I know most people here own working dogs -and rarely remove their dogs front dewclaws but alot of people are for dewclaw removal in the States and on the Net and I thought I should mention something I have oberserved over the years.
Dewclaws have a very specific purpose:
Getting things out of eyes, ears and especially getting things out of molars and muzzles.
Since a dog cannot turn his paw around to pick a stick out of the side of his mouth for example,
he must use his dewclaw as I have seen many times.
My 8 year old Schnauzer is even a bit VAIN and will actually fix his beard with his dewclaw after you ruff it up while playing with him. Too many dog shows I guess <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
A friends Rottie wouldn't let him help get a bone out of his gums but did fine with its trusty dewclaw... the stories are endless.
Standard Poodle, and Afghan breeders are the most astounding supporters of dewclaw removal as they don't really take their dogs outdoors too much (sun DISTROYS the coat they scream!) so they have never seen or heard of a use for dewclaws. Even Giant breeders in the states use this very serious reason declaws can get ripped as you comb the dogs legs! I don't know about their dogs but mine have dewclaws that are always in the same spot, like their eyes are too for example. Should I remove my giants EYES cause I may hurt him while combing the eye-brows? I am saddened that so many purebred dogs are forced to live with such people. Mutts are luckier. The 'comb' freaks will have nothing to do with them! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Magic, the 8year old giant, also uses his dewclaws during protection work- to help with balancing during a bite when the agitator is fighting back and I firmly believe the 'thumbs' get stronger with such use and cannot be ingured in a fight. I've done absolutely everything under the sun with this dog (even mountain climbing). If a big dog could hurt his declaws, believe me, he would have done it!

I too have seen my dogs use their dewclaws on their teeth. Sorry I don't believe all that evolution stuff, I think that dogs were made pretty much the same they are today. Small differences, of course, breeds show that. But a dog was a dog and that was what he was created to be.
And the dewclaws are useful as long as they have bone and muscles attached to them. Example would be my border collie, he has rear dewclaws that are not attached by anything more than skin and a tendon, not bone, nothing. These are the ones that are easily injured and torn off, and have no use and should be removed. (not rear dewclaws necessarily, useless dewclaws)
Sorry this post kinda rambled, my train of thought is chugging kinda off track today <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> long day at work.

I should clarify, sorry Jerry. I am not saying that you are wrong and that dogs did not at one time have 5 toes on the front and 6 on the back. I would have to research that to argure, but I'm not going to because believe you. I just don't believe evolution is the correct word, selective breeding would be more correct. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> But then, like I said before, I'm really not an evolution person.

Thanks Jerry - I was meaning to post about a GSD rescue of mine with double dewclaws, they will be removed shortly as if they tear he would be in alot of pain.

Removing front dewclaws is a good idea if you are involved in any endevours which would involve the dog wearing boots(sled-dogs or dogs working in rough terrrain, SAR etc) - the velcro strap on the boots can press on the dewclaw and cause chafing. Just an observation.

Jerry - LOL - the ones I was going to ask about are back double dewclaws.

I've had two dogs injure, or in one case tear away, their dew claws. They were both connected to bone.