, but I'm just trying to make sure all the misunderstandings are cleared up.

Wow...a dremal? Yee ha, I tried using one on my big toe nail..ONCE..holy cow that got HOT fast!!! Guess dogs are lucky.

My experience is the same as Cheri's. I Dremel all my dogs' nails once a week. Doing it often means that you can keep the nails quite short, and you don't have to take off much each time--1 second on each nail (and I also do a quick bevel to "round over" each nail.) By only holding the Dremel on the nail for just a second at a time, it doesn't get hot. And the whole session is over in less than a minute.

I seldom hit the quick. You learn by doing it for many years just how much nail to remove...but once or twice a year, I'll hit a quick and get a few drops of blood. Doing so causes mine obvious pain. They don't mind the Dremel at all normally, and happily lay in my lap for beauty parlor. But hitting the quick hurts. I think some (many) dogs are very good at hiding pain instinctively. But I know with every one of mine that when I've unintentionally caused bleeding by hitting the quick, they felt it. It also takes many minutes for the small amount of bleeding to stop.

BTW--white dog nails are easier to see exactly where the quick is. With black nails, you just have to go by instinct/experience.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

I'll hit a quick and get a few drops of blood....But I know with every one of mine that when I've unintentionally caused bleeding by hitting the quick, they felt it. It also takes many minutes for the small amount of bleeding to stop.

This is what i dont get.... Is it bleeding excessively or not?
I'm concerned for the dogs in question that are "nicked at the quick" but are bleeding excessively enough that it take MINUTES to stop bleeding.

If those few drops are "takes many minutes for the small amount of bleeding to stop."
Then we are NOT speaking about the same procedure the pros use to help a quick recede.

If you watch in posted video, no blood left dogs nail and hit the floor.
Yet she did indeed nip the tip of quick.

While not everyone may realize they have indeed hit the TIP of the quick. (the dogs dont react until you get far enough into nail that its hurting and "bleeding for many minutes.")

If you have a look at your dog's nails again after you clip nails and have let the dog settle back down into bed or whatever. You may see after closer examination you have a tiny bit of blood laying in the nail. Or if the dog plays or moves around after nail clipping, a spot of blood is on the floor.
You did nick that quick.
no, your dog did NOT yelp, you didnt have "bleeding for many minutes". Thats because you didn't go too far up nail. Congrats! You hit that exact tiny spot that is used to help these "neglected nail" dogs recede, and be able to walk comfortably again.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

I said "once in a great while," I have quicked a dog. To be more specific, maybe once every six or eight months at the most?

That is better than some of the local " professional" groomers around here! I have seen some get lazy doing 50 dog's nails or so a WEEK, for years, and just clip away at whatever and not care.

I can say i would honestly rather see an inexperienced owner clipping nails and missing or nipping a bit too deep into quicks, than not addressing the dogs nail needs at all. And having dogs nails grow and grow while in CONSTANT pain, til one day they completely crack from base to tip.

"With black nails, you just have to go by instinct."

Nah, fufu! I find the proper place to clip by how the nail begins to feel AND LOOK (the clippings on floor) when getting close to quick. Its not a gamble like some people say it is with black nails. You do not need to be intimidated by black nails.
Happy clipping!

I was a groomer for many years. I was trained by a Master Groomer. She taught me how to grind nails WITHOUT hitting the quick.

Hitting quick DOES HURT. Even just the tip. It may be just for a second or two, like a paper cut or jabbing a staple in your finger. But I would not intentionally do that to my dog, nor would I take them to a groomer that did.

Dogs with neglected nails also have neglected coats, and may only see a groomer once a year. Intentionally quicking that dog to make the quick recede is pointless... it's not going to be back to the shop for months. Get it as short as you can, without causing pain to the dog... a dog with a neglected coat and nails is going to be stressed just going to the groomer, there is no point in intentionally making the experience that much worse for the dog.

I've done shelter dogs with seriously long nails without intentionally quicking them. Quicks will recede with consistent grinding or clipping, without quicking the dog... the extra days it takes will not make a difference in the life of the dog- he's not gonna die because it took a week longer to get the nails to a good length.

I'm not even going to go into what kinds of things can get into the dog's quick capsule (or bloodstream) when the quick is cut- Staph infections, bacteria, fungus, etc, etc...

Once in a while, no matter how careful you are, you're gonna quick the dog- it twitches or moves just as you squeeze the clippers... it happens. If there is significant bleeding, corn starch is a great way to stop bleeding... in a pinch, flour will work too.

All just my opinion and experience, take it for what it is...

There are many dogs out there who have become dangerously aggressive about their nails being touched as a direct result of groomers consistently quicking their nails. If I knew a groomer was purposely quicking a dog I would not use them or recommend them to others. Every time I board my dog I specify "no bath" specifically to avoid them trying to trim his nails.

Quicking the dog to try and make the nail recede is a lost opportunity to get the owner into a habit of taking the dog in for regular nail trims. Discuss it with the owner before the dog is brought out and they get distracted by managing their likely un-trained and excited dog. Propose a schedule of trims to get the quick to recede. Set an appointment rather than just giving business hours and a timeline to bring the dog in. When the dog is brought out show them where a normal quick would be in relation to their dogs quick and point out that the toes are likely splayed at that point. They may even have a cracked nail that you show as the result of having too long nails. Call and remind them of the appointment and the benefits of the nail trim("I'm so happy you're bringing him in. We'll get those splayed toes back to normal in no time!") the day before the appointment. Show the results of their dogs feet beginning to look more normal and set the next appointment. Ask them if they notice that their dog's nails no longer click like crazy every time they move or if they no longer get scratches from their dogs nails. Emphasize the tangible benefits of having regular nail trims.

It's not going to work for every customer but a groomer who has resigned themselves to only seeing a dog once or twice a year is missing out on a lot of missed opportunities to improve their year-round cash flow AND referrals. A customer who has regular contact and a working relationship with a groomer is much more likely to recommend that groomer to someone else or remember that groomer when they have guests coming over and want their dog to be at it's best.

 Quote: Robert overbeek

Wow...a dremal? Yee ha, I tried using one on my big toe nail..ONCE..holy cow that got HOT fast!!! Guess dogs are lucky.

Were you using the grinding stone? Those get too hot for a dogs nail. I verified that the sanding band weren't too hot by doing one of my own nails. Not bad at all as long as contact is brief.