Re: [PyrNet-L] dewclaws

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-06-22 14:38:01 EDT, you write:

<< but it's obvious to me that those toes dangling off my
 dogs rear legs aren't going to cause H.D. if they're removed. >>

I would have scoffed at this post a couple years ago, but think it should be
pondered.  True some of the dew claws are essentially hanging skin.  I think
these are not the historical dew claws of the breed.  Lets not get into the
question of when is a dew claw a dew claw, please!!!  But-I have carefully
inspected dew claws in France the past couple years and there are differences.
They do have the hanging skin as well, but they also have a fair amount of
bony attached dew claws low on the side of the foot and it is actually a sixth
toe.  I cannot claim any tendons or musculature attachments for mobility, but
they are large and definitely increase the surface area of the foot (snowshoes
anyone?).  Speculative, but they do give the dog a different dimension.  I
have not seen these here (North America) to the same degree.  We do see
sometimes a bony attachment, but it seems higher on the foot or hock.  The
French dogs have a longer hock for all practical
 purposes and the thought has occurred to me when we correctly supplied our
dogs with those great driving rears we ended up with somewhat shorter hocks
and less outward turned toes.  Maybe the two events are connected.  Hard to
imagine they would not be associated.

Joe