Hungarian vizsla puppy - dew claws intact or remove?

[Fuddymunster]

Hi, I previously created another thread asking for advice on choosing a reputable breeder. We have now narrowed it down to two, so am getting there. In helping us to decide which breeder's puppy to choose, one would have its dew claws removed and the other intact. I have read that vizsla's dew claws are quite high up and are susceptible to injury.

Please could any vizsla owners give me your advice and opinion on dew claws. If your dog has them intact, have they been a problem?

Thanks in advance!

Any vizsla owners out there?!

If you were present when the dew claws are removed you would go for the breeder who didn't do it. Imagine having your thumbs cut off with a pair of scissors with no anaesthetic!

Is it really like having your thumb cut off?! I thought it was a dangly claw.

Anyone else have any advice?

If they have bone in them then yes. Both my dogs have bones in their dew claws. I had to hold some puppies once whilst the vet cut off their dew claws. Never again! They were yelping and there was a fair bit of blood. Not really a necessary procedure if you ask me.

If I remember rightly some are like flaps of skin with claws on the end, others have a bone going through them. I wouldn't personally remove them. My lab X collie uses them to hold his toys when he plays and for other things. I have been tempted to pull the bloody things off with pliers though (joking obviously) especially as I now have a gash on the back of my ear :(

If I remember rightly some are like flaps of skin with claws on the end, others have a bone going through them. I wouldn't personally remove them. My lab X collie uses them to hold his toys when he plays and for other things. I have been tempted to pull the bloody things off with pliers though (joking obviously) especially as I now have a gash on the back of my ear :(

Thank you for the advice. I'm not sure if dew claws grow differently on different breeds. A lot of the adverts I've seen for vizsla puppies say that the dew claws are removed.

Rear dewclaws in breeds which have them (most are born without) are often poorly attached, just skin rather than bone, and are better removed as they are liable to catch/rip/bleed.

Front ones are usually well attached, would be traumatic to remove and I've never known a dog injure one yet. Mine often use them to grip things.

Front dew claws tend to have bony attachments, rear are often loose. It is more common to remove them on working dogs as they do get damaged and can cause quite a few problems. Though it varies between dogs collies seem to much more prone to damaging them than other breeds. I had to clip a broken one today and there was already considerable swelling around the nail and this was the third occasion this 7 month old dog has damaged a few claw so hers will be removed when she is spayed.

Suggest you talk to the Viszla Club who are best qualified to explain why, how and if it's necessary - www.hungarianvizslaclub.org.uk/Owning.html

Thanks so much everyone.

daisydotandgertie, great idea - I did actually call this afternoon and the advice for a vizsla was to definitely remove the dew claws because of potential injury.

I have a Vizsla. She was bred by a vet and her dew claws were removed, which I'm happy about as some Vizslas I've seen have had huge ones which look like they'd easily get caught.

Good luck with choosing a puppy :)