Not all dogs get to have their nails sanded by going for long walks on concrete sidewalks or frolicking in the great outdoors. Some have to be subjected to pedicures every once in a while, which are often rather stressful for them.
Nail clippers make loud, snapping sounds and often leave the claws sharp anyway! So if you’re looking for a way to smooth your pet’s nails without causing discomfort, you should get one of the best quiet dog nail grinders on my list.
Of course, as I’ll demonstrate later on, there’s a time and a place for clippers as well. However, you should really learn how to use them before attempting to do so on your dog. Don’t worry — I’ll make sure to share my dog nail grooming tips after I explain how you can identify other quiet dog nail grinders I haven’t mentioned. But first, let’s talk about the cream of the crop!
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7 Best Quiet Dog Nail Grinders
There aren’t many instantly recognizable electronics companies that exclusively make the kinds of products we’re looking for. Still, I wanted to start my list with a brand most professional dog groomers would recognize — Dremel.
1. Dremel 7300-PT 4.8V Cordless Dog Nail Grinding Tool
In a sea of basic, cylindrical grinders, the Dremel 7300-PT stands out for many reasons, not the least of which is its interesting design. The device is tapered toward the sanding bit, so it fits comfortably in the hand. On the other end of the body, you’ll find a detachable, 4.8V Nickel-Cadmium battery.
If you run out of juice, you’ll have to take the battery off and leave it on the included charger for about three hours. But if you don’t want to wait, you can get a backup battery from the same company. That would let you alternate between the two without having to stop and recharge.
In addition to the charger, the device comes with five 60-grit sanding bands that fit over the mandrel bit. So if you manage to wear through one of them, you’ll have plenty of backups.
Since the device is quite different from the others I’ll review, make sure to thumb through the manual before trying to insert the bit. Once you do, you should be able to use it without a hitch. The grinder has a 2-speed switch, allowing you to choose between 6,500 and 13,000 rotations per minute. Both of them are pretty quiet, though the slower setting is likely a safer bet in that regard.
Features:
- Ergonomic shape
- Two speeds (6,500 and 13,000 RPM)
- Detachable Nickel-Cadmium battery
- Five 60-grit sanding bands included
» See Dremel Nail Grinder on Amazon «
2. Bousnic 2-Speed Rechargeable Dog Nail Grinder
The Bousnic nail grinder is a light blue, cylindrical device that comes with all the attachments you could ever want from a pet grooming tool. It has a power switch that allows you to choose between two speed settings as well as a diamond bit grinder that quickly sands claws of all thicknesses. If you need more control over the grinder, you can use the safety cover with ports for different claw sizes.
This 6.4-inch device produces about 50 decibels of noise or less, and it doesn’t vibrate more than necessary. I won’t say that your pet will love it — after all, filing nails may still be an unpleasant sensation — but the low noise level will certainly make it more tolerable.
The built-in battery should last for about two hours before needing to be recharged. Once it’s empty, you can plug the micro USB charging cord that comes with the device into the port on the bottom.
At that point, the charge indicator light will turn on. Three hours later, the battery should be fully charged and ready for your pup’s next nail grooming session.
Features:
- Diamond grinding stone with a protective cap
- Two-speed power switch
- Micro USB charging cord
- About 50 decibels of noise
» See Bousnic Dog Nail Grinder on Amazon «
3. INVENHO Gentle Portable Electric Pet Nail Grinder
The INVENHO pet nail grinder is the perfect product for those who regularly drop their gadgets. Its white plastic case is long and cylindrical, perfectly fitted to your hand. Additionally, it has ridges on both sides, allowing the user to maintain their grip while handling the device.
The sliding switch above the company’s blue logo lets you choose between two speeds. The lower setting should only make about 40 decibels of noise thanks to the powerful brass spindle motor inside the device. If that lowers your pet’s defenses, you could up the ante with a faster setting.
On a full charge, this device should last for about six hours. Once the battery is empty, plug its micro USB charging cord into the port on the bottom.
When you’re ready to use the grinder, you can place the protective cover over the diamond bit if you so please. Best of all, if you end up having to replace the grinder bit, you’ll be happy to know that this device comes with a spare!
