I am too lazy to take the puppies in to have them removed. Use to do it all the time. None of my dogs have been better off with them on or removed in terms of showing, hunting or playing.

If you remove them, you can send them in for an EIC test.
Personally, I do not remove mine. I believe "if it ain't broke...". Labs are such natural dogs! I do keep them trimmed regularly.

Does anybody have any history on how this proceedure started and became almost routine?