Ammo’s Guide to Nail Trimmers for Dogs

Nail Trimming, it’s the arch nemesis to many of my four-legged friends – including myself. According to my mom it is a necessary evil to prevent ingrown nails, and trimming them allows me to put my full weight on the ground – instead of my nails, which could cause a deformed gait.

ammo's guide to nail trimming for dogs

So despite the fact that I really don’t like to have my nails trimmed I’m here to share with you my opinion on some of the best and worst nail trimmers out there.

Below is a break-down of some of the tools I have tried.

ammo's guide to nail trimming for dogs

1. Guillotine style nail clippers*

2. Scissor Style Nail Clippers*

3. PediPaws nail trimmer*

4. Dremel*

*contains affiliate links

ammo's guide to nail trimming for dogs

The guillotine style nail trimmer is my least favorite type. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but it makes me cry! Mom also says she finds it awkward to hold and get into the right position and it doesn’t seem to make a clean cut, perhaps that’s why it hurts when it trims my nails.

ammo's guide to nail trimming for dogs

The scissor style trimmer is at the top of my list because it’s quick and painless as long as you don’t trim the nails too short.

ammo's guide to trimming dog's nails

The particular scissor style trimmer that I have is made by JW Pet Company and also has a protective guard on it to help avoid cutting anything else (like little doxie noses).

ammo's guide to nail trimming for dogs

The PediPaws nail sander works fairly well, but I’m not a huge fan of the way it vibrates my nails. I can only tolerate it for so long before I just won’t sit still any longer. It also seems to take a long time to trim the nails. The one nice thing about the pedi paw though is that it has a guard on it with an opening just big enough for a nail to fit through. This helps to make sure nothing else accidentally gets sanded.

ammo's guide to nail trimming for dogs

The dremel tool isn’t something sold specifically for trimming dog’s nails but it’s practically the same thing as the PediPaws. The only difference is that this sands the nail a lot faster, but this also means it spins at a higher rate (and without a nail guard) so you have to be extra careful when trimming with it.

ammo's guide to trimming dog's nails

Now if it was up to me, I’d be trimming my nails myself.

ammo's guide to trimming dog's nails

But, you’d be surprised at how difficult it is when you don’t have opposable thumbs.

ammo's guide to trimming dog's nails

So to get my fabulous mani/pedi look, this is how my mom does it for a difficult nail trimming patient like myself…

She’s super sneaky and waits until I fall into a deep sleep then quickly and quietly snips some of my nails with the scissor style trimmer, making sure to cut my all black nails just before they begin to curve as to not cut the quick. If I happen to wake up (which I always do for my front nails) she feeds me some cookies and leaves me alone until I fall asleep again or sometimes waits until the next day to finish my nails. If she thinks some of her snips weren’t quite short enough, then she’ll break out the dremel or pedipaws to sand them down a bit further. I typically only tolerate the sanders for about 5 minutes so sometimes this is broken up over several days as well.

ammo's guide to trimming dog's nails

As much as I hate getting my nails trimmed I know I look fabulous when it’s all said and done.

So now I want to hear from my fans – what nail trimming secrets or products do you use? 

 

Disclosure: I was not paid or perked to write this review, I just thought it would be helpful to share my nail trimming tips with everyone. 

Friday Fetch: The Cool Puppy Harness

the cool puppy harnessBeing a small dog I’m always on the lookout for cool harnesses that work well with my short legs. Also I’m a bit picky and don’t like having straps between my front legs – which somewhat limits my harness finds.

Recently I stumbled upon The Cool Puppy on Etsy, which carries a line of dog collars and leather harnesses for dogs that gives us doggies freedom of movement!

They are made of 100% leather and boast being both comfortable and durable for your dog.

