DeClawing DOGS

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by yorkieK9trainer

Declawing is an elective surgery much like any other. I NEVER advise it, as I posted prior, but I have seen it done.

Just HOW and where am I seeing these declawed dogs?
I'm a Dog Trainer in northern Illinois and in the Phoenix, Arizona area. I have clients that are local and then some that fly in, be it domestic or international. The latest dog that I saw that was declawed was a Doberman that came from a kennel here in the US. I have also had a few other dogs stateside, Germany and another from Bermuda that have been declawed.

I can't speak for your 16 years of experience as a groomer in your town, just know that I as a dog trainer that travels or have clients that travel to me has seen it a few times and every time it's like the first..."What? Why?".

Germany doesn't allow tail docking or ear surgery on dogs like minpins, boxers etc,but declawing a dog is allowed? Interesting.

[littlewhip]

Omg i couldnt even amagine declawing a dog, I have nice flooring thats fairly new and never had a problem with there little paws, and i have 16 paws running thru the house all day

[YorkieRose]

Does anyone have the faintest idea how painful this procedure would be..?
And if they had some magic pill to make claws disappear, why deprive a dog of good old scratching tools (except while growing a show coat! LOL)...I sure would hate to have an itch and no finger nails!

[spiked_poodle]

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

Does anyone have the faintest idea how painful this procedure would be..?
And if they had some magic pill to make claws disappear, why deprive a dog of good old scratching tools (except while growing a show coat! LOL)...I sure would hate to have an itch and no finger nails!

Oh My! An itch and no finger nails!!!! How uncomfortable!

[Ivhana]

As for those rubber guards... My mom has tried to put them on her cat. She's homebound and has to take a taxi for everything. She was hoping to save some money by going longer between trims. The cat either pulled them off or they fell off fairly easy, even when glued. She said it was a waste of money and would rather make regular appointments to have her vet trim the nails.

[judyeve]

I had to have a cat declawed once because she went for my Irish Setter's face.

I felt really sick to my stomach about it. Declawed cats can no longer go outside because their claws are their defense system.

I'm so glad you've decided not to do it. You would have felt really regretful.

Look at it this way. If the floor gets scratched, you get to have another new floor in a couple of years!

[Sethowner]

Jack and I have raised 5 children, now soon to be 7 granchildren, graduation parties, weddings, all kinds of family functions on our wood floors, 1000's of bodies some really big bodies (I am not telling stories) and they have been fine. Seth and Sasha (now Silas) are the least of our worries. Everything will be fine.
By the way the scratches that are on the floor usally have a story/memory with it and it just makes us smile.

[daisysis]

Well what a response to this Question.
I knew you guys would not let me down
Thank you all.. I believe someone said Also I was wasteing time and money
with the rubber tips
I got a gut feeling they are right.
My babies nails are trimed and beautiful. I love the sound of their pitter patter.

[YorkieRose]

The only damage I see on my laminate is a spot where I dropped a steak knife..it went in about 1/4 in...I filled it with wood putty and buffed...can not tell at all.

[yorkieK9trainer]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Germany doesn't allow tail docking or ear surgery on dogs like minpins, boxers etc,but declawing a dog is allowed? Interesting.

Lorraine,
Without attacking you or saying anything durrogatory please read-

Look, Germany/Russia, the Ukraine EVEN Bermuda doesn't allow the docking or cropping of the tail and ears. Yet it's done. Either by the breeder, or by vets on their own time. It's when they're under practise that it's not permitted. Veterinarians will even give breeders courses on how to do it themselves in the privacy of their own homes, I know because I've attended them. In fact, I'm going to Germany over the holidays this year to visit my brother who lives there. Please, if you're going to try to attack me in any form or attempt to make me look as though I don't know what I'm talking about, just ask me direct questions vs. phrasing things the way you do to me.

I'd appreciate it, further, people might actually learn something new...like that tail docking and ear cropping AND dew claw removal AND declawing ARE in fact done, although illegal if done at a vet facility.

I'm not just *some girl* or *just another dog trainer*, I'd appreciate you not being biast and treating me as such.

Thank You.
~Leslie

[yorkieK9trainer]

I never attack your 16 years of experience as a groomer and not having come across "x/y". That just means you haven't come across "x/y"...doesn't mean it doesn't exist or happen. Sorry.

Again, I don't advise declawing a dog. Never had one done myself, never will, I was just saying that I've had clients come to me w/ it already done.
The problems I've seen? Early arthritis in the pastern joints as well as down into the philangies. Also overcompensation of pain thereby causing issues in other joints from being tweaked or used improperly off balance over a period of time. And then of course lack of traction at high speeds which I believe I already mentioned.

I'm sure there are other reasons, other than just thinking it's cruel...that's opinion, I'm trying to point out fact. I've never seen a dog be in pain from it until a degenerative disease has developed and it's not pretty. My heart goes out to those pups.