Features:
- Two diamond grinding stones with a protective cap
- Two-speed power switch
- Micro USB charging cord
- About 40 decibels of noise
» See INVENHO Pet Nail Grinderon Amazon «
4. Hertzko Portable & Rechargeable Electric Pet Nail Grinder
The Hertzko electric nail grinder doesn’t offer anything we haven’t seen before, but there’s a reason it’s so popular. If you want to jazz up your pup’s nail grooming session with a funky-looking grinder, you can’t go wrong with a purple one. Aside from its unexpected color, it’s a fairly standard cylindrical rechargeable device.
The durable case holds an incredibly quiet motor and a diamond grinding stone you can cover with a removable port cover. As always, if your dog has particularly tough claws, you can take the cap off and use the grinder directly.
However, if you find yourself struggling to sand down your dog’s claws, you won’t be able to use a faster setting. After all, this grinder has a straightforward power switch — so there are no variable speed settings.
Still, that seems to shave a few bucks off the price of the product. So if the cost is a priority to you, this grinder is a fantastic option.
Features:
- Purple cylindrical grinder with a diamond bit
- Removable port cover for various nail sizes
- Power switch (single speed setting)
- Micro USB charging cord
» See Hertzko Nail Grinder on Amazon «
5. Casfuy 2-Speed Rechargeable Dog Nail Grinder
Despite being a pretty basic nail grooming device according to the standards we’ve set, this Casfuy grinder is one of the most popular products in the category. It only makes about 50 decibels of noise on the slower setting, and it’s only slightly louder on the faster one.
The body of the machine is white with black details, which include the bottom portion of the machine, the switch, the protective sleeve of the grinder, and the cap. Even without the port cap, you can use the diamond grinding wheel directly on large breeds with tough nails. However, if you’re grooming small- or medium-sized pets, you should use the sleeve.
When you need to charge the device, you can plug the 3-foot charging cable into the micro USB slot on the bottom. As expected, the product doesn’t come with a power adapter, but you probably have one of those already.
And even if you don’t, you can always use your computer to charge the device. It’ll take about three hours to reach full charge, and the battery should give you two hours of continuous use.
Features:
- Two speed settings
- Protective sleeve with ports for different claw sizes
- Less than 50 decibels
- Comes with a 3-foot USB charging cord
6. Zerhunt Ultra-Quiet Electric Dog Nail Grinder and Grooming Kit
If you’re interested in buying more comprehensive nail grooming kits, check out this product from Zerhunt. Basically, in addition to the diamond grinder, you’ll also get nail clippers and a manual nail file. The idea is that you could use the clippers to shorten your pet’s claws before sanding down the rough edges. Between the grinder and the file, you could give your dog the kind of pedicure most humans will never get!
To be clear, getting just a grinder is still a valid choice since you’d have to shave off tiny portions of the nail anyway. As I’ll explain later, you can’t get overzealous when cutting a dog’s nails. You could end up hurting your pet! Interestingly, the clippers that come with this grinder have a safety guard that should prevent that from happening.
As for the grinder itself, it’s fairly basic, but that’s all you’ll need anyway. It only has one speed of 6,000 RPM, which makes about 40 decibels of noise.
However, unlike most other grinders, this one comes with two protective sleeves with ports of different shapes and sizes. You could use the cap with a circular port for large pets or use the other protective sleeve for small- and medium-sized dogs.
Features:
- On/off switch (one speed setting)
- Two protective sleeves with three ports in total
- Manual nail clippers and nail file
- Micro USB charging cord
» See Zerhunt Nail Grinder on Amazon «
7. Pieviev Quiet Electric Dog Nail Grinder and Trimmer Kit 3-In-1
Lastly, I wanted to mention a product that really caught my eye. This 3-in-1 pet grooming kit comes with a storage case big enough to keep the main device and its three attachments. As expected, one of them is a stone nail grinder with a removable cap for different claw sizes.
The other two are wide and narrow trimmer attachments that you could use to give your pooch a haircut. These replacement heads can be affixed onto the cylindrical body by rotating them clockwise onto the device. With the grinder top, it’ll measure 5.7 inches, which is still small enough to fit into the 6.7 by 3.7-inch hard storage case.
