Do German Shepherds Have Webbed Feet? 7 Dog Breeds With Webbed Feet Interesting Facts

Do you want to know the answer to the question Do German shepherds have webbed feet?  Then this is the best platform where you will get complete information about the German shepherd, the benefits of webbed feet, and many other things like these. Let’s dive into the topic.

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? The simple answer is No. Feet of German shepherds are not truly webbed. Though, German shepherds have skin that is between toes. Paws connect with the skin between the toes for GSDs. Thus, German shepherd feet looks like a web but are not really webbed.

Why Are Feet Of German Shepherds Webbed?

Every breeder of a German shepherd doesn’t follow the breeding standard. These things will not be bad if the German shepherd selects the other breed qualities like temperament and health other than the webbed feet.

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? The German shepherd with true webbed feet is very rare because the webbed feet are not traits that tell us whether the breed is pure. Many owners don’t like to buy the German shepherd that has no webbed feet.

Do Purebreds German Shepherds Feet Are Webbed?

Yes, the purebred German shepherd has webbed feet. Do German shepherds have webbed feet? The German shepherd’s webbed feet are not a usual trait. The German shepherd with webbed feet is still normal. You don’t need to worry about the webbed feet of a German shepherd if the paws of dogs are fit and healthy.

The webbed feet don’t tell us whether this is the purebred of a German shepherd or not. You cannot determine the correct breed lineage by seeing the feet. The only way to choose the purebred German shepherd is a DNA test.

German Shepherd Straight Back Vs Sloped Back

Why Do German Shepherds Have Webbed Feet?

There is a scientific reason behind the webbed feet of dogs. Do German shepherds have webbed feet? The skin between the paws of a German shepherd provides stability, and it helps the toes of a German shepherd together. The dogs need a very small area of skin that gives strength to the feet for proper functioning.

Like humans, we need thin skin between the fingers, and then hands are strong, and you can move your hand freely. But few German shepherds have webbed feet feature due to their genetic makeup. Webbed feet are the genetic trait in some German shepherds.

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? No, it’s a web like GSD feet. The webbed feet trait is passed from generation to generation.  It means that the genes of webbed feet feature pass from grandparents to parents and then offsprings. Among the population of German shepherds, few German shepherds have webbed feet.

Fused Toes VS Webbed Feet

The German shepherd has full fused toes together, and there is no space in the toes than it is known as syndactyly. There are many other health issues if the dog is syndactyly.

The dogs that are true syndactyly should have fully fused toes. The surgery is done to eliminate this issue. Then the dog can move freely and normally.

There is no such great research on syndactyly, but in some cases, the German Shepherds suffering from syndactyly are normal dogs. They love to go swimming.

Don’t confuse the fused or webbed feet terms. When there are webbed feet, you sense the skin by touching skin that is between toes. On the other hand, when the feet are fully fused, you cannot feel the skin.

What Are The Benefits Of Webbed Feet For Your German Shepherd?

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? The German shepherds that have webbed feet are not much in number. The webbed feet are rare. The webbed feet are not dangerous or harmful for a German shepherd.

Webbed Feet Helpful In Swimming

The animals that have webbed feet easily do swimming. The webbed feet make the animals swim without any difficulty. The German shepherd doesn’t like water like the other pedigree of dogs, but they love to swim because of the webbed feet feature.  The webbed feet are very helpful in swimming because when the feet are webbed, there is an increase in surface area, and the dog feels easy while swimming.

The increase in the dog’s paws’ surface area and the lean body, powerful legs make them the best to push the body in water and do quick and easy swimming.

Help In Walking

Some owners say that the webbed feet are not a good feature that the German shepherd with webbed feet cannot walk on land properly, but this is not true. The webbed feet increase the surface area.  The surface area varies directly with the stableness. When there is an increase in the surface area, then there is more stableness and vice versa.

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? German shepherd does have webbed feet. If there is an increase in surface area, you can easily walk and run on the sandy soil. If the feet are webbed, then the paws will not sink in the mud, and hence it is helpful for dogs to walk easier. The large surface area due to the webbed feet saves you from fall or slip. The dogs with webbed feet are less to fall than the dogs with no webbed feet.

If The German Shepherd Has Not Webbed Feet, Then What Is Reason Behind This?

It depends upon the breed of dogs, whether they have webbed feet or not. If the feet are webbed, it doesn’t mean that the breed is pure. The webbed feet are not a true feature of a German shepherd. The webbed feet provide strength and stability to the dogs and save the dogs from fall.