You can fetch your own Harnesses and Collars at The Cool Puppy.

the cool puppy harness

the cool puppy harness

the cool puppy collar

the cool puppy collar

A Case of the Mondays

My Mondays are a bit different than most people’s because I have the day off from work! But just because I don’t have to go into the “office” doesn’t mean I don’t have lots to do.

ammo the dachshund shopping

On this particular Monday after feeding my ponies on the farm I did some shopping with mom.

ammo the dachshund shopping

On my Lowes stop I picked up some things for my garden. Mom let me pick out some plants to grow in my magic horse poop garden – and I can’t wait until they get big enough to eat! Yum.

ammo the dachshund does agility

Then it was off to my agility class with my friends!

ammo the dachshund does agility

I love everything about agility training; running fast, jumping, going through obstacles…

ammo the dachshund does agility

….and don’t get me started on the treats! Mom comes armed with a bag full of string cheese – makes me wish I could go to class everyday!

ammo the dachshund does agility

But as much as I love agility training there is one thing I HATE about going to class.

ammo the dachshund does agility

My crate! I’ve never liked being in a crate, what can I say….this boy needs freedom to roam. So unlucky for me, mom has decided it’s about time I get used to being in one since there might be cases I have to sit in it and wait patiently.

Patiently, huff! I’m totally not above barking and crying until they unlock me from this fortress of doom. Who’s with me? Crate haters unite! 

 

 

Shopping with a Trendy Dachshund

Ok, I admit it, I’m a bit of a shopping addict. I love scouring the internet for the latest and greatest trendy products – and I love bringing you my Friday Fetch feature every Friday, where I share some of my favorite finds.

shopping with ammo the dachshund on Amazon

The most asked question on the blog seems to be “where did you get that” (It’s because I’m so stylish right?), so I decided to add an “I’m Digging” section to the blog – right there on the sidebar. Here I’ll feature some of my favorite products from my Amazon Affiliate Shop – some of which I own and love, and others that are on my wish list.

So even though you all can’t ride in the shopping cart with me, you can still be just as cool.

I take cool to a whole new level don’t I?

So what am I missing? Any super-awesome new pet products out there that I should know about? Trendy Blogs I should be reading? Do tell. 

 

Ammo’s Cyber Monday Sale

ammo the dachshund in santa's hat

Cyber Monday is here, and if you’re looking for Holiday deals online – then today is the day to do your shopping! And because I’ve gotten into the holiday spirit (evident by my Santa hat)……I decided to offer up a special deal to all my friends!

Today only you can shop in my ONLINE SHOP and save 20% with coupon code CYBERSALE11!

Here’s a sampling of some of the super cool items you can find in my shop….

2012 ammo the dachshund calendar

My 2012 Calendar

ammo the dachshund watercolor painting

Original Watercolor Paintings by me

holiday cards featuring ammo the dachshund

Holiday Cards featuring me! And coming next week I’ll have a brand-new Holiday Card design for 2011! Yipee!

original scratch art by ammo the dachshund

One-of-a-kind Scratch Art by me

And if you’re looking for something extra unique, you can also see some of the amazing paintings in my shop done by the famous Painting Ponies

originial painting by a pony

Chincoteague Waves” painted by Blitz

My Cyber Monday sale ends Monday, November 28th at 12pm midnight EST, so make sure you don’t delay! You can visit my online shop HERE and make sure you use the code CYBERSALE11 at checkout to receive 20% off.

 

Friday Fetch: Le Custom Pet Sculpture

custom pet sculptureWoo hoo! It’s Holiday Shopping time! I love scouring for those unique gifts this time of year, and you can bet I was super excited when I found Le Animale on Etsy.

Le Animale has the perfect gift this Holiday season for your mom or dad – custom made pet totems. Commission a sculpture to look just like your furry little self so that your mom and dad can always have you with them! But if you want one for Christmas you better hurry, because the deadline for custom orders is November 27th.

I’m thinking my mom would totally love one of these this Christmas, modeled after cute little me of course!

You can fetch your own custom pet totem at Le Animale for $55.

