Most hunting dog and retriever breeders have their puppies’ dewclaws removed. However, if you ask hunting dog breeders or trainers, they will likely say that their dogs suffer dewclaw injuries out in the field frequently enough to warrant surgical removal. This prompts the question, “If the dewclaws rarely present a problem, why put the dog or puppy through an unnecessary, painful procedure?” This sounds practical, but if you ask veterinarians how often they see dewclaw injuries, they will say hardly ever – or certainly no more frequently than injuries to the other toes. The thought was, “If the dewclaws don’t have a function, we might as well get rid of them so that they can never become a problem for the dog.” As such, it became routine to remove the dewclaws to prevent injuries that dogs sometimes suffer when the dewclaw catches on vegetation as the dog runs, lands from jumps, and turns. They’re located higher up on the limb than the other toes and make no contact with the ground when the dog is standing. What Are Dewclaws and What Do They Do?įor a long time, experts believed that dewclaws served no purpose. These activities include not only formal events like agility, flyball, lure coursing, fast CAT (coursing ability test), disc dog sports, hunting, and tracking, but also fun, informal athletic activities like running off-leash, hiking, playing with other dogs, and chasing balls. If, however, your dog engages in athletic activities that involve hunting, running at speed or making sudden, tight turns and changes of direction, the topic is far more consequential. Photo by Nancy KernsĮnd of a six-foot leash, the controversy over dewclaw removal is somewhat immaterial. Dogs who participate in sports that require speed and agility definitely benefit from having front dewclaws for stabilizing the foot during turns and landing from jumps.
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