Dewclaws Optional

The handsome boy on today's posting is "Krash" Ch. Choco Chip Krash Asteroid, a son of Argus & litter brother to Bad Pauli. His owner Jordan is new to the show ring, but finished Krash with a nice record that included a couple of Specialty majors. He's pictured here going Best of Breed at a recent show. Jordan also works Krash in Agility. Everyone starts as a newbie, and Jordan & Krash caught on fast!

An interesting question from one of the readers.

Do dewclaws have to be removed in order for a Dal to show in conformation (and actually win)? and if they can compete, do judges frown upon the intact dewclaws? I have often wondered that.

The Dalmatian standard reads -

Feet are very important. Both front and rear feet are round and compact with thick, elastic pads and well arched toes. Flat feet are a major fault. Toenails are black and/or white in black- spotted dogs and brown and/or white in liver- spotted dogs. Dewclaws may be removed.

The standard is always our guide in such issues as this varies from breed to breed. It tells us dewclaw removal is optional. Most breeders remove dewclaws most of the time, and when we share information on rescue dogs that is always one of the things that comes up. In general, dogs without dewclaws come from show breeders, who (if they are responsible breeders) want to know if any of their dogs are in a bad situation. Commercially bred pups and pups from pet-bred litters normally have their dewclaws.

Dewclaws are removed for safety reasons, cosmetic reasons, or both. They may be removed because of the risk they will get caught and torn or even ripped off, a painful, messy, and bloody business. A friend at work used to give me grief about having this done on puppies until her adult Pitbull cross tore a dewclaw while playing in the yard. The injured dewclaw had to be removed, a much more serious surgery than dewclaw removal on pups.

Dewclaws are generally removed when pups are about 2-3 days old. The little "thumbs" are attached only by cartilage at that age and can easy be snipped off, with a single stitch (or not) to prevent bleeding. Most of them don't bleed at all, and although the pups object vocally (probably to the restraint as much as the snipping) they quickly go back to sleep.

Whether or not a dog has dewclaws (or whiskers, for that matter) makes no difference in the judging. Dewclaw removal may create a "cleaner" look to the leg, especially if the dewclaws would have stuck out or been loose and floppy. Most Dalmatian dewclaws are small and tight and barely noticeable.

We've removed dewclaws on most of our litters, but a few litters did not get done because of weather or health issues. One litter would have needed a vet visit during a blizzard, another during an incredible cold spell. Just not worth the risk. Our last litter did not have them removed because we had a difficult whelping and most of the pups were very small and we were not sure if they would make it. So lovely Penny still has her dewclaws, but we don't expect that to handicap her in any way in the show ring.