The Best Dog Nail Grinders Reviewed

Written by Laura Ortega

Dogs are some of the most rewarding companions that virtually every culture enjoys across the globe and have been with us for thousands of years. Considering all of the love and companionship our dogs provide, it only makes sense that we should take good care of them.

While making sure that your pet has enough food and water, the proper medical care, and toys are great, that alone does not cover the full extent of adequate care. One aspect that people can easily overlook is with grooming. Trimming dog’s nails can be even trickier than shampooing your dog’s fur or making sure they have clean teeth considering an animal’s general dislike of having their paws messed with.

That is why we put together a list of the best dog nail grinders available today, highlighting what each grinder does best. We also answer some of the most pressing questions centered around nail grinders, so you can find the perfect grooming tool to take care of your dog – or cat’s – nails as well as you do everything else.

Best Dog Nail Grinders of 2021

Depending on your pet in question, you should be able to find a grinder that works best for your dog, but consider that what might seem like minor differences can play out in big results. Large dogs require a different nail grinder than small dogs, and both require a different nail grinder than cats. As will soon become easy to see, not all grinders are created equally.

Quietest: Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder

Casfuy is an extremely new company, but it seems to have taken a fairly good template and used that to produce the best dog nail grinder that we encountered. While it is not perfect for all situations, one of its best qualities is that more dogs are willing to deal with the “unnatural” experience of grinding their nails, and it’s easy to use too.

A big part of what puts different dogs at ease is that the Casfuy nail grinder is one of the quietest options on our list, producing only a minimal 50 dB of noise, which is quite low-noise. As if that were not enough, the Casfuy dog nail grinder also generates less vibration than most of its competition, making it especially effective for grinding cat nails as they tend to be more sensitive than dogs.

In terms of its performance, the Casfuy nail grinder comes with a diamond bit grinder that allows it to essentially sand down even the toughest nails. Though, it is worth noting that even with the grinder, the motor is not the most powerful and may struggle or take additional time when grinding especially thick nails.

An extremely convenient quality of the Casfuy grinder is its power source with sports a runtime of 2 hours. On top of that, the Casfuy nail grinder is one of the best in terms of the rechargeable battery, requiring only 3 hours and able to be charged with a micro USB to standard USB power cord from pretty much any device – talk about easy!

It is worth noting that the Casfuy dog nail grinder is an expensive option, though it is well worth the price considering how effective it is compared to some of the competition – it’s the kind of dog grinder nails dream of.

Most Powerful: Wahl Ultimate Corded Pet Nail Grinder

Wahl is the most established and experienced company on our list with a history that stretches back over a century, though the brand tends to focus more on human grooming in general and hair grooming in particular. That said, Wahl’s experience with electric grooming products provides some insight into making a grinder that competes with the best products out there. As a result, they’ve made an excellent nail grinder for dog owners.

In terms of power, there is no other nail grinder on our list that can even come close to the power put out by the Wahl Ultimate dog nail grinder which spins at a blistering high speed of 13,000 rpm – by far the fastest on our list, which does make it quite easy to use for pet owners. One major point of difference between the Wahl Ultimate grinder and many others we reviewed is the absence of a diamond bit.

Instead, the Wahl Ultimate dog nail grinder sticks with traditional sandpaper which has both advantages and disadvantages. In terms of its benefits as a grinder, sandpaper is much easier to find replacements for and allows you to replace a used wheel easier in general.

On top of that, the Wahl Ultimate dog nail grinder comes with 2 different types of sanding wheels in both 60 and 100 grit, providing 3 replacements for both. As if that were not enough, you can take extra special care of your pet’s nails thanks to the inclusion of 2 different drum sizes for both large and thick nails or smaller, thinner nails and finishing work.

It is worth noting that both the name and the power provided by the Wahl Ultimate grinder do not come cheap nor are you able to use it anywhere as it requires a constant AC power source (as it has no rechargeable battery). You should also keep in mind that the Wahl Ultimate dog nail grinder is the only grooming tool we reviewed that does not come with a shield, though it is also the only entry on our list with a safety auto-stop. This helps make it easy on the pet owner. That said, it’s one of those nail grinders dogs appreciate having around for grooming.

Lightest: Hertzko Electric Pet Nail Grinder

Hertzko is another new company applying what is otherwise a “standard formula” to their pet nail grinder, though they tweak it enough to offer some uncommon qualities for your dog. Compared to even most of the other dog nail grinders using a similar template, the Hertzko dog nail grinder manages to shed far more than your dog’s nails.

