Pro and Cons of Removing Front dewclaws on working litters - Page 1

Some breeds remove the front they take rottis front ones off all the time.  But gsd he is rite they stay on.

Some breeds remove the front they take rottis front ones off all the time.  But gsd he is rite they stay on.

Why should the dewclaws remain on any dog? What purpose do they serve other than vet bills or
for the show ring?

Pirates Lair, have you had dogs that have got them torn in the line of duty I have heard of a kennel that removes them for police work.

Only one of our dogs has torn a dewclaw on duty (expensive bill). Dewclaws serve no purpose in today’s working dogs. Schutzhund, French Ring, PPD, PSD.

One Dewclaw torn, is one too many. IMO


Show Judges, and rightfully so, want to see GSD’s which are capable of achieving any level of the Breed Standard – PPD/Schutzhund/PSD etc.

Yet they do not account for removal of the Dewclaw, which is considered a Fault?

This is a Debate many of us our arguing about.

IMO, they should be removed at 3 days of birth

JMO, Any objections please explain the purpose?

Kim

We remove their dew claws at 2-3 days old. Our dogs for the most part do not participate in shows but are working K9s. I have been asked by a police and military dog trainer to take them off because of the high incidence of injury. To a puppy the procedure is quick and short lived where the working K9 is out of work for recovery after a torn dewclaw.

If I had someone interested in a puppy for show purposes then I would leave them on that puppy. It does limit their choice of puppy for show purposes because I do not, as a general rule, leave them on.

Melissa

Neither of my puppies had them so nothing was removed, and I show both of them in multiple venues, are they required for GSDs? 

My dogs have had minor torn or irritated claws but never a dewclaw.

I have no objection to dewclaws being removed at a few days old, if the dog has them.

If I had a potential owner who wanted to remove one of my pups' front dewclaws, I would not sell them a puppy.  The front dewclaws are firmly attached with bone and ligament - it's not just snipping through skin like in a rear dewclaw removal, it is an amputation.  And, yes the dog uses these toes.   Have you ever put a muzzle on a dog that is not used to a muzzle?  You will quickly see how well they can use their dewclaws to get it off.

 The front dewclaws get injured about as often and as easily as any of the toes/pads get injured.  I absolutely object to front dewclaw removal in any breed.  In the Dobermans and Rotts it's for cosmetic purposes only.  Not a good reason for amputation of a toe and certainly not for GSD whose standard calls for them to remain intact.

molly