Dogs that have webbed feet are unquestionably good swimmers, among the other benefits. A remarkable fact is that land mammals begin their life with webbed feet.
While most mammals lose the webbing before birth, every dog breed will retain some of the webbings in their feet. Sometimes it’s pretty minimal and hardly noticeable.
Dogs with webbed feet are incredibly beneficial as rescue dogs for floods or river rescues and also helps them to dig quite easily.
Here, we are going to cover seven dogs that have webbed feet for a lifetime.
There are a few breeds of dogs that have entirely webbed feet. For instance: Labrador retriever, Newfoundlands, poodles, and more.
Contents
7 Dogs That Have Webbed Feet
1: Labrador Retrievers
Labrador Retrievers are historically one of the most popular dogs, so they should be a familiar face.
Labradors are medium to large dogs from the United Kingdom, but they were originally developed from Canadian fishing dogs.
This dog is versatile in nature and is an affectionate and friendly family dog. On the other hand, they also make capable service or police dogs due to their high IQ and impressive social skills.
Besides their temperament and intelligence, many consider their webbed feet and love of water another great feature.
Labradors are notorious food lovers, so they will need exercise to balance this out.
2: Newfoundlands
Newfoundlands are large dogs with brown, black, or grey fur. Their thick fur and webbed paws allow them to stay in water for long periods at times.
This makes them excellent partners of fishermen, especially in colder climates. Their strong physique helps them to catch fish for their owners.
Nowadays, they can also be seen as service dogs. They love the outdoors, which makes them an ideal companion for long hikes.
With all of these traits combined, it’s important to know that Newfoundlands are very gentle with children, making them great family dogs.
3: Poodles
Known as Caniche in French and Pudel in German, the clever and curly poodle breed is often associated with style and wealth.
This breed is divided into four groups based on their size: toy poodle, miniature poodle, medium poodle, and a standard poodle.
These dogs have oily and soft fur to go along with their webbed feet. However, they need daily grooming to prevent their fur from becoming matted.
Poodles love to swim, so take them to the pool for regular exercise. With their webbed feet, they’re quick and skilled swimmers.
4: American Waterdog
The American Waterdog breed takes its origin from Wisconsin’s Fox and Wolf River valleys of Wisconsin during the mid-18th century.
The presence of webbed feet lies within their origin. Because they’re built especially for the water, they enjoy time in it.
Their oily fur coat repels water, and thick webbed feet help them glide along effortlessly. These dogs are bred to work, so they require a lot of mental and physical exertion to stay healthy.
Activities such as swimming, playing, running, and hiking are recommended for American Water breeds. Without proper exercise, they can get depressed and destructive.
5: German Shorthaired Pointer
This breed of dog was developed in Germany in the 19th century. These dogs are powerful hunters. They crave both physical and mental exercise, so you have to stay active with them.
Their distinctly small and webbed paws allow them to paddle through the water with ease. They are pretty friendly and affectionate dogs and bond with their families very quickly.
In general, they tend to be happiest with people who have active lifestyles, enjoying play and long walks. They can be comfortable anywhere outdoors, even in a rugged forest.
Their webbed feet dig right into the soil, so the terrain isn’t an issue.
6: Dachshunds
This unique dachshund is also known as the sausage dog, the wiener dog, or the badger dog. It has pretty tiny legs with a long-drawn body.
This breed comes as smooth or long-haired dogs. This amazing dog is known for its webbed feet. Unlike others on this list, swimming isn’t their primary specialty.
Instead, they have strong, shovel-like claws meant for digging. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t like to swim.
Just make sure that their legs are strong enough to support their bodies in the water. Keep an eye on their body weight, as too much pressure on the joints is harmful.
7: Otterhounds
Said to have originated from English Bloodhounds, Otterhounds are a unique and rare British dog breed, with only about 600 worldwide.
They’re blessed with broad shoulders, durable coats, muscular bodies, and large webbed feet. This fantastic body shape makes them excellent swimmers.
They are very playful, and with their excellent sense of smell, you can engage them in various games.
If you’re a dog parent to an otterhound, be sure to secure your property with a fence that a large dog like the Otterhound can’t jump over.
They may need some encouragement to get active and more involved in physical activities.
Takeaway
All these dogs are born with webbed feet, but only a select few breeds retain them for a lifetime.
If you were to run your finger between the toes of one of these breeds, you would feel a thin layer of connective tissues.
Webbed feet come about due to a membrane of connective tissues and skin between the toes. Having webbed feet makes the dogs good in both the water and on the sand.
All these remarkable canines with webbed feet are incredible and unique in their own way.
