Dew claw problems

[Birddog3412]

The dew claw removal thread got me thinking. Seems like everyone has heard of a dog that had its dew claw wripped off while hunting. Is this just a phantom problem or does it really happen?


Who on this forum, if anyone, has had a dog get a dew claw ripped off or had other problems because they were not removed.

[3Britts]

I had a springer, 18 years back, that had a dew ripped off while hunting. It bled a good bit before we got it wrapped.
Had the other removed by the vet.
Doing it while they are young is much easier, with less blood and hassel, and doesn't cost nearly as much.

[CherrystoneWeims]

I had a Lab who ripped one out about 14 years ago. I had the other one removed. It's so much easier on the dog to just remove them at 3 days of age.

[Brittguy]

I have had 4 dogs that had dew claws. All of them were field trial dogs and probably spent more time in the field than most hunting dogs when you consider training and conditioning plus trails. One of them was also a bench champion so it did not hurt in judging. None of the dogs ever had an injury. I know a few pointer people and all of them had dogs with dew claws. I never remember any of their dogs tearing a dew claw.
I remove them on my puppies and I think it gives the leg a cleaner look, but if I bought a dog that had them I would not put him through the surgery at a later age.

[Birddog3412]

Thanks 3britts and Cherrystone. You are the first two people I have ever heard it happening to first hand. IMO I like dew claws removed, not only to prevent a possible injury, but mainly I think that dogs without them look better.

[briarpatch]

It happens My buddies dog ripped off one last month while hunting , not the whole toe though just the nail got ripped out, bled a lot and the dog was limping around for about a week , obviously pretty painful for the dog, and this is a dog that normally handles pain well, he once got stabbed in the chest with a stick on a run and had a 1 inch round hole in him that was very deep that the Vet pulled a 1 inch round 3 inch long stick out of without so much as a wimper from the dog when he got the stuck with the stick or when it was removed so the dog aint a wimp... the dog has always had his dew claws he has been run a lot and he is three now this was the first problem he encountered with having the dew claws..

[gittrdonebritts]

I have 2 dogs with 4 without never had a problem..... yet knock on wood but I'm not worried about but remove them from any pups my bitches whelp.

[kninebirddog]

I have also had to tend to raw and injured dew claws. Plus they make putting on boots a real pain.
I Have seen one dog that had to have surgery from ripping his dew claw almost off when he was run in a rocky area guess he hit a rock just right ...But I do see a lot of dogs that have dew claws and have never had a problem at all

[rollick]

I was running a GSP on that icky, crusty snow where sometimes they stay on top and sometimes they break through who pretty much ripped her dew claw off, so I had to have the vet remove it (and the other one at the same time to prevent a possible similar injury at a future date). When you have them removed when the dog is older, it becomes actual surgery, hence more $, more pain, longer recovery time. Made me a believer in removing them as little pups.

[Birddogz]

It is pretty rare. DDs almost never have their DC removed, and I have never seen one tear. Not saying it can't happen, just isn't common.

[3Britts]

I guess it might depend on where you hunt and at what speed your dog moves. My Britts move pretty fast over some rough terrain, where my friends DD moves less quickly.

[Birddogz]

I guess it might depend on where you hunt and at what speed your dog moves. My Britts move pretty fast over some rough terrain, where my friends DD moves less quickly.

My DD is the fastest dog I have ever hunted with. She is a rocket. Her range isn't huge, but her motor is constant. She is 50 pounds and very long legged.

[RayGubernat]

I guess it might depend on where you hunt and at what speed your dog moves. My Britts move pretty fast over some rough terrain, where my friends DD moves less quickly.

My DD is the fastest dog I have ever hunted with. She is a rocket. Her range isn't huge, but her motor is constant. She is 50 pounds and very long legged.

3Britts -
I have had one dog tear a dew claw. It was a mess and the dog was laid up for several weeks.

What our resident genius, perfectionist and all around know it all didn't tell you was that his previous breed was Spinoni and Clumbers before that. HAHAHAHA

Fast DD's. Now that's HILARIOUS.


RayG

On and I forgot one other stellar attribute...NUMERO UNO bird slayer.

[RoostersMom]

Never had anything happen to our Chessie (9 years old now) under any hunting conditions. Our beagles all have dew claws and in 3 years of hunting 5 beagles, never had anything happen to their dew claws. That said, if the dog has hanging dew claws, I'd remove them, but ours are just your typical dew claws - and have never had any incidents with the dogs we own who still have their dew claws. Our one pointer's was removed as well as the Vizslas'. The other pointer (10 years old now) has never had an issue with hers and she is one brush busting dog.

[3Britts]

Thanks Ray, you made my day.

I think what those of us who have had a dew claw torn off would like all to know is that it only takes one to make you understand why removing them is a good idea.
I have owned many dogs over the 48 years I have been on this planet, and have only had one that had a dew claw torn off. That one was enough to make me decide to have dew claws removed just after whelping. It's that ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure idea.

