All my dogs work - the LGDs guard, the Labs hunt. I've never had a problem with dew claws in 20 yrs of owning dogs, almost all of them with all their dew claws intact. Our first Lab had them removed before we knew about such things. A later Lab did not and my preference ever since has been to have dogs with them intact. My Labs use the front ones a LOT for holding things. I don't see much purpose to the back ones but have also seen/heard too many horror stories of dew claws removed later in life. It is very painful for the dog if not done when they are a few days old.