Saturday, March 14, 2015

Large snowshoe feet with winter-claws

The front feet of my wolfdogs are exceptionally large. This is of great advantage when they run upon snow, as it allows greater weight distribution and more support to prevent the animal from sinking in as deeply when the snow is soft.  Each toe pad is surrounded by stiff, bristly hairs, which act as insulation and also provides a better grip on slippery ice surfaces. The claws are strong and blunt because the tips are worn off by constant contact with the ground. They grow longer during the winter as they dont wear off as much when running on snow compared to the summer when digging and running is a natural nail-trimming action.  The winter nails are a great advantage on slippery surfaces.

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