Do german shepherds have webbed feet? This question is recurring, and its answer is not that simple. If you are a german shepherd owner and looking for an answer to this question, read this article. We will explain in detail whether german shepherds have webbed feet or not? What advantages webbed feet offer for german shepherds? And also, what can be the health concerns?
Do german shepherds have webbed feet? The Mystery solved
The American Kennel Club’s description of a german shepherd’s paws goes like this:
“The feet are short, compact with toes well arched, pads thick and firm….”
You can see that there is no mention of webbed feet.
What most people think are webbed feet are not true webbed feet. It is the skin that connects their paws. People misinterpret it as webbed feet because this connecting skin looks like a web. It gives the feet stability and strength to function well.
Almost all dog breeds have these connecting tissues. Even if you look at your fingers, there are connecting tissues there. So, would you call your hands webbed? No right?
What are webbed feet?
You can say that an animal has webbed feet when skin connects its toes. If you see a duck’s feet, you can see a membrane that connects their feet. They use their feet for paddling in the water.
Some dogs also have webbed feet. But their webbing is not like the ducks. They have toes connected to the skin, giving them a wider surface area. Webbed feet also provide benefits to dogs.
Why do some german shepherds have webbed feet?
So, according to the breed standard, german shepherds don’t have webbed feet.
But when breeders deviate from their breeding standards, Gsds can have webbed feet. Yet, it is a rare case. It is rare because most breeders would not want to have webbed feet in the dog’s bloodline. They would do this because it is a deviation from the breeding standard. It is also genetic, carried from one generation to the other.
It is not bad if the breeder does not follow the breeding standards. Some breeders look for other important qualities. These qualities are health, temperament, and other personality traits.
How much webbing do german shepherds have?
Different german shepherds have different webbing. In general, the webbing does not exceed half the length of their toes. German shepherds who have true webbed feet, it goes up to their toe’s tip.
Do not panic if you notice your german shepherd has webbing longer or shorter than this limit. It is an individual’s trait.
What if your German Shepherd Doesn’t Have Webbed Toes?
Almost all german shepherds will have web-like connecting skin in their feet. This skin provides them stability and strength. Imagine not having connecting skin between your fingers. Would you be able to function in a normal way? Of course not. But not all german shepherds have true webbed feet. That is a unique and rare case. So, almost all german shepherds have feet with connecting skin. And very few have true webbed ones.
Are webbed feet german shepherd purebred?
Some german shepherd owners might get concerned about the purity of their dog’s breed. They think that if their german shepherd has webbed feet, it is not purebred. But that is not true. Webbed feet german shepherds are still purebred german shepherds. Also, you cannot know if your gsd is purebred or not by checking their feet. You need a DNA test to know that.
If we divide dogs based on breeding and bloodlines, we have two categories of dogs: show quality and pet quality.
Show quality
The following are two qualities of a show quality dog:
- One is that the breeder shows their dog.
- The other is that the American Kennel Club has registered the dog’s parents.
Pet quality
The following are the qualities of a pet quality:
- The breeder does not show their dogs.
- The American Kennel Club has registered the dog’s parents.
- The breeder is breeding with mixed breed dogs.
Webbed german shepherds come in the category of pet quality dogs. It is this deviation from the American Kennel Club standards.
There is nothing wrong with this categorization. It doesn’t make your German shepherd any less.
Are webbed feet dangerous?
For a german shepherd, having webbed feet is uncommon yet healthy. There is nothing to worry about if their feet are healthy and fit otherwise.
But, some german shepherd dogs have their toes fused. Remember that this is not like webbing. This condition is syndactyly. In some cases, this indicates that there can be some other serious health issues. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research about the topic of syndactyly. If your German shepherd has fused toes, then it’s best to consult professional advice. Surgery is one option to cure this problem.
Some unique medical concerns
German shepherds with webbed feet are healthy. Yet they can have some medical concerns related to their unique situation.
If a german shepherd stays in the water too long and is not dried afterward, the bacteria in their feet grow. It will cause an infection.
So, if the German shepherd with webbed paw pads stays wet longer, it reduces the airflow between them.
It creates the right atmosphere for the already residing bacteria to grow. With them, the chances of getting a paw infection also increase. The infection can cause sores, causing your german shepherd to limp.
How to deal with it?
To avoid this, clean your german shepherd’s paws regularly. First, clean between each paw pad with a wet cloth and then dry them with a towel. Also, make sure to dry off their paw pads when they spend time in the water.
If your gsd gets the infection, then consulting your vet is mandatory.
Benefits of webbed feet for german shepherds
Webbed feet are common in many other dog breeds. So we can tell what benefits german shepherds can have if they have webbed feet.
Webbed feet make excellent swimmers.
Webbed feet dogs are amazing swimmers. These dogs have a larger surface area to paddle with ease. To understand this, you can also think of swimming paddles. When humans wear swimming paddles, they enlarge the surface area on their feet. It helps them to paddle with efficiency.
