Very good advice Macgyver. Especially a good tip on the booties, my Golden Retriever (7mos. old, 55 lbs.) I adopted over 3 weeks ago never had his dew claws removed. Booties would be a solution to that if he was on rough terrain, no?

I think most booties come with griping pads on the bottom. Dew claws are only the rear claws on the inside, and are not used for anything. And are often removed to stop them catching on stuff. Your dog should still be able to grip quite well with the other 18 claws.

Macgyver, I guess I wasn't clear enough. What I was wondering was, would the booties protect the dew claws from snagging on brush and the like? If he was a puppy I would, but call me a softy, I'm reluctant to having his dew claws "amputated," since he is already over halfway grown. He should top out at about 80 to 90 lbs. I'm not going to "run" him, as they say around here, anyway, just wondering if I should get booties in case of bugging out scenario with him.

The booties probably would protect his dewclaws as long as the fastener came up high enough to go over them. The only problem might be if your dog's dewclaws are the big double-ugly ones. Those are the ones most susceptible to being ripped while running through brush.

If he rips one and has to go to a vet for repair, ask to have the other one removed, too. Under anesthesia is better than out on a day hike, with the blood pouring out and you with nothing to bandage it with. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Sue

Front dew claws are not useless actually. Sophie, the dog in my avatar, would use hers to great effect gripping things, like a little thumb. Rear dew claws on the other hand do not have a purpose.

I would not remove the front dew claws of my dog(s), regardless of age. You wouldn't remove someone's thumb because it *could* get hurt, would you?

That said, the booties probably would work, but also keep in mind that you could probably just wrap a little bit of cloth tape around that part of the foot, keeping the dew claw out of harms way.

Booties are both good and bad. Make sure you get your dog used to them because they can take some getting used to. It probably also hinders their agility. But, on sharp, rough surfaces you'll absolutely want them.

Also, perhaps on hot surfaces.

To make it easier for your dog to get used to the booties, put them on right before something fun. They tend to forget about the booties much easier that way. Also, don't laugh at them (seriously).

Also keep in mind that your dog sweats through it's pads and prologed trecking in boots might hasten heat exaustion as they don't sweat over their full skin like we do.

Also, be careful of dog packs. Dogs really aren't built to carry much "backpack" style like humans. I would avoid puting much weight there.

Many packs (and harnesses) chafe, often in the 'arm pits', when used much and could be considered similar to ill fitting boots on humans. As with the booties, the key is to find out what works and what doesn't, as well as getting used to them *before* you are in an emergency situation.

-john


You can see some dew claw action in this picture if you look closely.

Well said John, thanks for clarifying those points.

The size of the pack will depend on the size (and fitness) of the dog. I wouldn't use one on a small dog, however a lab or shepherd sized dog can easily handle a few days food and their little extras on their back.

I suspect that before we started to interfere with the breeding of dogs the rear dew claws may have been very useful, my dog uses his front ones for everything too.

I had my 11 month old dog's dewclaws removed when I had her fixed. She was already going to be under anesthesia anway. She came through it just fine. We got her as a stray so we were unable to have it done when she was younger.