Opposable "thumbs" (dewclaws)?

[Varanus]

I was wondering if anyone else experienced this. Yoshi, my basenji (probable) mix, has all four of his dewclaws and uses them in ways that I don't see in other dogs. His rear ones he uses like climbing spikes when he's scaling . He seems to be able to use his front ones independently (distressing!) to do things like hold onto windowsills, grab and hide the remotes, and manipulate his kennel lock. Am I gonna come home one day to find him typing away on the computer?

[Rita Jean]

Mine does have declaws but set up the camera if Yoshi hits that computer he is a money maker. See money maker not trouble maker. We have to hide remote its free game. This was great thanks.

Rita Jean

[jonny b.]

dont be surprised when the pizza delivery guys shows up.

[Basenjimamma]

yepp, you are in for a ride..make sure your credit cards are safe…
Otis doesn't have his..and I don't think he knows to miss them.

[MacPack]

Nicky uses hers to help hold bones and bully sticks, and to clean her eyes and face. They are not really 'opposable' but go help grip and hold.

[BART]

LOL! Wouldn't that be hysterical, a Basenji at the keyboard. What's that they say about 1000 monkeys at keyboards ultimately coming up with Shakespeare? It would probably only take 3 Basenjis….:)

[tanza]

@Varanus:

I was wondering if anyone else experienced this. Yoshi, my basenji (probable) mix, has all four of his dewclaws and uses them in ways that I don't see in other dogs. His rear ones he uses like climbing spikes when he's scaling . He seems to be able to use his front ones independently (distressing!) to do things like hold onto windowsills, grab and hide the remotes, and manipulate his kennel lock. Am I gonna come home one day to find him typing away on the computer?

In 25 yrs in the breed, I have never seen a Basenji with rear dew claws? Do you have a picture?

[basi]

@tanza:

In 25 yrs in the breed, I have never seen a Basenji with rear dew claws? Do you have a picture?

We have never had rear dew claws either thank goodness!!. It could be because Yoshi is a Basenji mix.

[Basenjimamma]

I was thinking that as well, not for B's but for dogs in general, so I did some research..i.e googled and there are dogs out there with dewclaws on the back paws, I had no idea. I have yet, needless to say seen one in real life. I would love to see a pick as well. Apparently the dew claws on the back paws are more of a fleashy type area, so the claw does not fuse with the bone like to front ones do, therefor they can be removed, rather painlessly for the dog. I would love to see a pic as well, really interesting.

[basi]

@Basenjimamma:

I was thinking that as well, not for B's but for dogs in general, so I did some research..i.e googled and there are dogs out there with dewclaws on the back paws, I had no idea. I have yet, needless to say seen one in real life. I would love to see a pick as well. Apparently the dew claws on the back paws are more of a fleashy type area, so the claw does not fuse with the bone like to front ones do, therefor they can be removed, rather painlessly for the dog. I would love to see a pic as well, really interesting.

Like many of the Nordic breeds the Buhunds have always had ugly rear double dews:eek: which we always removed.

[Basenjimamma]

I also read that Great Pyrenees have it as a breed requirement, meaning it is not considered purebreed without'em.

I had no clue, just goes to show how truly blond I am…swede all the way..

[tanza]

I had forgotten that Yoshi was a mix.. that would explain it since Basenji do not have "rear" dew claws

[Varanus]

Not only is he a mix, but I think he had a pretty rough life before me, so I doubt whoever produced him knew or cared anything about breed correctness (any breed!). If he were mine when he was a puppy, I might have had the rear ones removed, but now he seems to use them functionally. I was researching this also, and I found that few breeds even have double dew claws, so let me make sure I've got this right: a dog "should" have four toes on each foot, and the fifth is a vestigial "dew claw," correct?

[Basenjimamma]

Wow, thanks for posting a pic..how cool. I have never seen that before, so to me it is very cool. I don't know about the four toe thing, but the research I did stated that 4 was the most common.

[renaultf1]

@Varanus:

Not only is he a mix, but I think he had a pretty rough life before me, so I doubt whoever produced him knew or cared anything about breed correctness (any breed!). If he were mine when he was a puppy, I might have had the rear ones removed, but now he seems to use them functionally. I was researching this also, and I found that few breeds even have double dew claws, so let me make sure I've got this right: a dog "should" have four toes on each foot, and the fifth is a vestigial "dew claw," correct?

Wow…that is so bizarre to me - never seen it before. :eek:

[Varanus]

Yeah, it was really weird when I realized he was using them to scale things and to stay on rough terrain. I'll try to get an action shot, but obviously that's easier said than done.

[thunderbird8588]

Realy unusual

[kiroja]

Basenjis just have front ones, which most show breeders have removed from their litters. They can be nasty if they catch on something and rip.

I do know German Shepherds sometimes have rear dews. Not sure about most other breeds. lol Again they are removed as newborns (the rears).