{"id":26603,"date":"2015-09-24T15:49:19","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T14:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petspyjamas.com\/blog\/?p=26603"},"modified":"2025-03-03T13:07:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T12:07:35","slug":"top-10-facts-about-dog-paws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petspyjamas.com\/blog\/top-10-facts-about-dog-paws\/","title":{"rendered":"Our top 10: the facts you didn’t know about dog paws"},"content":{"rendered":"

Possibly the underdog of our canine companions\u2019 much-loved features \u2013 dog paws are fascinating pieces of anatomy and not to be sniffed at! Read our favourite facts about Fido\u2019s feet.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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1. Dog paws are made up of five parts<\/strong><\/p>\n

The claws, the digital pads (the toes), the metacarpal pad (the pad in the middle), the dewclaw and the carpal pad (the pad farthest back). The digital and metacarpal pads protect the bones and joints of a dog\u2019s foot by acting as shock absorbers, and the carpal pad acts as a rear brake helping dogs \u2013 particularly adventure seekers \u2013 navigate steep or slippery slopes and surfaces.<\/p>\n

2. Dog paws are weatherproof<\/strong><\/p>\n

The pads have a thick layer of fatty tissue that protects our furry friends\u2019 feet from freezing in cold temperatures. When the pad gets cold, the arteries within the foot transfer the cold blood back to the body where it is then warmed up. This fascinating bodily process has led scientists to believe that our canine companions first evolved in colder climates.<\/p>\n

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3. But are sensitive to heat!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hot surfaces, such as pavements, can cause dog\u2019s feet to blister and burn so be careful when walking your pooch during the summer months.<\/p>\n

4. Dogs walk on their toes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Man\u2019s best friend is a digitigrade animal \u2013 unlike humans who take most of our weight on our heels, dogs take their weight on their toes meaning their toe bones are very important.<\/p>\n

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5. Dogs sweat through their paws<\/strong><\/p>\n

The inner layer of skin on a dog\u2019s paw contains sweat glands \u2013 these transport perspiration to the outer layer, cooling the hot dog down as well as preventing the pads from drying out. And like humans, if a dog is nervous or stressed their paws will also exude moisture.<\/p>\n

6. Dog paws can smell like popcorn<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’ve ever noticed your dog\u2019s paws smelling like popcorn or corn chips, it\u2019s likely they have \u2018Frito Feet\u2019. As our canine companions feet are always in contact with the ground, they naturally pick up lots of microorganisms and when dogs sweat, the combination of bacteria and moisture creates a salty snack-like smell.<\/p>\n

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7. Dogs use their paws as stress balls<\/strong><\/p>\n

If your dog begins to lick or chew their feet excessively, this could be a sign that your furry friend is feeling stressed. Excessive licking or chewing can result in your dog\u2019s paws becoming infected and a visit to the vets may be needed.<\/p>\n

8. Dogs have thumbs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, not exactly \u2013 but a dog’s dewclaw is thought to be the equivalent of a human thumb! The majority of canines have dewclaws on their front legs, however some breeds also have them on their hind legs. Made up of bone and muscle \u2013 dewclaws are not essential to domestic dogs although some will use them to provide a firmer grip on something they are chewing.<\/p>\n

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9. Some dogs have webbed feet<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dogs that are renowned for their swimming ability, such as Newfoundlands<\/a> and Portuguese Water Dogs<\/a>, have webbed feet for help push themselves through the water. Dachshunds<\/a> also have webbed feet \u2013 and although their original purpose was to hunt and dig out small game, these unlikely looking dogs love to swim but should always be supervised.<\/p>\n

10. All dog paws are different!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite all dog paws being made up of five parts there are still different styles of doggy feet. Dogs such as Bull Terriers<\/a>, Old English Sheepdogs<\/a> and Akitas<\/a> have \u2018cat feet\u2019. This shape of paw has a short third digital bone leaving the paw more compact like a cats \u2013 it requires less energy to lift and in turn increases the dog\u2019s endurance. \u2018Hare feet\u2019 which have noticeably longer middle toes, enable faster running and can be found on breeds such as Greyhounds<\/a>, Samoyeds<\/a> and Bedlington Terriers<\/a>. Dogs that are native to some of the coldest countries in the world, such as the St. Bernard<\/a>, have far wider paws than those of the same size and build. Their larger pads allow them to grip and walk safely on snow and ice.<\/p>\n

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Fancy a dog-friendly holiday?<\/strong><\/h3>\n



<\/strong>If you and your pooch are craving a getaway, be sure to check out our absolutely paw-some range of dog-friendly holidays<\/a>! Here’s a few of our favourite collections for 2021…



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Read our favourite facts about your furry friend’s feet and find out why they’re such fascinating pieces of anatomy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":26611,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,757],"tags":[292,4,18,271,158],"class_list":["post-26603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-pet-lifestyle","tag-behaviour","tag-dog","tag-health","tag-pet","tag-puppy"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nTop 10 Facts about Dog Paws<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dog paws are fascinating pieces of anatomy and not to be sniffed at! 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