Unique Double Dew Claws
If there’s one thing that can get Great Pyrenees lovers worked up (okay, there’s a lot of things, but just hang in with me), it’s the discussion of removing the double dew claws. Any pyr lover will tell you, never never never remove the double dew claws.
When Mauja was a puppy, we went through the standard vet visits that every puppy goes through. As she got older and we began discussing her spay with the vet, the vet casually said, “And don’t worry, we’ll remove those while she’s under”.
“Those?” I replied.
“The double dew claws on her back legs. We’ll remove them while we’re doing her spay so she doesn’t have to go under twice.”
I was confused. Everything I read about the Great Pyrenees breed stated that the double dew claws should never be removed. The rear dew claws serve a purpose and are attached by a bone, which means removing them is akin to removing a human thumb.
I told the vet that we would not be removing Mauja’s double dew claws, which certainly didn’t make her happy. At every visit until her spay, the vet mentioned removing them. No matter how many times I said no, she wouldn’t leave us alone.
Ultimately, Mauja was spayed at a different vet clinic because I didn’t trust our current vet. I was afraid she would remove Mauja’s dews without my permission.
Recently, I was randomly perusing the internet when I stumbled upon an interesting article about dewclaws. The article stated,
Some breeds, such as Great Pyrenees and several other flock guardian breeds, naturally have one or even two dewclaws on their rear feet as well. They don’t really serve any purpose but are considered part of breed type and are never removed.
My jaw dropped. Articles like this are exactly why vets are pushing new pyrents to remove their dog’s double dew claws. Per the breed standard, Great Pyrenees have two dewclaws on their rear feet. While it is possible to see pyrs with single dews on the rear, it is generally a sign that the dog is a mixed breed.
The double dew claws actually do serve a purpose. Most people who have spent time around pyrs have seen the double dew claws in action. I can see Mauja and Atka’s double dews dig in the ground for stability when they’re chasing each other around the yard or climbing a hill. They are able to gain traction by utilizing their double dew claws.
Please, do not let a vet convince you that the double dew claws on your Great Pyrenees are useless or highly-likely to be torn. I’ve been around a lot of pyrs and can count on one hand the number who have had issues with their dew claws. Most of these dogs actually had deformed dew claws at birth which made them more susceptible to experiencing issues.
If you’d like more information on Great Pyrenees double dew claws, I have a more in-depth post here!
Does your dog have double dew claws? Did anyone try to convince you to remove them?
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As always another great informative article. More than just the dew claws it is a great reminder you need to be able to trust your vet. If you can’t it is time to find another. People are often surprised our vet isn’t in our home town. We use the Vet from my home town because my parents trusted her and so do I. If you can’t agree on treatment, you need to find someone who you will be able to trust.
I completely agree. Thankfully, after we moved we found a great vet. We’ll be moving again soon so time to start the process all over!
I have a question about the dew claws. My great pyrenees puppy doesn’t have them in the back, or that I noticed. But his mom did, but couldn’t tell about the dad. I have pictures she seen the mom and dad in person. Should question whether he is fully blooded?
No one has ever suggested I remove Bear’s double dew claws but they have expressed disgust as though they are a deformity. I have known several mix breed dogs who have them as well and the owners have been told to remove them. It is curious that a vet would see this natural trait as a deformity.
I completely agree. She clearly wasn’t very educated on the breed, which made me even more nervous to let her care for Mauja.
My dogs don’t have double dew claws, but I feel the same way about front dews! They serve a purpose, and I hate seeing them removed.
Completely agree! They’re there for a reason so let them be 🙂
And the argument continues, my two pyrs have double dews, but as far as the myth that they do something, puey. Those may be the cleanest part of the dog as they don’t do anything but dangle.
We have a rescue great pyrenees/german shepherd mix, Bella. She has grown tremendously! We didn’t know what to expect when we first brought her home, and keep learning more about her breed all the time. Bella doesn’t have rear dewclaws, yet she does have single dewclaws on her front limbs. Is this unusual?
I am new to puppies and have been advised to remove dew claws. Is this what happens on Great Pyrenees? I’ve been told both and can’t get a straight answer!
I learned the hard way that those extra toes CAN hurt your Pyr. I decided not to have them removed when Bella was spayed, but now I WISH I had. Three days ago, Bella was getting down from her couch and the toes were snagged on the cushion. She pulled her foot HARD to get it loose before I could stop her. She didn’t break a bone, but just walking re-sprains it and she has pain so bad she just shakes and cries. Now I will have to get at least that one set of toes removed- another surgery and more $. Even though I kept the claws short, she managed to have a problem. It is terrible to see a huge Dog like Bella whining and limping. I wish I had followed my first instinct now! Your choice- I just had to tell what CAN happen. Thank you.
