Okay,

I'm feeling brave, moving on from the tail docking thread... Before I start can we just try and make sure this stays warm and fuzzy!! Thanks!

So... in the event of me breeding from Takara I will have to decide what to do with the puppies' dew claws.

Takara had hers removed, Eddy hasn't.
Eddy doesn't use his dew claws and is actually far less dexterous than Takara. I'm not under any impression that this is because he has dew claws, but it just goes to show that they don't always count for dexterity.

I have been guilt tripped by a few people about 'pulling our their thumbs' and whilst I appreciate this, in the 10 months I've had Eddy, I've seen his claws get caught that many times and him get distressed by it while I've tried to unhook him that I'd be very concerned for a more active pup.

However, I don't know how much distress removing them causes, have never experienced it being done and am still very unsure as to what to do when Takara's litter finally arrives (she's not pregnant by the way - but it's on the cards).

So here's opening up for a sensible debate on the removal of dew claws.

personally, I'd wait til the pups were born, have a look then decide. If they look like they may cause a problem I'dthink about it then, just to do it for the sake of it with no concideration seems a little barbaric.

My lab tilly who is really active came back a while ago with a foot covered in blood, she must have caught her dew claw on something and she wripped it right off. She had to have a jab and her leg bandaged up, it was funny trying to keep it on especially when we had snow, all she did was fling her pink leg around in the snow until it came off:rolleyes:

I'm all for it for certain breeds - Beagles and Jack Russells or anything else that bounds through the undergrowth with scant regard for such appendages as thumbs

longer coated breeds seem to have some protection from this problem (are spaniels usually de-dew clawed as a matter of course?)

My mum's norwegian elkhound never seems to have a problem with his, but they aren't suitable for walking off a lead, so he only gets to trot about on tarmac - which is of no threat at all to dew claws (so I've no idea which side of the fence to take for his breed)

Good luck in coming to a conclusion you're happy with :thumbsup:

My spaniel didn't have his dews removed, or his tail docked - just so you know ;)

I had no idea that some dogs have their dew claws removed! Well- you learn something new every day.

I guess that's another big difference between cats and dogs- cats rarely, if ever, seem to have problems from their dew claws, as they sit very flat against the legs and only really get caught on things when they're kittens and can't retract their claws properly anyway.

Dogs can't retract their claws at all hence this problem, meds.

Bailey's mum - it needs doing as young as possible I believe so I wouldn't want to wait til they're were born and then not be able to get them in to see a vet...

Claireo - that sounds so painful! I know what you mean about the bandage though both of mine have had to be taped and vet wrapped up after standing on glass and they really throw their paws around trying to get it off!
Thanks, I'll wait for some more contributions to wiegh it up properly...

Gypsy's dew claws have ripped through my tender skin many a time :(

The worst injuries have been when I've had to physically restrain her to stop her lunging at people when there's no room on the pavement for me to take evasive action. She gets me right on my inner fore arm, and I have to walk around for weeks looking like I self-harm :mad:

Luckily, we have learnt that sitting quietly while people walk past is much more fun, and involves a treat, so we don't do that so often anymore.... unless it's a postman.... but they're on the same level as squirrels, so are fair game :D

Just watching the vet clip her nails makes me squeamish though. Don't think I could stomach her having them removed :gag:

It does sound cruel and yet I know our daft dobe would have problems if she still had hers - she is very clumsy, fast and giddy and has cut her pads a few times charging through woods, so that thumb would come in or some serious damage if she still had it/ them. I never realised they were removed/existed until we got Ailsa - mind you, I didnt know some breeds were docked either- I thought they were born like that!

Why don't you ask Takara's breeder why they decided to remove them?

By the looks of it, the problems dew claws create vary greatly between different breeds so talking to a Dally expert would be best.

They must have weighed up the pros & cons, so get them to go through them with you :)

Lotti my poppy has her dew claws and she grips your arms with them and several time she has actually ripped my arms open.