In addition to those attachments, you’re also getting nail clippers as well as a small cleaning brush. Moreover, the case can fit the micro USB charging cable, which, as usual, plugs into the port on the bottom of the device.
At this point, I should admit to finding a few flaws in this product. The company itself places the level of noise their device makes at under 60 decibels, not 50. So it could be almost twice as loud as some of the other grinders I’ve mentioned.
Even more importantly, some claim that the device isn’t as powerful as you might need it to be, especially if you’re dealing with large dog breeds. So if you have a bigger pooch, you might want to get your grinder and hair clippers separately.
Features:
- Two speeds
- Three detachable head replacements (grinder and two trimmer sizes)
- Storage case holds a cleaning brush and nail clippers
- Micro USB charging cord
» See Pieviev Dog Nail Grinder on Amazon «
How to Find the Best and Quietest Dog Nail Grinders
Now that we’ve seen the best quiet dog nail grinders on the market, let’s talk about how you can recognize high-quality devices in the future. There are several factors you’ll want to pay attention to. But, of course, the noise level is the most important one. So how do you figure out which device is the quietest?
Noise Level
As you know, dogs have an acute sense of hearing — but not all of them are affected by loud sounds. Still, if your dog happens to be more anxious than most, you’ll want to get the quietest nail grinder available.
Fortunately, most of the devices on my list only make about 50 decibels of noise, which is about as quiet as the sound of falling rain.
Now, a jump of ten decibels equals a doubling in sound volume. So most quiet grinders produce only half the volume of a regular conversation, which measures around 60 decibels.
In any case, most manufacturers include decibel measurements in their product descriptions. However, since those numbers are provided by the company, I suggest that you take them with a grain of salt. If you run into a label that seems unbelievable, find a video showcasing the device in action, and figure out how loud it is that way. Generally, though, most of them will be in the 40–60 decibel range.
Speed Settings
As I have mentioned in my reviews, one way to control the amount of noise your nail grinder makes is to get one with variable speed settings. Typically, slower rotation produces less noise. But, of course, sometimes you’ll need a grinder that’s capable of spinning quickly as well.
For example, if your dog is especially antsy, you might want to get the sanding over with as soon as possible. But remember — a faster and more powerful motor usually leads to overheating and the device becoming more difficult to control. More importantly, the friction could make your pet’s claws uncomfortably hot, bringing them even more discomfort.
Of course, if you’re looking for a fast grinder, you should also make sure that it has superior build quality. After all, a sturdy case won’t break into pieces if the speed of the motor makes you lose your grip.
Sadly, the only way to confirm the durability of a product, aside from looking at the photos, is to rely on the experience of people who’ve been using it for a while.
Battery Capacity
Grinding down your pet’s nails is difficult enough without having a cord in the way. That’s why most of the nail grinders on the market are cordless. But having a battery-powered device comes with certain difficulties.
For example, most of the products I’ve reviewed have a fairly limited runtime — though that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re only grooming one dog. Many of them also take over three hours to reach a full charge. Still, the convenience of not having to work around a cord is simply worth it.
On the other hand, you can see why some professional groomers prefer Dremel grinders that have detachable batteries. They can simply get a few spares and be all set for a day of puppy pedicures.
Of course, if you don’t want to get special batteries, some nail grinders use regular AA batteries as well. You can even get rechargeable ones to save some cash in the long term.
Additional Accessories
Since most dog nail grinders are rechargeable, they usually come with a micro USB charging cable. As we have established, the adapter usually isn’t included. Still, you can always plug the cable into your laptop, a power bank, or directly into an outlet, as long as they have a USB port.
Additionally, you’ll get a removable protective cover for the grinder bit. That part has cutouts that correspond to claws of different sizes, so you’d use the bare grinder on large dogs, and one of the ports for small- and medium-sized ones. Aside from that cover, you’ll also get a basic cap to keep on the device between grooming sessions.
Those are pretty much the only things you’d get with most of the products I’ve listed. However, some of them also come with additional grinding bits, as well as nail clippers and nail files. If you get one of the grooming kits I mentioned, you may even get a storage bag or even a hard case you could travel with.