Specifically, the Hertzko grinder weighs in at just over half the weight of most of its competition at only 4 ⅘ oz, making it easily the lightest grinder on our list. This makes it best suited for people who will be doing a lot of grinding, and fear of tiring out over the course of the day. Keep in mind, most of the best dog nail grinders we reviewed are wireless which might be convenient for trimming your dog’s nail anywhere, but you still need to hold and manipulate the grinder.

Thanks to its extremely lightweight grinder design, the Hertzko dog claw trimmer makes that process much easier which can go a long way if you are dealing with a fussy dog’s nails. However, part of the reason that this dog claw grinder weighs so much less than the competition comes down to the use of a lighter motor.

While a lightweight motor might make this dog grinder much lighter than others, it also has the unintended consequence of reducing its total power output. Though, the fact that the Hertzko dog paw trimmer is less powerful than some of its competition means that it generates less vibration on average and provides a gentler experience – a grinder that is perfect for an exceptionally timid dog.

One thing that can be a bit frustrating is that the Hertzko grinder might use a similar power source as many other cordless models, but its rechargeable battery performance does not stack up as well. Of course, the Hartzko dog nail grinder is an inexpensive option, and you have to give up something to get such a good price.

Best Professional: ConairPRO Professional Dog Nail Grinder

ConairPRO is another company on our list that can trace its founding back decades, but it is another company that specializes more in working with humans and working on hair. However, ConairPRO brings its experience to bear by offering such a wide range of options and features that this is easily the best professional entry on our list.

Yes, the fact that the ConairPRO Professional dog paw trimmer is corded means that you cannot necessarily trim your pet’s nails anywhere and will need to be next to an AC power outlet. However, this also means that the ConairPRO dog nail grinder provides a constant power supply that will not run out and affords this option a bit more torque than some of its competitors.

As if that were not enough, the ConairPRO Professional dog nail grinder is also the only option we reviewed that allows you to grind the nails of your dog in multiple ways. For starters, the ConairPRO dog claw trimmer comes with 2 different stones that are similar to the diamond bit grinding stones that you might find in a similar nail grooming tool.

However, to provide even more versatility, this is the only electric pet nail grinder we found that comes with 2 different sizes of stone as well depending on the size of the dog’s nails, thickness of the nail, and whether you are applying a finish or not. Of course, if your pet is particularly finicky about the tactile sensation, the ConairPRO Professional dog nail grinder also comes with 4 sanding strips to use instead.

One thing that surprises a bit, especially considering the number of options this entry provides, is the fact that the grinding shield only comes in a single size – though it is comparatively large. It is also worth remembering that the ConairPRO Professional dog claw trimmer can take a while depending on the method you use. Nevertheless, your dog will be happy when you groom them with the ConairPRO.

Best Cat and Dog: Bousnic Dog Nail Grinder

Though you may not have heard of it, Bousnic has been around for almost a decade and a half and has had a major impact on the pet grooming industry in that short time. For example, Bousnic is one of the earliest companies we encountered to employ the most common template for cordless dog nail grinders.

This early adoption allows the Bousnic dog nail grinder to fine-tune their product so it works great for a wide variety of different nail trimming situations, making them particularly easy to use. In this specific case, the Bousnic dog claw trimmer is also one of the most effective options to use for cats which are notorious for being difficult to groom.

Easily one of the main reasons that the Bousnic dog nail grinder works so well on cats is that it produces less vibration than most of the other entries that we came across. To complement that low vibration, the Bousnic pet nail grinder is also extremely quiet, generating only 50 dB of noise.

Not all is ideal with the Bousnic nail grinder, however, as its low volume and vibration are a result of a less powerful motor than even other models using this template employ. This dynamic means that the Bousnic dog claw trimmer will struggle to groom larger, thicker nails and will take longer on the dogs it is designed for than some of the competition. That said, it’s perfect for medium-sized dogs.

On the other hand, the Bousnic pet nail grinder is an inexpensive option, so it only makes sense that it would not be one of the more powerful models for nail grooming we encounter. It also does not hurt that, like many entries using this template, the Bousnic dog nail grinder works at 2 speeds, uses a diamond bit grinder, and has 3 different shield settings.

Peteme Dog Nail Grinder

As one of the newest and least experienced companies in a relatively saturated market, Peteme must compete by appealing to a particular niche. That said, the Peteme dog claw trimmer uses pretty much the same template as many of the other models on our list without necessarily improving on performance.

Instead, Peteme takes the value approach by making their grinder inexpensive and earning our best budget spot without giving up too much in the nail grooming process. For example, many models using this template are extremely quiet, producing about the same amount of noise as a quiet office.

