As I was lying in bed playing with my adorable Labrador pup after giving him a bath, I noticed that the appearance of his feet seemed to webbed and thought, “is it only my Labrador who has webbed feet, or do all Labrador pups have webbed feet”?
The paws of Labrador retrievers distinguished by a remarkable feature known as webbing in addition cute and large in size.
In those days, one of the most frequently asked questions from labrador owners was “Why do labs have webbed feet”? Is it some sort of superpower that the labradors possess?
Does a labrador have webbed feet?
Yes, it’s true that all Labrador retrievers possess, similar to the majority of dogs, but Labs feature larger feet as well as a high amount of tissue within the paw, contributing to their success both on the ground as well as in the water.
It’s normal for Labradors unless they born with a defect or have injured. In contrast to what most people assume, These are actually far more useful. The webs on puppies’ feet are one of the reasons for puppies’ natural swimming abilities.
The Labrador Retriever’s Webbed Feet
Breeds such as the labrador retriever have a membrane in their paws that helps them join their toes together, resulting in a web-like appearance.
Look closely and you’ll see that all dogs possess this trait! However, some breeds exhibit it more prominently than others.
Hunters and swimmers adore Labradors for their skill in both. The majority of them are quite adept at swimming through water, although others struggle with anxiety when doing so. Swimming ability significantly affected, so if you have been wondering how your labrador retriever pup feels with webbed feet, you’ve come to the right place.
Let me begin by answering your question about labradors having some kind of superpower because of their webbed feet. The webbing feature that labrador retrievers possess on their feet gives them a competitive edge to achieve better results when it comes to a variety of tasks labrador retrievers are most known for.
Comparatively speaking, puppies are naturally great swimmers. Labrador retrievers are capable of going through ponds, lakes, pools, and many other waterbodies comfortably. There are only three obstacles: water phobia, noise phobia, and obesity.
Why Do Labradors Have Webbed Feet?
We often asked, “Why do labradors have webbed feet” and, to be fair, the answer somewhat complicated since we need to delve into the history of Labrador retrievers in order to figure it out. As we have explored the history of labradors, we have discovered that several reasons exist for labradors having webbed feet.
The history of their origins
There is widespread knowledge of the purposes for which Labrador Retrievers were used and by whom. Labrador retrievers have long been popular with fishermen, and hunters as well.
Canada’s island of Newfoundland was the homeland of Labrador’s ancestors. Labradors have webbed feet for the same reasons as other water dogs; as they originated from places that had plenty of mud, sand, or water.
Labradors originally used as working fisherman’s dogs. Their job was to retrieve whatever the fishermen had caught.
As time went on, owners of Labradors may have purposefully bred dogs that had noticeable toe webs, for they may have been under the impression that it would make them more confident or competent swimmers. That explains why they are born with a natural ability to swim.
Early on, labs with webbed feet considered a significant advantage over those lacking such qualities, leading to their selection for breeding in the future due to these traits.
Both American and British Labrador breeders consistently breed for the traits and standards they seek in their dogs, as well as producing pups capable of excelling in a variety of roles, including family pets and retrievers.
Now let’s look at some of the benefits that Labrador retrievers enjoy from having webbed feet.
Labrador Retrievers Webbed Feet Come With Several Benefits
#1 – Labradors Webbed Feet Help them To Be Better Swimming Partners
When it comes to having a great swimming companion, labrador retrievers might be the best choice. This assertion supported by a couple of reasons, in fact, we discussing one of the major reasons.
A labrador’s webbed feet make it an excellent swimming dog as well as an excellent water retriever. When a lab swimming, these webbed feet act as paddles against water, causing water to displaced more. I would compare it to the concept of humans pushing through water using paddles instead of their hands.
Paddles or webbing provide more effectiveness in moving water, as they have the ability to move more water away, as opposed to the water sliding through fingers. As a lab swims and you see what its paws do underwater, you’ll notice that they spread its feet wide, reveal the webs between its nails, and occupy as much space as possible in the water with their feet.
In this way, a greater amount of water being moved with each stroke. The paws better utilized in this way rather than contracting them. Adding webbing to the paws enables them to help disperse water more efficiently.
#2 – Labradors Webbed Feet Ensure A Stable Footing Even On Uneven Land
A Labrador Retriever’s primary role was to hunt, and they were originally bred for this purpose.
A lab often encounters flooded, tree-covered, rough, uneven, and rugged terrain on the hunt or while retrieving, making it necessary for it to have the necessary traction and balance to stay stable while avoiding obstacles. With the webbed surface of their feet, their grip becomes stronger and more secure.
Your dog’s paws become considerably larger on land thanks to the webbing, allowing them to maintain stable footing when walking over uneven ground.
A lab’s webbed feet can also aid in gripping and moving on snow, particularly when running through the ice. Their paws contain webbing that enables them to maintain a wider stance when walking on snow and prevent them from slipping, helping them not to slide around as much.
#3 – Labradors Webbed Feet Make Digging Easy
While this may not seem like a great advantage to dogs, but when you look back at where they originally came from, they have always had this trait. The backyard loaded with holes our labradors love to dig. Some of those holes have a cold temperature.
Usually this digging is caused by feelings of heat and discomfort on hot days. A labrador’s feet have webs that are fully developed, so they are pretty adept at digging holes. Once they dig a hole, they usually lie in it to cool off.
This characteristic can be somewhat bothersome at times, but it’s perfectly normal.
What Happens If Your Labrador Retriever Does Not Have Webbed Feet?
This isn’t a big deal if your labrador doesn’t have a webbed feet. You should simply pay attention to your dog’s love for you. Since he had already been without webbed feet for some time, it had become second nature for him.
Although you should be concerned, if he continues to run for hunting, there is a chance of him getting injured without webbed feet since hunting is difficult for labradors these days due to the inability to stay stable on their feet.
There are many pet owners who keep their canines as pets only. On the other hand, if your labrador is pure-bred, his feet will be webbed.
