If you are able to do the nails yourself, there is no need to go to a groomer. Even the best groomer will still occasionally clip nails too short. And so will you, unless you're being so cautious that the amount of nail you remove is negligible. The main thing is to try to avoid cutting them too short too often, don't make a fuss over it (dogs are more likely to be "traumatized" by your reaction than by the actual cutting of the quick), and keep a styptic powder on hand. You'll get better at it, and lots of rewards and bellyrubs will help to reassure her that overall nail clipping is not such a bad thing.
When you bring her for the spay, emphasize that you want them really, really short - my vet never takes them short enough. I was recently watching a grooming video by one of the top handlers in the breed, and he mentioned that it's the same quick whether you cut it at the end or back near the toe, so if you're going to cut them you might as well whack them *right* back.
When you bring her for the spay, emphasize that you want them really, really short - my vet never takes them short enough. I was recently watching a grooming video by one of the top handlers in the breed, and he mentioned that it's the same quick whether you cut it at the end or back near the toe, so if you're going to cut them you might as well whack them *right* back.