You can also use a duck for a reference. They have webbed feet that make them great swimmers.
Webbed feet of a german shepherd increase the area on their feet. It allows them to have a stronger stroke.
If you want to train your german shepherd puppies in swimming, then webbed feet will help in the process.
Steady on marshy terrains
Webbed-feet german shepherds also move with speed on marshy terrains. It is most helpful for Gsds who has to retrieve the hunting game.
Walk faster in muddy areas.
Again the large surface area of a webbed feet dog prevents them from sinking in the mud. So, they move faster in the mud.
The stronger grip on a slippery surface
Due to webbed paws, they have a better grip on a slippery surface area.
Agility in snow
Webbed feet german shepherds show agility in snow. You can say that they work like snowshoes. The large area of their feet prevents them from sinking in the snow. It allows them to walk or run agility in snow. They can even run on powdery snow.
Allows faster digging
Gsds with webbed feet do not have to rely on their claws or toes to dig. They have an extra surface area that helps them dig faster. Their paws are like shovel blades. Their paws benefit them when they have to hunt and retrieve animals.
Gsds with webbed feet are more adaptive.
German shepherd’s webbed feet make them easier to adapt to different living conditions. Suppose you live in an area where there is frequent rainfall and potholes. It will be easier for a webbed feet german shepherd to habitat in such an environment. Their resilient feet will protect them from scorching surfaces in dry places.
Some disadvantages
With all the benefits, there are also some drawbacks of webbed feet for german shepherds:
People think that webbed german shepherds are not purebred.
It is not true. But this misconception exists because webbed gsds deviate from breeding standards. People who are particular about breeds and bloodlines would not prefer such gsds.
People consider it a genetic flaw
Yes, having webbed feet is a trait that transfers in the genes, but it is not a flaw for sure. It is a way their breeding happens.
It does not look attractive
The physical appearance of a dog is an important consideration for some people. Those who think that webbed feet make a dog look unattractive would not consider having one.
Cleaning webbed paws need extra effort.
Webbed paws are more fused, so it becomes difficult to clean them. Also, if you don’t dry off their paws well, the moisture can cause infections.
Hiding place for ticks and mites
As webbed feet are difficult to observe all the time, they can be a good place of hiding for ticks and mites.
What are some other dogs with webbed feet?
Most dogs have web-like feet. But you can’t call them webbed feet as they only connect tissues. Yet, some dogs are bred to have webbed feet. They work as water dogs or hunt and retrieve in various terrains. Below is the list of such dog breeds.
Portuguese Water Dog
They are best known for assisting fishermen in catching their prey. They would face freezing waters to help them gather fish in their nets.
Labrador Retriever
If you are a dog person, you know that Labrador is the most popular dog breed in the United States. A Labrador retriever is a webbed food dog. They are excellent swimmers. Their wide feet allow them to paddle, and their thick fur helps them dry themselves with shaking.
American Water Spaniels
It was America that bred this dog. They bred it intending to resist the freezing waters of the Great Lakes of the United States.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeake has an amazing swimming ability. It also has resilience in freezing water. It was able to break through the ice to get to the target.
Irish water spaniel
People used Irish water spaniels for retrieving fish and other objects. They also can survive cold water. It is also known for diving underwater.
Otterhound
Breeders in medieval England bred Otterhounds for hunting an Otter. They are amazing swimmers. Their webbed feet make them amazing swimmers. And their water-resistant fur allows them to survive the temperature. Today, Otterhounds are family pets.
Newfoundland
Earlier, Newfoundland was a fishing dog. They rescued people from the water. This gentle dog has enough strength and ability to take a grown-up man out of the water. Nowadays, they are family dogs.
Do webbed feet of german shepherds live longer?
Webbed feet german shepherds are stronger and hence tend to live longer. But, this is not a trait that can predict a dog’s life span.
End note
Most German shepherds have skin between their paws. People misinterpret them as webbed feet. But some German shepherds stray away from the breeding standard and have actual webbed feet.
So, a german shepherd dog can have webbed feet, but it is a rare case. Also, if your German shepherd has webbed feet, it does not mean that it is not purebred. It is still a loving and loyal companion.
FAQS
What kind of paws do German shepherds have?
German shepherds have a variety of paws. Different standards describe a german shepherd’s paw.
The SV standards describe german shepherd paws as rounded, short, well-closed, and arched. They are hard, with dark, strong, and short nails.
US standards are different from the SV standard. The American Kennel Club describes the german shepherd’s feet as short and compact. With well arched and firm toes. Thick pads and short and dark nails.
According to the UK Kennel Club, the german shepherd’s toes should be round, well-closed, and arched. With pads that are durable and well-cushioned. Also, nails that are short, strong, and dark.
How do you tell if a dog has webbed feet?
There is some webbing on all dog’s feet. It might look like webbed feet. But they are not true webbed feet but skin that connects the toes.
To know if your dog has webbed feet or not, separate its toes to check. If there is significant webbing, you can say that your dog has webbed feet.
