BigGameHoundsmen.com

Most of the hounds I see have dew claws. How come most houndsmen dont cut them? Does any body cut them, it seems like a good idea considering where they run.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

I have a hound from Utah who has his cut. To me, I don't see any benifit. His feet aren't any more or less tough than any of my other dogs. Including in the bluffs, frozen snow, and thick brush. The one dissadvantage he does have is climbing. He can climb UP a tree no problem. Getting DOWN is his problem. He falls out like a rock. I can call all my dogs out of a tree, and if you ever really watch them, they use those dewclaws on the way down. To me a broken dewclaw vs. a broken neck is a no brainer. I hear a lot of people say that they constantly have dogs rip off/break dewclaws. I've had a lot of dogs and been around a lot dogs, that hunted in a lot of different terrain, and I've rarely seen it pose a problem. I had one that did break off his dewclaws (and other nails) often, and he just had bad feet all around... So to me intead of putting a "band-aid" over a fault, just make sure to breed dogs with good tough feet.

K thanks

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

we cut them off on all the pups,one thing less to get snagged or infectected from deep snow,snagging comes from our heavy brush and crossing many logs.

we cut them off on all the pups,one thing less to get snagged or infectected from deep snow,snagging comes from our heavy brush and crossing many logs.

i'll cut them off all my pups. it cost like 8 bucks a pup to do if you don't do it your self. then you know you aren't going to have any problems with them

Tim Pittman wrote:we cut them off on all the pups,one thing less to get snagged or infectected from deep snow,snagging comes from our heavy brush and crossing many logs.

I also prefer to cut mine (I take them in to have it done) for this reason.. My dogs do loose their dewclaws during cat season on quite a regular basis.. Seems they always grow back in time for hunting season to roll around again.. I don't have tree climbing dogs so I've never seen the benefit for me.. And they do loose their dewclaws, but I never have any other type of feet issues with the dogs..

I wish mine were all trimmed, if I have any litters they will be done. How much does it cost to have them removed? I have one female who ripped hers this year and as Melanie said it'll be just right for season again lol.

Melanie when you say you take them in to be done are you talking about adult dogs or pups?

Melanie Hampton wrote:

Tim Pittman wrote:we cut them off on all the pups,one thing less to get snagged or infectected from deep snow,snagging comes from our heavy brush and crossing many logs.

I also prefer to cut mine (I take them in to have it done) for this reason.. My dogs do loose their dewclaws during cat season on quite a regular basis.. Seems they always grow back in time for hunting season to roll around again.. I don't have tree climbing dogs so I've never seen the benefit for me.. And they do loose their dewclaws, but I never have any other type of feet issues with the dogs..

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

we do ares when they are three day old

we do ours when they are fairly young. they always get cut open and torn running bears.

we always took nail clippers and snipped them off at one day old the mother will take care of the rest

shawn cole wrote:we always took nail clippers and snipped them off at one day old the mother will take care of the rest

Thats easy I'm going to do that from now on.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

I reckon it comes down to personal preferance. My older female Bloodhound has her dew claws. She is 4 and (knock on wood) she is yet to have torn or ripped them in any way. I HAVE noticed they help her quite a bit when it comes to gripping the tree when she trees. My younger Female, also a bloodhound doesnt have her dews and can only place a paw on the tree and I notice she slips quite a bit more when treeing. I dont plan on removing mine anymore until I personally see reason to. Again, this is just personal preferance.

Tom A wrote:Melanie when you say you take them in to be done are you talking about adult dogs or pups?

Pups.. I have not had any removed on adult dogs.. I would if I needed the dog put under for any reason, but I don't really want to put them under just for the dewclaws.. So I have a few dogs that have their dewclaws still..

My vet does it for $12 the 1st pup and $2 each pup after that.. I know its usually under $30 for the litter.. I've gotten quotes from a few other places that are about $300 a litter

I've tried it myself and its not at all easy for me.. You have to remove the little joint in there also.. They wiggle to much for me to do it by myself and I can't get anyone to help me.. I have successfully removed the dewclaws off of one pup and maybe a couple that I got one correctly.. meaning they have one leg with a dewclaw and one without Out of about the 18 pups I've tried it on.. I've decided I'll just spend the $ at the vet's office to let them do it..