 

custom pet sculpture

custom pet sculpture

custom pet sculpture

custom pet sculpture

 

 

The Holidays are Coming

Yes, I know, we haven’t even had Turkey Day yet and already there are Christmas wreaths out, holiday music playing and the smell of pine everywhere.

Ammo the Dachshund at work

Even though it does seem a tad bit early for the Holiday Season Fanfare, when you work in a retail shop like I do it’s hard not to be prepared a few weeks early.

Ammo the Dachshund at work

So this year I bit the bullet and broke out my Christmas scarf BEFORE Thanksgiving. Don’t judge, you know you think it’s stinkin’ cute.

Ammo the Dachshund at work

I even went as far as to practice some of my Holiday looks. I think they pretty much speak for themselves…..

ammo the dachshund at work

“Thanks for visiting, now please purchase every single item in my shop as a Christmas gift for your loved ones”

ammo the dachshund at work

“Pretty Please, won’t you purchase that _______.”

ammo the dachshund at work

“I’m even cuter when you purchase something”

ammo the dachshund at work

“Don’t make me get ruthless and force you to do some Holiday Shopping”

ammo the dachshund at work

“P.S. I’m fully prepared to give you the stink eye should you decide to leave empty handed”

ammo the dachshund at work

Shameless I know, but a shop dogs gotta do what a shop dogs gotta do! hehe.

Make sure you check out My Shop this Holiday Season for some super awesome amazing spectacular gift ideas for everyone you know. I promise not to sing Christmas Carols in your ear. 🙂

Went to the Devon Horse Show, to see the Sheep?

The Devon Horse Show is a yearly tradition for me. In fact, I’ve been attending every year since I was about 12 weeks old. If you have no idea what Devon is – here’s a little history lesson for you:

In 1896, the Devon Horse Show started as a one-day show. Now, years later, it has become the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed competition in the United States. It is internationally recognized, USEF-A rated, and one of the most exciting events to happen in Chester County. While it draws top competitors from around the world, the show continues to reflect the local traditions and lifestyles of the Philadelphia Main Line.

Needless to say it’s full of fancy people in big hats, dogs, horses, carriages, funnel cake, amusement rides, shopping, and apparently sheep! Yes, that’s right sheep.

See my pal Trooper (the Australian Shepherd/Labrador) told me that there was going to be sheep herding at Devon this year. I knew that was something not to be missed. And since Trooper was too tired to come, I video taped most of it for him.

I guess it was pretty cool – although I’d still take my groundhog holes over herding around some sheep. To each his own.

After the sheep herding demo I was pretty famished, so I headed over to the concessions to grab some funnel cake.

Then I indulged mom and did a little shopping with her at Anthropologie.

Mom bought this:

Which I would have been much more thrilled about had it come with cookies in it. Ok, now I’m drooling.

Lumber Yard

It seems that around my house a dog’s day is never done.

Just when I think it’s time to punch out for the day – here we are headed to Lowes for lumber……until 9pm at night! Thank goodness mom felt sorry for me and let me sleep in the car…..

……instead of having to ride around in the shopping cart…..or even worse…..

…inside mom’s purse!

I was really hoping all the new lumber was for something really cool, like a dog house or a firetruck! But alas, mom says it’s to build garden boxes and the rest of dad’s workbench.

Really? We had to go to Lowes at 9pm for that? Just wake me when we make a pit-stop at Petco please.

 

 

Attention Shoppers

Attention shoppers….will someone please tell me why none of these dog toys seem to have squeakers inside? I thought the squeaker was a staple in dog toys?

Where’s the stuffing I can rip out, or the bones I can gnaw on?

I’m starting to regret saying I’d come on this shopping trip.

Mom, Dad, if you are reading this….I do not appreciate random trips to the store, when all we come back with is a very large piece of wood. Seriously. I could have been napping somewhere or chasing Leprechauns on the farm with Trooper. I am not amused. Try harder next time.