My first two Pyrs were pure bred siblings, and our vet inquired as to whether we would like him to remove the dew claws during their spay/neuter surgery. The female had rear triple true dew claws with a toe and ligament attachment on each. On one rear leg she had two dew claws attached with toes, but had a third dew claw with no toe or ligament/bone attachment. In fact the toe nail was a floppy complete circle the size of a quarter, with no way to trim or file it. So we had that only only removed. After moving to the country on a gravel road our Pyrs ran the fence line many times per day. They wore the grass and dirt down, so tree roots came to the surface where they would run. Our male injured his dew claws so many times hooking them on the exposed tree roots that I started to wish we had them removed. We currently have two younger Pyrs, female is pure Pyr with double dews, our youngest is a male Akbash/Maremma/Pyrenees mix. He has only one dew claw on one rear foot. It is barely attached by a thin ligament, no toe or wide nail, just a tiny 1/2 inch round nail…lol, which I have to keep trimmed every two weeks.
Our pyrenees has double dew claws on her right back leg but only one on her left. Our vet has never suggested we remove them. We are her third (and final) home. We got her when she was a year old. She is a great dog and I wouldn’t trade her for anything.
Our ‘Marceille’ was adopted around 6-8 months old. And thankfully, still had her dews even tho the vet asked me if I wanted them removed. (Why would I? No hindrance. Part of her).She’s been a tremendous blessing to us. Her double dews are part of who she is. The only trouble I’ve ever had is trimmiig the nails on them! One of them grows quicker than the other three and is a tad curlier. Best dog in the whole.wide.world.
What a coincidence! Judy has a part shepherd/Pyrenees mix named Bella and so do I! She is half Great Pyrenees and half Italian Shepherd, but looks mostly like a Pyr. She is so clumsy with her huge puppy paws now- I wanted an elegant but simple name for her=Bella. She has the rear dew claws and I will let them stay. She was in a bad situation. The owner, in a wheelchair, kept her in the crate mostly for 10 weeks to avoid cleaning messes. Bella’s tail was broken completely in half, and I believe the woman ran it over with the wheelchair and never took her to the Vet. Bella hit the potty pads the fist time she saw them. Now she comes to me and I know she has to go outside. Smart dog! TY for the blog.
My puppy is a Great Pyranees mix with possibly a German Shepherd or possibly a Husky. Too young to tell yet. She’s only 13-14 weeks. Anyway. She has double dew claws on the back feet and the 2 higher ones don’t feel like they are attached to anything. They just flop when I touch them. Their is no rigidity to them. I still don’t imagine I would ever have them removed. Have you heard of this? Will they get rigid as she ages? Curious? She’s a beautiful mutt😁
Just got my first Great Paranese yesterday. 7 weeks old. She too has the double declaws on both back feet. Brought her home caught her peeing put her directly on pad and she has done 1 and 2 on them since. Put her near our bedroom last night never heard a whimper. Checked on her a couple times and she was layed out on her back feet in the air. She was home. I named her Cheyenne.
Easiest dog to potty train ever. I have had a few and bred a few litters and never did I have an issue with potty training.
We just got a puppy and noticed today they do not have the double dew claws. I got them from a farm where the mother/father and grandparents all live and they are Great Pyrenees and have the double dew claws so what else would explain ours not having them?
Angela. I have the same situation. I have been scrolling down to see if anyone has an answer to your question. Let me know if you find out anything.
My wife and I adopted a rescue Pyrenees male and he has double dew claws on his rear legs but also has them on his front legs also. Has anyone have any ideas?
Interestingly perhaps, in addition to the double rear dew claws on our Pers that we leave intact, we also have Boykins and Brittanys that we have their front dew claws removed (they do not have rear ones) and it is not a show disqualification. As the breed clubs realize the claws can and do get ripped jumping fences. The difference is hunting dogs must learn to go under or over fences, the Pers must stay with their flock/herd.
Thanks for this site.
I have a female Pyrenees with double dew claws on the rear. One of them has 3. Has anyone else ever seen this before? 💗
Add another breed to the list, Belgian Malinois. Don’t know if it’s a breed standard, but ours has them. Double on the rear, single on the front.
2 questions; 1) Are there smoother coated like a lab or shepherd, Pyenees dogs, 2) Is it just certain lines that have the double dews as our new pup has zero hind dews. She is rough coated, badger eye and tail patches and is 45-50 lbs and the size of a small lab at 16 weeks.