I find that it works very well, I have 4 schnausers and 1 yorkie, they were use to clippers, so I introduced this slowly, letting them smell it, lay it by them when they slept, petted them with it so they weren't afraid of it, I even turn it on and would rub the smooth side over them sort of like a massage.
I actually prefer to remove the thing you put their toenails thru... it seemed to jerky for me... so I carefully hold their feet/toes and do it that way.
desyrae