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? If the German shepherd is fully webbed feet, then you should consult your vet whether it is safe or not. Usually, surgery is done to remove this problem. Many German shepherds are completely fine; even they have webbed feet.

What Are The Other Dog Breeds With Webbed Feet?

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? Yes, German sphered has webbed feet, but there are many dogs other than German shepherds with webbed feet. Webbed feet make them easier to work and other things like save from fall, strong grip, efficient swimming, etc. German shepherd webbed feet save your dog from fall. The webbed feet are seen in other organisms like ducks.

 The dogs that have webbed feet are known as water dogs. It is because they love to swim that is why they spend most of the time in the water that is near them.

Many breeds have webbed feet. Few of them are

Water Dog Portuguese

They have fury and thick coats. The water dog also has webbed feet that are very helpful for them in water navigation. This bred is not dangerous for fish because they don’t attack fish. They are used to deliver messages from one boat to another.

Redbone Coonhound

Redbone coonhound is a very clever and courageous dog. This dog is also very helpful in navigation. They can navigate their place through swamps. They are not timid dogs. They are fearless. They can dive into water without any hesitation. They can make the other animals fearful. Feet of redbone coonhound are also webbed. 

Otterhound

In the ninetieth century, the otter is known as hunter dogs because they hunted the fishes in water or local streams then there was the entry of otterhound into the universe. The dog belongs to the United Kingdom. The name otterhound is due to the hunting nature of these dogs. They can locate the homes of otters by smell. They have webbed feet that are very helpful for walking in water or mud land.

Dachshund

Dachshund also has webbed feet, and the webbing is between the toes of the dog. The webbed feet make them more efficient in digging instead of swimming. The body of Dachshund is slender and long, which makes the dog hunt the small animals.

Weimaraner

Weimaraner are royal dogs. The royal family hybridizes them. They are specially hybridized for the hunting of deer and boar. The webbed feet of Weimaraner make them more efficient in moist soil.

New Foundland

There are long toes in New Foundland that is helpful to walk in muddy soil. It is helpful to tear while crossing the water. Sailors used this dog for the voyage. The fisherman also used this dog for hunting and hauling the fishes.

Truth Revealed: German Shepherd Paws Webbed

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? You see that there is skin in the toes of dogs. This is not a strange thing; the skin between toes is natural and normal.  German shepherd webbed feet provide a large surface area. The webbed feet give stableness to the dogs, save from fall, and increase the surface area. That helps walk in muddy land.

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? Many German Shepherds have not true webbed feet. There is no complete web in the feet. This behavior is much rare in dogs. Many German Shepherds dogs have fully fused feet due to the syndactyly, which is a medical issue.

Webbed feet are not due to a medical issue. That is why webbed feet have many advantages. When there is extra webbing, then there will be an increase in surface area. That is why the German Shepherds love to swim and save from fall. The webbed feet save the German Shepherds from slipping.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Are Webbed Feet Dangerous For My German Shepherd?

Do German shepherds have webbed feet? There is no problem with webbed feet in German Shepherds. There is a web-like structure in German shepherd feet. There is webbing in the feet of German Shepherds that make them grip well on land.

Many other water dogs also have webbed feet. There is no threat of webbed feet, and it is not dangerous for German Shepherds, but the webbed feet feature can also trigger other health issues.

The foot webbing can be the reason for limping in dogs. The dogs with webbed feet are due to their genetic makeup. There might be scoliosis cleft palate and shortening of fibula and tibia condition in dogs with webbed feet.

Do All Dogs Have Webbed Feet?

The simple answer is yes. Almost all dogs’ feet are webbed. All dogs are not much webbed. That is why all dogs do not love to go swimming. Labrador Retriever also has webbed feet. That is why Labrador Retriever is known as a great swimmer. Labrador Retriever also has short coats that make them dry quickly after swimming.

How Can Dogs Use Webbed Feet To Its Advantage?

There are many other advantages of webbed feet other than swimming. The dogs can do navigation in water with the help of webbed feet. German shepherd webbed feet are helpful while walking in mud. The webbed feet save your dogs from slipping. German shepherd feet are very good for swimming.

Final Verdict On Do German Shepherds Have Webbed Feet

German shepherd webbed feet are best for swimming.  Webbed feet are due to the genetics of the German shepherd. Webbed feet are not dangerous for dogs, but dogs with webbed feet are prone to other health issues.

Many other dogs have webbed feet. All these dogs are known famous as water dogs because these dogs stay in water during day time.

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️