If you have a dog, you know one of the hardest parts of grooming them is keeping their nails trimmed. Nail trimming can be a time of anxiety for you and your pup. If you’re not careful, the quick can be accidentally clipped, which causes pain and bleeding. If your dog has black nails, then it’s impossible to know how close you are to it.
Luckily, there are nail grinders made for shortening your dog’s nails. With a nail grinder, a little patience, and practice, you’ll have an easier time when it comes to grooming your dog.
Are you brand-new to trimming and need some solid advice on how to trim your dog’s nails? Check out this great article from the AKC to get started.
Use this guide to help you choose the right grinder for you. We tested the top-rated nail grinders for dogs, and here are our top 4 with an additional 6 honorable mentions!
Our Top Picks
Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall: Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder | This nail grinder is our top pick because it’s a well-rounded, well-made tool. With three grinding ports, it will work with any size dog. | Check Price |
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Best Accessories: Dremel Paw Control Dog Nail Grinder | Dremel is a long-trusted brand that makes quality products. This grinder comes with a 9-piece accessory kit to make grooming a cinch. | Check Price |
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Best Run Time: Casifor Dog Nail Grinder And Clippers | The Casifor grinder has a 10-hour run time, much higher than any competitors. A warranty comes with it too, so you don’t have to worry about breaking or burning it up. | Check Price |
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Best For Small Dogs: Hertzko Electric Dog Nail Grinder | A portable and lightweight grinder for any size dog. Made to run quietly and reasonably priced. | Check Price |
How We Narrowed Down the Best Dog Nail Grinders

We looked at price, efficiency, quality, availability, and customer reviews. Out of 25 different highly-rated nail grinders, we chose to test 10 on our dogs.
Our testing helped us to narrow down the selection, and we chose 4 grinders for the list of our top picks. We chose another 6 good grinders for honorable mentions. Check out the best dog nail grinders we think are worthy of you and your pup.
Best Dog Nail Grinders
1. Best Overall: Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder
Product Ratings
Affordability | 4/5 |
Effectiveness | 4/5 |
Quality | 4/5 |
Noise | 4/5 |
Brand: Casfuy | Features: Portable, Rechargeable, 2 Speeds, 3 Sizes | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds
What We Liked
- Lightweight and Ergonomic
- Advanced Diamond Drum Bit Grinder
- Two-Speed Switch
- Three Port Sizes
- Whisper Quiet Technology
- Rechargeable and Portable
What We Didn’t Like
- Problems with charging may develop over time
- Two-hour use time may be limiting
The Casfuy dog nail grinder is a great all-around choice. An advanced diamond drum bit grinder means a longer-lasting tool, especially if your dog’s nails are tougher than most. The lightweight and ergonomic shape make this grinder easy to hold and operate with one hand.
If your pup is wary of noises, this grinder has whisper-quiet technology with low noise and vibration, so your dog will be more comfortable during grooming time.
Spend time getting your dog adjusted to the grinder before the first time you use it. Try laying it on the floor with a treat next to it to help the dog get used to it and associate it with good things. Do that a couple of times a day for several days, and you should be set.
There are three nail slot sizes for small, medium, and large dogs. We like this grinder for use with multiple dogs. This grinder took our overall recommendation because it’s easy to use, quiet, and it works for all of our dogs equally well.
What Other Customers Say
There are a lot of well-deserved raving reviews for this product on Amazon. However, some customers say that after buying the product, the company has solicited a 5-star review in return for a $10 gift card, so keep that in mind when reading the reviews.
Having said that, we believe it deserves the rave reviews that it gets, and we love using this grinder when it’s time for a puppy nail salon.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON2. Best Accessories: Dremel Paw Control Dog Nail Grinder
Product Ratings
Affordability | 3/5 |
Effectiveness | 3/5 |
Quality | 4/5 |
Noise | 4/5 |
Brand: Bosch | Features: Portable, Rechargeable, 9-piece accessory kit, 45-degree nail guard | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds
What We Liked
- 9-piece accessory kit
- 45-degree nail guard
- Variable speed slide allows for precise control
- Better for large dogs with thick nails
What We Didn’t Like
- Not the cheapest grinder
- The nail guard can occasionally get stuck on the grinding wheel
Dremel is a long-standing, quality brand that specializes in these specific kinds of tools. This grinder is portable, rechargeable, and includes a USB charging cable and power adaptor.
