How could you possibly know that Hal was trying to grip you with his dew claws? His normal nails would have laddered your tights believe me my dogs have done that without rear dew claws.The action of Hal jumping up has nothing to do with his rear dew claws as dogs without them would jump up and down on their back legs, nothing to do with trying to grip you with rear dew claws.

No, it was clear he was trying to get a grip with his rear dew claws - watch a wildlife film of big cats bringing down prey and you will see what I mean, it is impossible to describe it in words.

Because I was there ... because I am not blind, neither am I stupid, despite what you might think

It is impossible to describe in words but he jump up and down on his back legs whilst gripping me round the waist with his front legs and bring the back legs up with the very clear intention of gripping me. It was extremely painful and extremely costly, and it was something we stopped him doing pdq.

I know cats have front dew claws - I was not aware they had rear ones?

I believe wild cats as in tigers and lions do not have rear dew claws, but just use their normal back claws to bring down prey. I was recently reading about a lion that had a rear dew claw and it was classed as an abnormality. If I am wrong I will apologize. I am just trying to picture how your dog had his front paws around your waist and obviously his head would have been at the same height as yours and yet you could still see his rear dew claws. The mind boggles.

My little puppy (Pure American Staffy) was born premature and has front and back songle dewclaws. I took her to the vet and it was because she was so premie.

My puppy Nigredo has double dews on both back feet. He does not seem to be able to move them, but they are bony little appendages.. real toes. This is why my vet didn't suggest removing them. He'd have to remove all the bones and it would be much more complicated than normal rear dewclaw removal.

It's ridiculous to remove the toes if they don't cause the dog any harm. Nigredo's back claws are worthless little things, but there's no point in removing them. If they begin catching on things (not likely) then I'll have them removed.. until then.. let him keep the cuties.

my husky has front and rear, firmly attached, the claw causes problem it grows quickly but the blood vessell grows very long as well, so each time it bleeds and hurts him, if i could remove them i would

sorry mean when the vet cuts the claw they bleed.

Timber has rear dewclaws and never had an issue with them even when crashing through the brush at warp speed. His are attached though not floppy. I wonder if that makes any difference in the dangers of getting it snagged.