How to Use Dog Nail Grinders Safely and Quietly
Now that I’ve revealed the key features you’ll want your grinder to have, let’s take a moment to discuss how you could make the nail grooming experience more tolerable for your pet!
Familiarize the Dog With the Sounds
The first thing you’ll need to do is introduce your dog to the grooming tools you’ll be using. While the dog is resting, bring in the equipment you’ll need, which may include a grinder, clippers, and even a hair trimmer.
Show them all to your dog, and then turn on the lowest setting to see how your pet reacts. If it doesn’t mind the sound, press the device against its paw or body, allowing it to feel the vibrations.
If the dog shows signs of stress, do whatever you can to soothe it. Hand out treats, play relaxing music, or try white noise. You could also get your dog a pair of noise-canceling headphones if you determine that the noise is still overwhelming. That’s a great option to keep in mind if your pet is cool with having something on its ears.
Once the dog is familiar with the sounds your grinder and trimmer make, you should have it sit or lie down. If you have a small breed, you can even keep it in your lap. That might help you control it during the grooming session.
Trim or Push the Paw Fur Away
Before you focus on your dog’s nails, you might have to clean its paws. If you’re dealing with a yard dog, the dirt could be baked into its paws and nails. So wash it away with plain tap water and use a towel to dry the area before proceeding.
Once the paws are dry, comb through the hair and figure out if you need to use a trimmer. If your dog is afraid of the grinder, regular hair clippers probably won’t do. You’ll likely need to get your hands on quiet dog clippers as well. But if the hair isn’t long enough to obstruct your view, you won’t need to bother with this step.
If your dog’s nails are especially long or if you want to shorten the process, you could use nail clippers at this point. However, many pet groomers avoid this tool altogether since it can cause cracks or splits in the nails. Plus, even if it doesn’t split the nail, it can still leave sharp edges — which is why grinders are a must.
Mind the Quick
No matter which tool you decide to use, you’ll have to work in tiny sections. Dogs’ claws have a sensitive core — otherwise known as “the quick” — that contains blood vessels and nerves. Accidentally clipping that part of the nail could cause excruciating pain.
The quick grows with the nail and recedes when you cut or sand the tips. Therefore, there is a way to get your dog’s claws under control even if they’re wildly overgrown. You’ll simply have to sand off the tips every week to allow the core enough time to retreat.
But, because of the curved shape of a dog’s claw, you’ll have to find the right angle when cutting the nails.
Don’t hold the tool at a 90-degree angle to the paw. Instead, hold it as an extension of the paw, at a 45-degree angle to the claw. That will allow you to grind the nails in the same direction they would have been sanded naturally. If you’re still confused about the whole process, you might benefit from watching a video tutorial like this one!
Just make sure to stop before (or as soon as) you see a dot appear in the nail. Since that’s the tip of the quick, grinding more of the nail off could be painful.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Ultimately, since the main goal is to keep your dog as relaxed as possible through this ordeal, you’ll want to do everything I’ve mentioned fairly quickly. Don’t spend too much time on one claw — just go in, round out the edges, and move on. Do whatever you can to minimize pain, which can come from either hitting the quick or overheating the nail by grinding one spot for too long.
Eventually, you’ll be skilled enough with the grinder to get everything done in mere minutes. At that point, your dog should be okay with the noise, allowing you to use the fast setting.
In the meantime, you can sweeten the pot by showering your pet with treats throughout the process. If it associates the grinder with treats, it won’t mind getting a pedicure every other month.
No More Clicking Claws on Your Floors
Obviously, dogs aren’t the quietest pets on the planet. Between the barking and the whining, the clinking tags, and the clicking claws, there are plenty of sounds they’re capable of producing. Some of them are easier to get rid of than others — you may only be a collar tag or a nail grinder away.
But sanding down your pup’s nails won’t be only for your benefit! Keeping your dog’s claws in check puts less stress on them, preventing long-term nail decay. So, getting a nail grinder is a great investment for both you and your dog. Better still, using it regularly could even make your pet more tolerant of other noisy devices.
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