Dew Claws

[bronners]

I have a shiztu x yorkie shes 9 now but she has these dew claws on her back legs by her feet they grow very very quickly and i do clip them regularly but i havent come across them before on other dogs as i have a Jack Russell and a Lab x Collie and they havent got them and i do tend to ask other friends who have dogs if there dogs have them and they havent got them either i cant understand why she has them and other dogs dont does anyone out there know why shes got them ???? i know that people remove dew claws but my jack has still got his tail so surely they wouldnt have taken his dew claws and not his tail lol thanks

[ezrgoode]

Dew claws are usually removed from puppies when they are about a week old - they aren't done when they are older as they can bleed a lot. People do not dock animals tails anymore but they do however remove dew claws.

[bronners]

ok thanks for your answer,but do you know why they remove them,as i don`t ever recall my dad removing them from any of the pups they had.

[lankeela]

They are usually removed to stop them catching and bleeding, also they often grow very long and round digging into the dog's leg as they don't come into contact with the ground so are not worn down naturally. Some breeds mention in their standard that they should be removed or left on. Some breeds actually have to have rear dew claws, and some have double ones on the back. I had a Border Collie who had double ones, but one on each back foot had no nail on it, it was just a sort of gristly growth. He had them removed when he was castrated.
i saw a Dobe x Rott today who had back ones removed about six weeks ago, and it has healed very well. He is an adult rescue dog, and they were very loose and hanging, so in grave danger of being caught.

[lankeela]

This is from the Pyrenean Mountain Dog breed standard:

Hindquarters
Broad, muscular loins, fairly prominent haunches, slightly sloping rump, topline curving smoothly into tail. Strong, well muscled thighs tapering to strong hocks. Stifle and hock of medium angulation seen from side. Strongly made double dewclaws on each hindleg; lack of this identifying characteristic totally undesirable. The hindfeet may turn out slightly but the legs themselves must be straight.

[Noweia]

Most dogs have front dew claws, but not all dogs are born with rear dew claws.

The dogs you describe might not have been born with them, or they may have had them removed.

[innocenti]

English Bull Terriers have them, I am always hearing stories of them being ripped out by accident.