While the Peteme dog nail grinder is not quite that quiet, it only produces 60 dB of noise which is about the same as a normal conversation – something you likely jokingly have with your pet anyway. Thankfully, the modest increase in noise does not translate to an increase in vibration as the Peteme dog claw trimmer is still gentle.

One thing that stands out about the Peteme dog nail grinder compared to other template users is its battery which performs remarkably well. Keep in mind, the Peteme dog nail grinder comes with similar specs of other cordless models with a runtime of 2 hours and a 3-hour recharge, but the battery lasts longer throughout its lifespan.

On top of that, the Peteme dog nail grinder is a bit lighter than some of the other models using this template, making it easier to use – though it is a modest difference of only 1 ⅘ oz. However, to get such a good deal, you have to give up something, and the Peteme dog claw trimmer is not the most powerful we found, but it should work for most medium-sized dogs.

Oneisall Dog Nail Grinder

Although oneisall follows a similar trend as many companies on our list, this brand makes it a point to meet and then exceed, the performance of its similarly classed competitors. When you consider that the oneisall grinder uses the most common template but gooses it a bit more than others, it makes sense it would be the best overall value.

One of the biggest differences between the oneisall dog nail grinder and others using the template is raw power as this entry spins at 7000 to 8000 rpms, the second-fastest pet nail grinder we reviewed. That also means that you can tailor the speed of the oneisall dog claw trimmer to suit your pet.

Keep in mind, most entries using this template either take a long time to grind your pet’s nails or may not have enough power altogether if the nails are too large and thick. Though, putting a bit more juice in the same package has its drawbacks as the motor does not balance quite as well in this nail grooming tool.

While that does not necessarily translate too much in terms of holding and using the oneisall grinder, it does translate to more vibration than most options. The more powerful motor also increases the volume of this option over some of the competition, though, at only 55 dB, the oneisall dog claw trimmer is still fairly quiet and easy on your pet.

On the other hand, you have to pay for performance, especially when it comes to power, and the oneisall dog nail grinder is an expensive option. Still, you get all of the other great qualities that come with this template like a hard diamond bit and a solid power supply with 2 hours of runtime and only a 3-hour recharge.

Dog Nail Grinder FAQ

We’ve addressed some of the most common questions posed by our readers below:

Are dog nail grinders any good?

There is no easy way to answer this question as it depends on a host of factors which, in turn, should be used to guide you to which nail grinder you should choose for your dogs. Every nail grinder on our list is good for a given situation but may not be ideal for all dogs or all situations – even if it boasts superior performance for some dogs as opposed to others.

A great example of this idea regards the relative power level of dog nail grinders with many people believing that the most powerful nail grinder is necessarily the best for their dogs because it is easy to operate. Granted, while a powerful nail grinder works great on large, thick nails, it may provide too much power for dogs with smaller, thinner nails. That’s why it’s important for grinders to be paired appropriately with the dogs being worked on – something that is easy to overlook.

In this context, the unneeded power provided by the nail grinder likely imparts too much vibration and might make dogs with a smaller, thinner nail feel uncomfortable. That said, if you can find a nail grinder that matches up with the needs and preferences of your dog (or dogs), then it will perform well.

What nail grinder does PetSmart use?

This is another question that does not have an easy answer as PetSmart does not dictate the tools that their groomers use for their customer’s dogs. In fact, many PetSmart locations do not even provide grooming tools for their dog groomers and instead require them to furnish their own tools for the job, whether for medium-sized dogs or larger breeds.

That said, there are a couple of options out there that professional dog groomers tend to gravitate towards, but it is worth noting that professionals require different tools than the average person. Where a professional works with perhaps dozens of dogs in a single day, five days a week, you likely do not need to groom your dog’s nails anywhere near that amount – unless you have tons of dogs, of course.

As such, the kind of pet nail grinders that professionals use tend to be expensive, are more powerful, and come with more options to account for their varied clientele to make it easy on the groomer when dealing with multiple dogs. Of course, one of the more popular pet nail grinders used by professionals on our list is the ConairPRO Professional – one of the grinders that it is easy to call excellent.

Does grinding a dog’s nails hurt them?

In short, no, but the longer, more accurate answer, is that you can hurt your dog when grinding their nails if you do not do it properly. Thankfully, the risks posed by improperly grinding your dog’s nails tend to pale in comparison to what can happen if you injure your dog while trimming their nails with a clipper. You just have to take it easy when you use it on your dog’s nails.

While our nails might be superficial without blood or nerve endings, dog and cat nails grow around, rather than on top of, a tissue called the quick. Aside from the fact that this allows the nails to grow more durably, the nail and quick is technically part of the dog’s “fingertip” and is more sensitive than our fingernails. It’s easy to hurt your dog if you tap into the quick during any grooming – using grinders or otherwise.

