#Dog breeds with webbed feet skin#
This excessive skin will connect all of the toes together. Unlike a duck’s feet, the paw will only have partial webbing. If you take your hand, pick up your dog’s paw, and spread its toes apart, you will be able to see if the dog has excessive skin, just like a duck’s feet. When we think of webbed feet, we oftentimes automatically think about a duck’s feet.īut did you know that dogs can also have this feature? Webbing on a dog’s feet refers to extra skin that is located between a canine’s toes. He also loved to chase after ducks and his webbed paws are what helped him to swim out and back to us safely! What is Webbing? He would chase sticks and kids into the water all day long. Boone would jump over the tail gate and beat us to the water before making several laps. My family would often go to the lake to spend the day. He would frolic through the water until he was exhausted and then keep going! His name was Boone and he was half chocolate Labrador and half Dalmatian.īoone was very fond of the water, whether it be lakes, ponds, or rivers. If you want to learn more about our fresh, human-grade food, check out, My name is Kearsten and one of the best dogs that I ever owned had webbed feet! The Ollie blog is devoted to helping pet parents lead healthier lives with their pups. Does your dog have webbed feet? What do they use them for? The webbing can allow them to feel supported when walking through the mud or help them join the family for a swim. So even though your dog doesn’t have a job supporting hunters, pulling in fishing nets, or digging for badgers they may benefit greatly from their webbed feet (if they have them).
If your dog is a companion animal it probably doesn’t matter much if your pup has webbed feet. This means they need a different shaped foot that can help them gain and maintain some serious speed. Some of these dogs like Dobermans, Whippets, and Greyhounds are bred more for speed and endurance than pursuits like hunting, fishing, or digging. There are also a number of breeds that don’t generally have webbed feet. We’ve highlighted a number of pups that have webbed feet - and for good reason. Another popular pet, the poodle has also had a long history as a working pup. Poodles - Like many of the pups on the list, the Poodle also uses their webbed feet for both swimming and walking in muddy areas. Thanks to their protective coats, these dogs may be at home in colder water too!
If you have children, these dogs can make excellent lifeguards. Newfoundlands - These very large pups can use their webbed feet to swim or to help fishermen pull in their nets. For the pups who don’t hunt, they may still enjoy swimming even if it’s just in the family kiddie pool. These pups may help their owners hunt ducks, geese, or other waterfowl. Labrador Retrievers - One of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, the Labrador Retriever uses their webbed feet for hunting. Even pointers who don’t hunt may enjoy swimming and have the instinct for it. The webbing helps with swimming which they may do on a hunt. German Pointers (wire-hair and short-hair) - Bred for hunting, webbed feet are a part of the German Pointer’s breed standard for both the wire-hair and short hair varieties. This can be a bit of a tight squeeze so they have to be ready to get to their prey quickly! They use their webbed feet to scoop dirt away and dig themselves into the badger’s tunnels. Dachshunds are known for hunting badgers.
However, that’s not the primary use for their webbed appendages. Some popular dogs that have webbed feet include:ĭachshunds - While you may not associate these pups with being strong swimmers many of them enjoy it. The webbing can help them get more powerful in the water, but it’s also good for helping dogs walk in muddy areas (like near water) or even for digging (just hopefully not in your backyard or garden). The dogs that do have webbed feet for their entire lives are strong swimmers. Many breeds grow out of this feature as they get bigger. You might be shocked to learn that all dogs are born with webbed feet but not all pups keep them for their entire lives. But surprise, some dog breeds also have webbed feet!
When you think of webbed feet you probably think of ducks, not dogs.