FYI - new LGD owners please read

[Roll farms]

If your dogs have double dew claws, make sure you check them every few months. (Well, any dew claws, actually....)
They can become overgrown and grow into the dog's leg and cause a very nasty infection if your not observant. It's especially important if you have a 'hairy' breed who's feet are hard to see.

Handling this area of the dog's leg starting as puppies makes it a LOT easier when they're adults. Dogs don't like their feet messed with. LGD really don't like it. An LGD w/ an infection really, really, really doesn't like it.

signed - the voice of experience....

 

[terrilhb]

Thank you Rolls Farms. I appreciate it. And I will check my puppies.

 

[ksj0225]

I've noticed on my Adult GP that one of the double dew-claws grows much faster then the other so make sure you look at both when you are checking! We have trim more often because of that one.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

I agree. Ours both have double dew claws. The male is able to wear his down thus far. The female needs hers cut every month or so. It must be the extra ten pounds that he is carrying around.

Thanks for the post!

 

[PotterWatch]

Just out of curiosity, why aren't they routinely removed like they are on some other breeds?

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

Because it is part of the breed, at least in the Great Pyrenees.

My Anatolian doesn't have the double dew claw. Her nails do grow quick though. :/

 

[Roll farms]

Our vet will remove them if there's no bone involved. Some are attatched more than others. I didn't ask 'why' they don't remove them if there's more bone, but would assume it may make them prone to problems later.

 

[terrilhb]

I found this on google. for those dogs whose dewclaws make contact with the ground when they run, it is possible that removing them could be a disadvantage for a dog's speed in running and changing of direction, particularly in performance dog sports such as dog agility. And if I remember what my vet said certain breeds because they lived in hilly and rocky places guarding animals it helped them to climb.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

I found this on google. for those dogs whose dewclaws make contact with the ground when they run, it is possible that removing them could be a disadvantage for a dog's speed in running and changing of direction, particularly in performance dog sports such as dog agility. And if I remember what my vet said certain breeds because they lived in hilly and rocky places guarding animals it helped them to climb.

Correct statement.

It is actually a desired quality by some depending on the terrain. Where we live it is very rocky and the pups love to climb on rocks. They have since the day we brought them home. So for ours, we have decided to keep them.

 

[boykin2010]

I just noticed yesterday my LGD needed his nails clipped. Thanks for reminding me!