If dew claws are going to be removed, they need to be removed when the pup is about 3 days old. After that, I would leave them intact if the dog has them as an adult. There is a BIG CHANCE that if you keep the nails trimmed (including the dew claws) that you will never have a problem. It's about the same price to have them removed if the dog injures one as it would be to just have them removed in the first place. There are some people out there that sware that dew claws still have a purpose and some breed standards state that the dog must have them. Some of my dogs have them, and some do not. I have never had a problem, although I have known quite a few dogs that have. I do agree that if they are loose and floppy that you run more of a risk of one getting caught on something.