And just so everyone understands me. My choice of dogs run from Brittany, to RWIS, to DD.

[Birddogz]

I guess it might depend on where you hunt and at what speed your dog moves. My Britts move pretty fast over some rough terrain, where my friends DD moves less quickly.

My DD is the fastest dog I have ever hunted with. She is a rocket. Her range isn't huge, but her motor is constant. She is 50 pounds and very long legged.

3Britts -
I have had one dog tear a dew claw. It was a mess and the dog was laid up for several weeks.

What our resident genius, perfectionist and all around know it all didn't tell you was that his previous breed was Spinoni and Clumbers before that. HAHAHAHA

Fast DD's. Now that's HILARIOUS.


RayG

Ray my DD is a bullet. I have roaded her with EPs many times, and she can go as long as they can. She is not a sereotype DD. She has long legs, is very tall, and weighs 47 lbs. She looks exactly like a GSP. Ray you really should educate your self about dogs. There are many DDs that are very athletic dogs. You want to really have some fun, take one of your FT dogs and throw a bone in with a male DD. I can tell you what dog will win that wrestling match.
On and I forgot one other stellar attribute...NUMERO UNO bird slayer.

[Birddogz]

I guess it might depend on where you hunt and at what speed your dog moves. My Britts move pretty fast over some rough terrain, where my friends DD moves less quickly.

My DD is the fastest dog I have ever hunted with. She is a rocket. Her range isn't huge, but her motor is constant. She is 50 pounds and very long legged.

3Britts -
I have had one dog tear a dew claw. It was a mess and the dog was laid up for several weeks.

What our resident genius, perfectionist and all around know it all didn't tell you was that his previous breed was Spinoni and Clumbers before that. HAHAHAHA

Fast DD's. Now that's HILARIOUS.


RayG

First off Ray, when you actually hunt wild birds more than 5 times per year you can speak. FTing seems to be what old guys do when they can't hunt anymore. Just saying.

Ray my DD is a bullet. I have roaded her with EPs many times, and she can go as long as they can. She is not a sereotype DD. She has long legs, is very tall, and weighs 47 lbs. She looks exactly like a GSP. Ray you really should educate your self about dogs. There are many DDs that are very athletic dogs. You want to really have some fun, take one of your FT dogs and throw a bone in with a male DD. I can tell you what dog will win that wrestling match.

[RayGubernat]

Birddogz -

Like I said...HILARIOUS.

You are so full of BS it is incredible. You are, by your own admission, something of a genius, a Numero Uno Bird slayer, the voice of hunters everywhere...You are the best...your dogs are the best, the way you hunt is the best.

I CALL BS.

The only thing that might be the best ar some of the places you hunt. Be grateful.

I call them like I see them...always have and always will. You are a poser and a total windbag. You say all these unbelievable things that you ar and you have done and all we have is your worthless word for it. No verifcation, no validation...NOTHING.

I call BS.

I don't believe anything you say. I suspect there are some others that might just agree with me but are too polite to call you on it. I am not. You believe yourself to be "the cure" when you are really just another disease.


One last thing... Mr. Genius Boy who is not man enough to go by their own name...

YOU do not tell me...or anyone else on this board what they can and cannot say and YOU do not tell me or anyone else when they may speak. We all post here at the discretion of the folks that own the bandwidth.

Lesson over. You may leave the room to go to the little boys room now.

RayG

[Birddogz]

Now I am truly flattered. I don't BS. I guess you have a hard time fathoming hunting wild birds well. You want pics to satisfy you? I will start doing so. The fact that you don't believe me honestly has just made my day. Thanks Ray. Fishing pics next. No birds in season, but can get some pics of my dogs on point, as soon as weather allows.

Ray, you are too old to be talkin' tough. Relax, it is just a forum. Now be quiet! That was a joke.

[RayGubernat]

Now I am truly flattered. I don't BS. I guess you have a hard time fathoming hunting wild birds well. You want pics to satisfy you? I will start doing so. The fact that you don't believe me honestly has just made my day. Thanks Ray. Fishing pics next. No birds in season, but can get some pics of my dogs on point, as soon as weather allows.

Ray, you are too old to be talkin' tough. Relax, it is just a forum. Now be quiet! That was a joke.

"I don't BS."

Now that is high comedy.

Let's see...The genius boy who kills all the birds in, what was it...six or was it seven states? The great white hunter who knows all about hunting pheasants, and sharptails and whatever else comes up. The renowned(in his own mind) bird slayer that kills more birds in a year than anybody out there. The fearless hunter who has a Deutsch Drathaar that can outrun pointers. :roll: I'm sure I missed a few other unbelieveables and incredibiles...there were so many.

Then there is the supposed dog man and sportsman who would engineer a dog fight by tossing a bone for two dogs to fight over. That was another bright spot. . Dogfighting is kinda against the law. Just go ask Mike Vick.

I am glad you were flattered. I would rather you had taken it as education, but I knew that was asking too much from someone who is so firmly convinced that they know it all.