That said, a grinder avoids most issues with the quicks of the nails by not cutting through the nail which is generally how other types of nail clippers can injure dogs. That said, a pet nail grinder can still cause minor damage to the dog’s quick or toe if it heats the nail too much through friction– though you are more likely to cause your pet mild discomfort than genuinely injure them.

One thing you may have to watch out for depending on the breed and grooming habits of the dog is fur growing over the nails. For example, medium-sized dogs may require more care than larger dogs. Because nail clippers spin to generate their grinding action, this fur can get pulled into the rotating head of the nail grinder and cause pain if not pushed away from the nail when grinding it down.

How to Choose Your Dog Nail Grinder

Power

As mentioned prior, power is not necessarily the most important thing to look for in the best dog nail grinders, though it is still an incredibly important consideration as it affects how easy to use the product is for nail grinding. However, instead of making sure you get the most powerful nail grinder, it is better to find one that suits the nails of your animal.

• Rotations – This tends to be the most commonly cited spec used to help determine how “powerful” dog nail grinders are, though it can be a bit misleading. Similar to a power tool, the speed of rotation, given in rotations per minute or rpms, can give you a rough idea of how quickly the nail grinder will be able to grind, but not how much of the nail will be ground per rotation. Still, with a nail grinder that is otherwise equal to another, the grinder with higher rpms will generally grind quicker than slower nail clippers.
• Torque – The torque is one of the most important factors when determining the “power” of a nail grinder and how easy it is to use on your dog’s nails as a result, but it is also one of the least known. It is not so much that we do not understand how to measure torque as much as dog nail grinders generally do not provide its rating. That said, nail grinders with additional torque can easily outperform competing nail grinders with more rpms. However, torque can be a double-edged sword as it also generates more heat through friction when using the nail clippers. On top of that, nail grinders with more torque can make the nail feel more uncomfortable as it is being ground and cause bigger issues if the dog’s fur gets pulled into the spinning bit.

Sanding & Grinding Surface

• Sandpaper – This is the cheapest type of sanding surface, but it also tends to be the least effective in terms of grinding power the nail clippers offer for your pet’s nail. That said, it is also easier to replace a sandpaper wheel on a bit on nail clippers than it is to go out and get a new bit and replace the whole bit. In terms of effectiveness, sandpaper is rated in grit with a lower number representing a rougher grit and more sanding power.
• Diamond – To be clear, a “diamond” bit for nail clippers is not actually made out of diamond as much as diamond dust has been added to a composite stone bit. That said, this still translates to a stone bit that lasts a long time before wearing out and maintains a good roughness throughout its lifespan, making them particularly easy to use for nail grinding. While diamond bits are more effective at sanding than traditional sandpaper wheels, they also require a bit more work to replace. Aside from the fact that diamond bits are more expensive, they also often require you to remove the entire bit to replace them.
• Stone – Stone is the middle child of dog nail grinding surfaces with enough substance and sanding power to generally outperform sandpaper during sustained use on nails but with the same inconveniences of diamond bits. Stone was considered to be the best material for a nail grinder bit for many years of use on nails before brands started to move towards diamond bits for dog’s nail grinders. While a stone bit might be as rough as a diamond bit and rougher than sandpaper, stone tends to wear away quicker when subjected to use for trimming nails than diamond bits after nail grinding sessions.

Comfort

Though we might use nail grinders as a safer alternative to traditional clippers for nails, that does not change the fact that your animal might still feel uncomfortable with the process of cleaning their nails. While it would be wonderful if a nail grinder could meet all expectations, more often than not you need to weigh the comfort quality of a nail grinder against its grinding power. The more powerful a nail grinder, generally the louder and more vibrations it produces, ultimately being less comfortable for the animal during the nail trimming experience.

• Volume – In terms of comfort, one quality cannot be said to be more important than the other, but volume presents more legitimate issues with nail trimming, and low-noise options are always best for easy use. Because cats and dogs have such good hearing, noise that is otherwise benign for people might come off as disturbingly or painfully loud to your dogs. This is why you should always seek a low-noise grooming tool for pet nail grinding.
• Vibration – Hand in hand with low-noise, this factor poses far less risk of genuine damage to your pet but might still be a dealbreaker when trying to grind their nails. While we might understand that the vibrations of a nail grinder are not dangerous, an animal might mistake those sensations as a threat and dislike having their nails ground for protection. Keep in mind, this issue can be exacerbated if you have already nicked their quick when trying to trim their nails with traditional clippers.

Aside from their nails, another part that should be cleaned are their ears, and we also put toghether a list of best dog ear cleaning solutions for you.