Alida asks: "What think you?"
I actually think that the dewclaw is a useless appendage that has no function whatever. That is why I remove them. However, I was asking about the people who say that the dew claw is "useful" to the dog, in what way it is useful. Since primates are the only species who are known to have an opposable thumb, I am questioning in what way the canine front dew claw can be useful. On a large dog, it is several inches away from the other toes. Myra Savant >From: Alida Margolin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel List ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [CKCS-L] skip unless you want to read about dew claw / > opposable thumb / big toe >Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 21:45:36 -0500 > >I know!! That's why I said this is an *analogy* -- not a literal >equivalent. Of course you're right that the dew claw is on the same side >of the forearm, even the "same position as the human thumb" -- but, as you >know, it *cannot* be said to be in the same *location.* The dew claw also >has its own function, but this is DIFFERENT from the opposable thumb. And, >as I said before, what defines the "opposable" thumb is its FUNCTION. > Unlike humans (bipeds), dogs (quadripeds) use (all) *4 feet* when >running, and, in what I referred to as "extreme activities," the front >feet, and their dew claws, can come into play when serious traction is >needed. > As a further differentiation, here's a brief snippet from Gray's >Anatomy (which, for those who might not know, is still considered a classic >in *human* anatomy) -- while this quote compares the thumb and "great toe" >in humans, you can decide which one (thumb or toe) sounds more relevant to >canines: > "...the great toe, which has to assist in supporting the body ... and >has a very limited degree of mobility, whereas the thumb, which is occupied >in numerous and various movements, is constructed in such a manner as to >permit of great mobility." (p. 212). > Dogs have 4 FEET, not 2 hands and 2 feet. What think you? > Alida > >On Wed, 16 Jan 2002 01:14:56 +0000, Myra Savant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >wrote: > > >Everything you said makes perfect sense except that the dew claw that is > >most commonly removed is the dew claw on the front paw, in the same >position > >as the thumb. The rear dew claws still crop up from time to time in > >cavaliers, but they are not very common. It is the appendage that is > >present on the front foot on the same side of the forearm as the radius >bone > >on the human arm....the same position as the thumb. Myra Savant > >========================================================= >"Magic Commands": >to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL >to start it up gain click here: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. >Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html > >All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author. _________________________________________________________________ Join the world�s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