This tool is a bit higher priced than others; however, you’re paying extra for quality and durability in this instance.
The 9-piece accessory kit allows for better control and precision while trimming your pup’s nails. The kit includes extra wheels and sanding discs. Also, there is a warranty covering the grinder if it breaks or burns out, which probably won’t happen. Still, we love a good warranty for peace of mind.
A great thing about the Dremel is that it comes with a safety guard that works for all dogs and works great on larger dogs with hard nails, which is a complaint we had with many other grinders. The nail guard doubles as a dust collector, keeping our workspace cleaner.
Dremel tools also have a lot of power behind them and this grinder has four different speeds so no matter how hard your dog’s nails are, you should have no problem trimming them quickly.
The Dremel paw control grinder comes with a 4-volt lithium-ion battery and USB charger so you never have to worry about power. The only real issue is the run time for the grinder is about 10-25 minutes, so depending on how many dogs you have, it may need to be charged again before you’re finished.
What Other Customers Say
There are a few reviews about customers buying the Dremel grinder and receiving one that has already been used, so make sure you inspect yours closely for any prior use and return it if necessary.
We got a brand-new one as advertised when we ordered, and this was a serious contender for our overall top pick.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON3. Best Run Time: Casifor Dog Nail Grinder
Product Ratings
Affordability | 5/5 |
Effectiveness | 3/5 |
Quality | 2/5 |
Noise | 2/5 |
Brand: Casifor | Features: Portable, Rechargeable, Stepless Speed | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds
What We Liked
- 10 hours of run time
- Built-in LED light
- Super quiet
What We Didn’t Like
- Doesn’t work well on medium and large dogs
The Casifor dog nail grinder has a run time of 10 hours which is amazing and beats out all of the competition. It’s equipped with an advanced diamond bit grinder that provides comfort, safety, and quick nail trim for the dog.
Another great feature of the Casifor grinder is that it has two built-in LED lights that allow you to see your dog’s nails better and avoid cutting to the quick. We are adept at trimming our dogs’ nails, but we still loved having this extra help with seeing the quick. The light still does not help much with dense black nails.
We love the lifetime guarantee that makes purchasing this grinder a great investment.
The motor is powerful enough to trim the hardest nails, but it’s also super quiet, so it won’t disturb your pup, especially if they are wary of noises or easily spooked. A stopless speed regulation switch means you can easily switch to a higher or lower speed without stopping or losing momentum.
Three ports for small, medium, and large dogs, this grinder is a great choice no matter how many pups you have.
What Other Customers Say
There are rave customer reviews for the Casifor grinder; it is a great product, especially for the price. Some of the reviews suggest that this grinder isn’t powerful enough to handle thick nails and may take a little while to trim down larger nails.
We agree with those assessments, but it has a run time of 10 hours, so you won’t have to worry about the battery going dead while you’re in the middle of using it.
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON4. Best for Small Dogs: Hertzko Electric Dog Nail Grinder
Product Ratings
Affordability | 5/5 |
Effectiveness | 3/5 |
Quality | 3/5 |
Noise | 4/5 |
Brand: Hertzko | Features: Portable, Rechargeable | Dogs: Small to Large Breeds
What We Liked
- Easy to clean
- Multiple ports for different sized pups
- Super quiet, won’t disturb your dog
What We Didn’t Like
- Not great for taking off length
A diamond bit grinder lasts longer and is a better alternative to regular nail clippers (and there are no blades that need sharpening). It’s safer and tends to be more comfortable for your pup than a regular sandpaper wheel.
