Hi I have just come back from dog training and the instructor got on about claws and how to cut the nails, then she came over to my labrador and said that the dew claws should have been removed, is this true as I didn't think they had to be removed from a lab. Jules

Now I don't know but think they are removed in working dogs to stop them being damaged (very nasty damaged dew claws) don't remember seeing anything in the breed standard but some dogs are born with them on the rear feet and if they are they may removed for the good of the dog. If you are not working your dog I would not worry about it, if it is not done when they are new born it becomes a difficult and painful operation.

Sometimes they are removed in working dogs if the dew claw grows rather large causing problems for the dog, but I've never come across a show dog or non-working dog with dew claws removed.  It is however the norm in America to remove the dew claw at 3 days old, and this is a purely cosmetic.

If you are not going to work your dog, and the dew claw is not over grown, I would not worry about it. There is certainly nothing in the standard (even in America) to say that dew claws have to be removed.

My labs, working and show have dew claws intact.

All of my Labradors have had dew claws intact and I have in fact only once ever had one damaged. I do trim them, Anna'a claws are made of steel and never wear! I call them her running spikes! Being yellow trimming her claws are easy because the quick is easily visible.

Best wishes, John