The Sign of the Claw was released on 15 July 1926, as indicated by the October 1926 edition of Motion Picture News Booking Guide. 
 An early showing was advertised on 4 July 1926 in the [La Crosse, WI] La Cross Tribune. On 30 October 1926, Motion Picture News stated that its release was delayed due to its canine star's death. 
 It was announced on 16 May 1925 in Exhibitors Trade Review as a film written by L. A. Young for Thunder the dog. Roughly four months later, on 5 September 1925, Moving Picture World reported that production would start after Thunder returned from Germany. Peter the Great replaced Thunder in March 1926, according to Screenland. 
 Production began on 22 March 1926, according to Moving Picture World on 3 April 1926. However, on 15 May 1926, Exhibitors Herald indicated that it had "just been placed in production" by Gotham.
 B. Reaves Eason was cited as its director by the 15 May 1926 [Los Angeles, CA] Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. According to Film Mercury on 23 April 1926, it was based on a story by James Bell Smith and filmed at Metropolitan Studios. 
 A review in Exhibitors Herald on 29 May 1926 credited Edward Hearn as "Robert Conway," Ethel Shannon as "Mildred Bryson," Joe Bennett as "Jimmie Bryson," and Lee Shumway as "Al Stokes." 
 Peter the Great was injured by a gunshot on 7 June 1926, as printed in the [Fresno, CA] Fresno Bee. Although Peter was expected to recover, he died two days later, as noted by the 10 June 1926 [Alameda, CA] Alameda Times Star. The 11 June 1926 [Memphis, TN] Commercial Appeal reported Peter's death was caused by an altercation between Edward Faust, Peter's trainer, and Fred R. Cyriacks, a dog breeder. The article noted that Cyriacks fired a gun at Faust's tires in "an argument over the relative merits of their animals," accidentally shooting Peter the Great. 
 The Sign of the Claw is preserved by the Library of Congress.