"I don't BS." Yeah RIIIIIGHT! You are funny dude. Hilarious even.

I don't need to see pics of your dogs on point. I have seen plenty of WPG's and a few DD's at trials. And please don't try to tell me there is any difference between a WPG and a DD. There ain't. The ones I have had the pleasure to watch were fine dogs and very capable. The times i was braced withthem, I enjoyed watching how they hunted.

Fishing pics? Oh Gawd!! I wonder what hyperbole is in store for us now. I can just imagine the new heights you will take the proverbial "fish story" to.

How's this: A limit of twenty pound cutthroat trout on a dry fly and two pound test backing....in the rapids of the Colorado...from a raft. La de da... BS.

I don't need pics of my dogs on point. My youngest dog just took first place in a small American Field walking derby stake that was held locally a couple of Saturdays ago. Then we came back the folowing day and she put down a second blue ribbon performance in a second walking derby stake. I didn't award her the first place placements. Independent, disinterested judges did.

I don't brag on my dogs(at least not until they are dead and cannot make a liar out of me) and certainly do not brag on my abilities, such as they are.

You are right about one thing. I am getting old. I am short and fat and the joints are kinda stiff sometimes. I am very familiar with the benefits of Naproxen, and Ibuprofen. We are good friends. But some old men can still get it done. I might even be one of them. I actually get pretty limber a half hour or so after taking two ALLEVE.

I am planning to run a couple of dogs in the upcoming National Amateur Walking Shooting Dog trial. I think I have a decent shot at it with one or both dogs. If I can get that derby dog the way I want her, I might just run her too. You are welcome to come and watch. I'll even put you on one of my horses so you don't wear youself out and you can see some of those 600 yard dogs a bit better. But no, you won't do that. You might learn actually something.

Once again...I CALL BS.

I think going fishing is great idea for you. Go bother the folks on the fishing forum for a few months.

RayG

[slistoe]

I have witnessed a German Shepherd tear a dew claw on chain link fencing. I have seen a GSP tear one while hunting. Seeing one was enough. Seeing two was more than anyone should have to go through. There is absolutely no excuse for not taking the minute it takes to snip them at 3 days of age.

[slistoe]

Ray - those pointers probably had their dew claws removed and that is why his DD could outrun them - better grip on the ground and especially in the turns.

[Chukar12]

Dew claw problems, who would have thunk it? I purt near missed this whole durned thing because I was disinterested in dew claws...and Ray, if I may intercede as you have lost your temper ...heaven knows why?
Birddogz, I am rather disinterested in most of these arguments, but you are suggesting your DD can run with pointers? In fairness, I train a pointing lab occasionally for my partner that is really fast for about 60 yards, usually in pursuit of a bird it broke on...but do you mean your DD can run in long casts for a period of time?

[ultracarry]

Lol and to think this was about dew claws. I believe you can enter DDS in trials but have never seen one especially with dew claws (still on topic) I would also like to see you road a DD for your hunting season to build endurance for those all day hunts. If you research roading on a harness for an endurance athlete it would be like lance Armstrong body building for a race.

[Birddogz]

Hey Ray,
Pics of wild bird hunting and wild fish. Starting right now. We will see who the BSer is in 1 year. No more talk. Wild animals in wild conditions. Are you game RAY? We shall see.

[RayGubernat]

Hey Ray,
Pics of wild bird hunting and wild fish. Starting right now. We will see who the BSer is in 1 year. No more talk. Wild animals in wild conditions. Are you game RAY? We shall see.

Not my game anymore. Been there, did that. I have no inner need to kill anything, especially not something so precious to me as wild upland game. I guess you are just gonna have to play with yourself. Besides, anybody with a working knowledge of photoshop can manufacture any kind of pictures they wish. For a certified(or is it certifiable??) genius like yourself, that should be child's play.

I'll stick to field trials thank you. For me, they are about the most fun I can have with my clothes on.

As I told you, I already started my year with two first place placements. I'm sure one of your friends will let you know when the writeup appears in the American Field magazine so you can verify my statements. We shall see how the rest of the spring season goes. Wish me luck.

I AM glad to hear that you are finally going to put a sock in it. Your circular BS was getting tiresome indeed. It is getting less and less entertaining to make fun of you and your hyperbole. You are too easy.

I have an idea!! Why don't you take your bullet fast, super duper DD and enter it in a half hour AKC trial out your way. Let me know when and where. Put it out there where it can't be faked and it ain't just your word and your opinion.

Try it, if you have the cahones. If you and your dog are HALF as good as you seem to think you are, you should actually do well. If you don't do well, you will have seen dogs that did. Either way, you can then talk and it won't be just hot air.

Have fun drowning those worms this spring.

I'll be thiking of you. OR NOT!!

RayG

[Big Dave]

I have seen one torn dew claw on a dog and it was ugly. I decided right there that I would have them taken off of any litter that I raised. It is pretty rare but can be serious when it happens.