Feet

[sherri]

When my 6 month old male stands, he doesn't hold his toes tightly together, and in his first show the judge mentioned that his feet should be tighter. (he did win his class though) Is there something that can be done about this?? I also notice that even though he is a puppy and all puppies appear to have big feet, his seem unusually big.

[laurlitt]

I don't know much about conformation but I do know that the longer the nails are the more splayed they get, so shorter nails will help with that... Not sure if your issue is more 'genetic'!

[sherri]

I posted this question here and on one other board. Since this morning I got some suggestions via the other board. I thought I would pass them on here. One tip was keeping the nails short just as you mentioned, which we do. Another tip was walking the dog on tiny pebbles. Apparently to keep the tiny pebbles from between their toes they will tighten up their feet. And last but not least feeding from an elevated bowl, which is higher than we have currently been feeding from. The suggestion was a bowl that they have to stand on their toes to eat from.

[mstrecke]

I had the same question. My pup (5 month) had the same issue. I was told that during the teething period, that the feet tend to go wacky like the ears do.

I was also given a lot of the same advice you were given, and am going to keep his toes trimmed, and take him to the beach for walks on the pebbels. It is good for him no mater what, so it cant hurt!!!

I feel that genetics play the major role here, so take a look at your pups parents feet, and hopefully you will have tight knuckles to look forward to!

Margaret

[Rotty4Me]

Margaret points out an important issue. If your pup's parents do not have tight feet, neither will your pup. If they do, then it could be a teething issue or something that can be helped by keeping the nails short, exercising over stones, & feeding the puppy up high for all meals.

Maureen

[Skip]

Originally Posted by sherri

..... And last but not least feeding from an elevated bowl, which is higher than we have currently been feeding from. The suggestion was a bowl that they have to stand on their toes to eat from.

Just my 2 cents, but if you really mean to have have the dog stand on it's toes while eating, then I'm really against that. I would not make any dog have to "stand on their toes to eat". The dog should be able to eat in a relaxed, comfortable position.

[Rotty4Me]

I had never heard that the dog should have to stand on their toes either. But I do find my dogs are more comfortable eating at chest height. I have to say though, if my dog's genes do not support cat like feet with arched compact toes, then no amount of feeding up high or pea gravel or what have you has ever worked. :-)

Maureen

[zeus vonkircher]

when our girls eat we try to have them on there toes too. Meaning the pads on the front of there feet.

[TrishB]

Please don't feed your dog with an elevated bowl. According to research done by Purdue University - dogs fed with elevated bowls had a higher occurance of Bloat - which is the second highest killer of dogs (second only to cancer).

To view the study, please go here: http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/clbr.htm

Tight feet aren't worth the risk of bloat. I'm not convinced that eating lower causes or contributes to loose feet either. Parker has lovely, tight feet - and eats with his bowl on the floor. But his parents also had tight feet.

Genetically, if your pup's sire and dam had good feet, then he has a very good chance of good feet as well. If their feet were loose, then his chances are also good to be loose as well. Exercise (within tolerance levels for his age) and short nails are the only options open to you.

[VON KIRCHER]

Originally Posted by TrishB

Please don't feed your dog with an elevated bowl. According to research done by Purdue University - dogs fed with elevated bowls had a higher occurance of Bloat - which is the second highest killer of dogs (second only to cancer).

To view the study, please go here: http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/clbr.htm

Tight feet aren't worth the risk of bloat. I'm not convinced that eating lower causes or contributes to loose feet either. Parker has lovely, tight feet - and eats with his bowl on the floor. But his parents also had tight feet.

Genetically, if your pup's sire and dam had good feet, then he has a very good chance of good feet as well. If their feet were loose, then his chances are also good to be loose as well. Exercise (within tolerance levels for his age) and short nails are the only options open to you.

Hi Trish

I just went over the study. It was not very detailed. Doesn't this go against most thought? While at UC Davis, the Vets. there believed that feeding from a raised bowl decreased the risk of bloat.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by VON KIRCHER

Hi Trish

I just went over the study. It was not very detailed. Doesn't this go against most thought? While at UC Davis, the Vets. there believed that feeding from a raised bowl decreased the risk of bloat.

I know! That's why when this study came out, it was such a surprise to everyone. I guess the idea of elevating the bowl was made - but the study went a step further to prove it. I think there is more detail available - just not in the particular version I posted. There are other threads on bloat (so we don't hijack this one) that also refer to this study.

Either way - I wouldn't risk bloat over the idea that it might correct genetically caused loose feet.

[Rotty4Me]

I think bloat can happen due to various different causes. I have been feeding my dogs at chest height for years. I don't over feed or allow my dogs to play (roll over, etc.) after eating. Way way too many owners/breeders feed from elevated bowls without any incidences of bloat happening. Again I think genetics might play their part there too.

Maureen

[Vista]

The topic is FEET. There is current bloat discussion in Vet's Corner for those who wish to discuss it.

[sherri]

Both his sire and dam have tight feet, also his grandparents have tight feet. His lines go back to Wotan in the next generation, and I have never heard that Wotan had loose feet.

My daughters female has been eating from a raised bowl since it was suggested to us as a correction for her being easty-westy as a young female. Coinsidence or proof that feeding from a raised bowl helped, I don't know. But she never stands E-W now.

Someone suggested that he may be lacking some calcium in his diet and that is not helping his feet. She also suggested that during teething everything goes out of whack including ears and feet. I guess I will soon find out. His teeth are in and he is eating from a raised bowl that is above chest height now. The ears have calmed down, now I will wait to see if his feet do the same.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by TrishB

Genetically, if your pup's sire and dam had good feet, then he has a very good chance of good feet as well. If their feet were loose, then his chances are also good to be loose as well. Exercise (within tolerance levels for his age) and short nails are the only options open to you.

The point of this statement was that good feet on the parents would also give your puppy a good chance at good feet as well. But as we all know - breeding is not an exact science and genetics are not always reliable. You breed for the best possible combinations that you can and hope for the best.

Please keep us in the loop and let us know if this is just a growthy stage that your pup is going through.