Hello, my name is Kalia. I am the founder of frontseatryder.com. Front Seat Ryder is a blog designed to inspire, encourage and empower the modern dog mom to improve her mental health with the help of her doggy companion.
I am very honored and thankful that GreatDog has asked me to write a guest post for them. They always provide such great value and information! Today, I want to share some fun facts about dog paws with you!
Unique Facts About Dog Paws
I don’t know about you. But for me, a dog’s ears and paws are the cutest things ever! I especially love big clumsy puppy feet. Dog paws are an absolute squishy delight! But you might be amazed at all the unique facts about those adorable paws! Check out all these fun facts you may not have known about your four-legged friend’s toes!
You will learn about your dog sweat glands, about declaws and much more. Reading over this article might help you gain a bit of insight on your pet. You might just be surprised about how relatable these facts are. They will make you think twice when they go outdoors after a big snow or head out on rough terrain!
12 Interesting Facts About Dog Paws
Sweat Glands
Your dog’s sweat glands are in their paws. When they get hot, their paws sweat to cool off the rest of their body. Your dog’s paws may also get sweaty when they are nervous or stressed. Just like when we get sweaty palms before an important presentation.
Protection
The pads on your dog offer a protection from all terrains. From when they walk around the house to when they encounter rough surfaces on a hike. The same way working with your hands causes us calluses, Pup’s pads can get rougher the more the encounter hard surfaces.
If they are outdoors often, their pads will become tougher. On the other paw, they will have more smooth and soft pads if they are indoors more often.
Fatty Tissue
Their pads are made of high-fatty tissue, this helps them to stay warmer. That is also great for tolerating cold weather and snow. The fatty lining on their pads help insulate from the cold — much like the blubber of a whale.
Dewclaws
Front dewclaws have bone and muscle in them, but in most breeds, they have very little on the back dewclaws. Declaws are also considered to be the thumb of dogs.
Declaws help dogs get a grip of toys and bones as they chew on them. In some larger breeds, it helps them to gain traction and stability. Now if only pups could learn how to text us!
Different Sizes and Shapes
Dog’s pads are not alike. You will find that dog paws are all different sizes and shapes. This all depends on the dog and the breed. Breeds from colder climates have bigger paws. This helps them trend through the ice and snow better.
As far as the shape and texture of your dog’s paws, you would think that their paw print would be as unique as our fingerprints. Yet, that is not true. The most unique identifier for a dog is actually their nose print!
Rock Salts
Rock salt can be very painful for your dog. The chemicals can cause a lot of issues from sores, blisters and more. Please be careful especially when de-icing your driveways.
You can buy pet-friendly rock salt that you can use to melt ice and snow. You can also opt to finding your pup some winter booties.
Paw Massage
Okay, let’s be real, who doesn’t like a foot massage?! If your dog lets you touch their paws, try massaging them. A paw massage is equally as beneficial to them as a massage is for us. It is great for circulation and is a wonderful help for senior doggos.
Paws massages can also help reduce stress and relax your pup. So when you are all cuddled up on the couch together, don’t be afraid to make the move!
Nail Growth
Like humans, dog’s nails never stop growing. They need to be trimmed often. Making sure to trim them on a regular basis is key for optimal health. Long nails can cause problems with your dog’s traction. Long nails and also cause deformed feet and even injure tendons.
At the correct length, you should not be able to hear the “clicking” of steps on your hard-surface flooring. Your pup’s nail should not get long enough to touch the ground.
Please do all your homework on the proper way to trim your pup’s claws or better yet take them into the pros for a pet-icure!
Heat
Dog paws do a good job at adapting to colder weather, but they don’t do well in heat. If they step on hot pavement it can cause their pads to blister and even burn if it is too hot. This is why some dogs do not like summer walks in hot climates. I don’t blame them — I don’t care for walking on hot coal myself.
If you do live in a place with hotter weather, please be mindful of the pavement. Try to try your for a walk in grassier areas. If the are out on your property that is paved, try spraying it down with a hose to cool it off.
Swimming
Swimming can soften the paw pads. This can be troublesome because they become more likely to tear. If your pup plays hard or is highly active, make sure to keep an eye on their feet after swimming. My boy Ryder likes to swim in rivers. There are many sharp rock and sticks to be aware of! Make sure to limit roughhousing till after their feet have time to dry out.
Stinky Paws
Your dog has a distinct smell. Sometimes people say they can smell like popcorn or corn chips. I wish I could say the smell has a better cause. However, the unique dog paw smell is caused by the bacteria they pick up from walking. A mix of the bacteria and the oils of their paws makes the Frito paw smell. Good news, it is perfectly natural. And many dog owner claim they actually like the smell.
Long Toes
Each dog breed has a standard toe length. The Newfoundland dog have the longest toes out of all other dog breeds. Next up in line is a Labrador! Both of these pups are bred for working and water. The longer toes help them to have a bigger webbed foot for swimming.
I hoped you learned some new facts about your pup’s feet. It was a pleasure being a part of the Great Dog Supplies’ blog! Thank you so much for having me.