Molly and Pippa havent had theres remeoved. :huh: what are they? lol :)

Molly and Pippa havent had theres remeoved. :huh: what are they? lol :)
the dew claw is the thumb, or claw that doesn't come into contact with the floor, and is a good distance up the leg from the paw

supposedly
photo: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/images/dog_nails/dewclaw2.jpg


I have been 'informed' though, that there is a difference between dew claws and thumbs, and thumbs should not be removed as dogs who have them do use them - a dew claw is something else entirely and smaller than the thumb. Obviously, very few dogs have these


Some breeds are born missing the fifth didgit from either front or hind legs, and sometimes all

I think my mum's elkhound has them only on the front - and I wish he wouldn't do so much flipping damage with them :mad:

Can't click that link because my pc's playing up but will take a look later.
I'm obviously going to have a chat with T's breeder but I know some dallies with them and some without...
I'm also going to post on the British Dalmatian Club forum when I can remember my password :huh:

Tatty - next time I see you, I'll show you Eddy's dew claws, if I was just going on his experience the pups would have them out straight away as he gets them caught on everything and hates them being cut because he never needs his normal nails cutting as he walks well on his toes so the nails are kept short from pavement walking. Dew claws don't come into contact with anything so must be clipped.

I think my mum's elkhound has them only on the front - and I wish he wouldn't do so much flipping damage with them :mad:

Awwww, an elkhound :) My parents had a norwegian elkhound years ago and he was gorgeous. Hardly anyone had heard of them then and we were always being asked if he was a husky. My dad was able to let him off the lead with no problems as he would have obeyed my dad to the death. The rest of the family was simply there to stroke him and to be protected :hihi:

And so I'm not completely off topic I had no idea what dew claws are either but couldn't get the link to work so googled and came up with this:

http://dogs.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/05/removing_dew_claws.php

Lotti my poppy has her dew claws and she grips your arms with them and several time she has actually ripped my arms open.

Same here, as soon as the fussing stops, she grabs at you with both paws and they dig right in to try and get more fussing...even though right from young we've always stopped any interaction whenever this happens :(

I was going to ask the vets advice about removal as she's caught the kids a blinder on occasion....

I dont think you can compare Dew Claws to tails. For a start a dog uses its tail and dew claws dont really serve any purpose.

I dont have a problem with dew claws being removed at all. They get caught and some dogs rip them off entirely, which can be extremely painful for the dog. Most vets will remove them if the dog is under general for something else, but will not do a specific op to remove just the dew claws, understable.

Im assuming here you are referring to front dew claws?. siberians huskies are occasionally born with one or both REAR dew claws. we had one pup in our last litter born with both. these were removed by our vet at 3 days old. seems quick and painless, the pup didnt even yelp and they are simply 'snipped' off and cauterised. Its done in our dogs for safety reasons. the dogs work, in harnessess, attatched by lines to a rig or sled. Some very nasty accidents have occurred from a dog getting its rear leg over a line and ripping off the dew claw, so we remove them when they occur. we dont touch front dew claws as never to date had an incident involving front ones. That said, some owners of our bred do remove front ones in the same manner in working dogs. Our vet will carry out this proceedure, but will not dock, as percieves the safety aspect of dew claw removel as a genuine one.
Anyway, as I say, we currently remove rear ones only.

Same here, as soon as the fussing stops, she grabs at you with both paws and they dig right in to try and get more fussing...even though right from young we've always stopped any interaction whenever this happens :(

I was going to ask the vets advice about removal as she's caught the kids a blinder on occasion....


When I had to go to hospital for stitches I felt there may be a need to remove them

Lotti I meant wait til the day the pups ewre born and see how far they stuck out, if a lot have them done if not I'd leave em

I see, thanks Bailey's mum, I guess booking a vet 'in case' couldn't hurt.

Thanks everyone, I'll be talking it over with Takara's breeder and a few other trusted breeders and I'll no doubt having fun coming to my decision :rolleyes:

At the end of the day, its your decision, good luck making it :)

Thanks Bailey's mum :)