What's the best, gentlest way to trim your dogs nails?

The timid dogs are difficult. I wouldn't recommend a groomer for one because it will stress your dog out even more. The automated trimmer doesn't work on our dogs and scare them to death! and they aren't scared of anything... We use a cat trimmer on our dogs, seems to work good. And then we file them after to smooth out and avoid getting cuts on ourselves. I would say either file or trim, but don't use the PediPaw... lol it is awful

My dog has a few black nails so I can't see the quick. That's why I take her to a groomer. She's very good, never hits the quick and only charges $7 (other places charge up to $13 in our area). I've talked to people who have bought pedipaws ( a kind of grinder) but they don't like it. The noise scares the dogs.

I have seen an electric quick sensing trimmer in a catalogue that I have thought about buying but it is $70. Without hearing from someone who has tried it, I don't want to shell out that kind of $$, so I'll stick to my neighborhood groomer.

Dremel works well for us, but each dog reacts differently. My parent's GSD absolutely HATED getting her nails dremeled so she gets them clipped now. I like the smooth edges of the nail, and my dog is really easy and just sleeps while I do his nails. I'm pretty lucky in that department :)

let the groomers handle that part