Do German Shepherds Have Webbed Feet? Read the full article : https://strydomwebdevelopment.co.za/do-german-shepherds-have-webbed-feet/
This is a question many people ask and the answer, unfortunately, is not as straightforward as it seems.
Short Answer: Some German Shepherds have webbed feet and some don’t,.About 85% of all breed dogs have some with webbed feet.
A German shepherd’s paws are not webbed like a duck’s or other water birds.
Do German Shepherds Have Webbed Feet?
There are many variations on the topic and there is no one right answer.
Medium and light ones — they are used for herding sheep (e.g., in the Alps).
Their body is strong but smaller, shorter legs and nose, plus their paws’ color is lighter.
Both types have webbed feet, but some other breeds of German shepherds do not have them.
In this case they don’t walk or run on the bottom of water without any problems.
The second thing that influences german shepherd’s foot is the country in which it was bred.
Bavarian ones have their legs straight and paws small while Belgian ones have their legs crooked and paws long.
The webbed feet are very important since they allow the german shepherd to have a better grip on the ground or objects that can be found on water.
In addition, the schnauzer breeders are able to show for sale much more varieties of dogs with webbed feet than others because they know how to take care of them.
Webbed Feet Help Them Swim
Webbed feet could give your dog a powerful swimming kick!
Webbed feet help them to control their body and swim through the water.
It is true that webbed paws help german shepherd dogs swim better, however it is not very useful.
It is an inherited trait that webbed feet are undesirable for the dog.
The webbed feet are most important advantages for hunters and swimmers, but for the dogs who are used to move on land it is considered to be a flaw.
Are They Webbed in The Water Only?
Some of them have more or less of them, so it is important to know which ones among all those breeds in the list above you want your furry friend to have.
Some of them have webbed feet in the water and on land, some of them don’t at all, and some can use their paws as swimming fins.
In fact, not only german shepherds can swim with webbed paws: other dogs do it too (e.g. hounds, spaniels).
Usually, there is a difference between dogs with webbed feet in the water and those who have it only on the land.
The ones that can swim with webbed paws are usually able to walk on land much faster than those who can only run on it without any problems.
Are webbed feet dangerous for my German Shepherd?
German Shepherds have a smaller proportion of webbing in their feet so it will not produce as many difficulties.
Dogs with webbed feet can still get into trouble in water.
The webbing between the toes can cause limping in dogs as well as other affections.
Apparently, the chromosomal mutation that determines webbed feet in dogs is also responsible for the emergence of a cleft palate, the shortening of the tibia and fibula, and even scoliosis.
Waterproof/Resistant Coats
Dogs with Waterproof coats that are both water- and wind-resistant, fur coats, and double water-resistant coat.
But your coats, jackets, and other pet apparel must also meet all of your dog’s weather needs.
«Waterproof» coats are made from materials that will not soak up any kind of liquid (including dirt!), unlike many other garment types — including wool!
Do GSD pups with webbed feet live longer?
The dogs with webbed feet are usually stronger and they tend to live longer than those who don’t have them.
If you want to know more about which of these breeds can have a longer life – read my article on the topic.
Do webbed feet cause more health problems?
However, it is important to note that these are only general observations and there are no scientific proofs yet about this topic.
Some dog breeds are born with webbed paws, such as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever (USA) and African Boerboel (South Africa) Staffordshire Bull Terrier (UK), Anatolian Shepherd Dog (Turkey), Broholmer (Denmark) and American water spaniels can swim in waters that would be too deep for a Labrador. A Portuguese Water Dog is a breed of dog that originated in Portugal. The dogs are often good swimmers, with natural webbed feet, and have a coat that repels water quickly.

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