Ports are built-in to accommodate any size dog you may have. A small and medium port for small and medium dogs and the cap is taken off to expose the entire wheel for larger dogs.
This grinder is designed to run quietly with low vibration, so we used it with our smaller dogs that are easily spooked. It’s great for buffing to get rid of any sharp corners or points after trimming your dog’s nails so they won’t accidentally scratch themselves or anyone else.
It’s lightweight and ergonomic, making it easy to hold comfortably while using it. The removable cap makes cleaning easier, which is important to do after every use so that dust does not build up.
What Other Customers Say
Customer reviews suggest that this specific grinder would be best used on small dogs only as it doesn’t seem to be powerful enough to trim larger or hard nails. Some user reviews say it may be difficult to grind very long nails because it only has one speed.
In our testing, we used it on many different dogs, but we found it works best on our small dogs. We love that it is quieter and the single-speed works great on their small nails. The adjustable speeds on other grinders scare them, so they like the predictability of this nice little grinder.
Read our related article, How Often Should Dog Nail Clippers Be Replaced? Sharp clippers are safer for your dog. Find out what to look for to spot clippers that need replacing!
SEE PRICE ON AMAZON SEE PRICE ON CHEWYComparison Chart
Products | Casfuy | Dremel | Casifor | Hertzko |
Overall Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
Affordability | 4/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Effectiveness | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Quality | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Noise | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 |
The Winner
The Casfuy dog nail grinder is our winner, and it’s also a best seller on Amazon because it works fantastically. We chose the grinder because it is the best all-around, great for any size dog, super quiet, quality built, and lightweight so it’s easy to handle.
How to Choose the Best Dog Nail Grinder

If you’re still wondering which grinder may be right for you, we understand. The selection can be overwhelming, and no one wants to waste money. The things to consider when choosing the best grinder for you are:
- How many dogs you have. Do you need to trim multiple dogs monthly, or a single small dog once in a while?
- How skittish is your dog about noise? If the whirring noise of a powerful variable speed grinder makes him terrified, then it’s better to spend some time with a lower-powered single speed unit and take the nail off more slowly and quietly.
- How large is your dog? For very large dog nails, choose a powerful grinder like the Dremel. Our testing revealed that quiet units don’t grind as efficiently, and the guard is usually removed for very large dog nails anyway, so the nail slots don’t matter.
You will also want to weigh the price against the quality and effectiveness of the grinder you’re considering. We found the user reviews to be helpful in this regard.
Honorable Mentions
Here’s a brief look at the 6 dog nail grinders that didn’t make our list.
1. Peteast Dog Nail Grinder
This dog nail grinder has three grinding ports for different-sized dogs and a dual-speed motor for better control while trimming.
We thought this was a good grinder, but then we found reviews from customers who said the company tried to get them to change their poor reviews which is a red flag so we took it off our top picks.
In our opinion, the Casfuy is a better overall grinder, and we’re not the only ones who love it.
2. Petural Dog Nail Grinder
A grinder with a diamond bit wheel, three sized ports will work well for any pet family. Customer reviews have reported issues with charging over time, so keep that in mind. It worked well, but we believe the Dremel paw control dog nail grinder is a superior choice.
3. Pet Republique Dog Nail Grinder
This grinder is made for small to medium-sized dogs weighing under 20 pounds but they do make a larger grinder for bigger dogs.
4. Dremel Pet Grooming Kit
Another Dremel product which means effectiveness and quality build. However, this product has a poor battery life and tends to be more expensive. We think that if you’re going to buy Dremel, then the Dremel paw control dog nail grinder is better.
5. URPOWER Rechargeable Pet Grinder
This grinder is underpowered and only works well on small dog breeds. We think it works pretty well on small animals and small dog breeds. However, we suggest the Hertzko Electric dog nail grinder instead because we felt it worked better overall.
6. Oster Gentle Paws Dog Nail Grinder
A decent grinder, with a nail guard to help keep you from cutting too closely to your pup’s quick. We found that this unit was running too hot trying to grind large dog nails.