question (my pup still has all 4 dewclaws?)

[arycrest]

Every GSD I've ever owned had front dew claws and never had a problem. Too was the only one born with the back dew claws and they were removed by her breeder when she was very young.

[DEVERO2]

Thank you for all the responses guys.

[Freestep]

Nice looking dog! As the others have said, the rear dewclaws should have been removed, and the fronts left on. If the rear dewclaws are very large and floppy, there is the risk of them getting caught and torn on things. They do not have any muscular attachments, so the dog cannot move or use them in any way. It's hard to tell from the picture whether your pup's rear dews are the floppy kind or not, but in any case the only way to remove them is general anesthesia and surgery. You could opt to have it done if you feel they are prone to getting snagged, but I had a dog with two rear dewclaws on each leg and he never had any problems with them.

The worst thing about dewclaws IMO is the fact that the nail cannot really be worn off, since it doesn't touch the ground. If ignored, the nails can eventually curve around and grow into the dog's pad, causing pain and infection. So it's imperative to clip those nails regularly.

[DEVERO2]

Thank you for that information. I did not know that

[DunRingill]

I will just say, leave the front dew claws ON!

My youngster's front dew claws were remove by her breeder (NOT Julia/von Sontausen) and she has "slid out" several times while running around and making hard turns, and I'm wondering if it's because she has no front dew claws. Right now she's recovering from a slight injury to her front leg and has a swollen bump right where the dew claw should be. Who knows, but I wish they'd been left ON.

[DEVERO2]

I am going to leave them all on and I will just makes sure to watch them and keep them trimmed