Most owners who avoid nail trims are avoiding one specific thing, which is the quick, the vein inside the nail that bleeds and hurts if you cut into it. The light built into this tool is aimed squarely at that problem. Shone through the nail, it shows the quick on pale claws, so you can see where to stop instead of guessing and taking off far too little every single time.

Clip then grind is the sequence worth learning. The steel clipper takes the length off in one clean cut, and the grinder rounds the sharp edge that cut leaves behind, which is what saves your forearms and the sofa. Grinding alone works too, and for dogs who hate the clipper snap it is often the better route, because it is quiet and removes very little at a time, so a nervous dog can be brought onto it in stages. The unit is rechargeable.

• Stainless steel clipper and electric grinder in one tool
• Built-in LED to help locate the quick on pale nails
• Rechargeable with a low-noise motor
• Safety guard to limit how much the clipper takes
• Suits dogs and cats
• Three finishes: white, grey or blue

On dark nails, and on going slowly. The light helps on pale claws and does very little on black ones. On dark nails, take a sliver at a time and stop when the cut face shows a chalky pale circle in the centre. Keep styptic powder within reach before you start. Build up to the grinder over several short sessions, because a dog frightened the first time stays harder to handle for years.

Who it's for: Owners trimming at home between groomer visits, and nervous pets who cope better with grinding than with the snap of a clipper.