Form Follows FUNCTION
BY STEPHANIE SEABROOK HEDGEPATH
NO FOOT, NO DOG!
T he old adage, “No Hoof, No Horse,” common in North America in the 18th century, speaks to how important the feet are to an ani- mal. A lame horse is useless to its owner. The same principle can be applied to the dog as “No Foot, No Dog.” The first time I heard the phrase used to describe a dog was when I was judg- ing an ARBA show in the late 1990s. A fellow judge (a hound man), whom I greatly admired, chastised me for using a hound with bad feet in the Group. This led to a great discussion and the beginning of a long friendship. The feet are the foundation on which the dog is “built.” Just as the foundation for a building must be solid, so must the feet of the dog be correct for its breed. The anatomy of the canine foot is composed of the toenails (claws), toes, toe (digital) pads, the metacarpal pads, the dewclaw, and the carpal pad. (See Figure 1.) The canine foot has four toes, which are functional and contain three bones to form each toe. A fifth toe, called the “dewclaw” when it is not removed, differs from the other four in that it only contains two bones. The feet serve as a base of support for the dog. They serve as a cushion to absorb shock, and they provide traction to start motion and as a brake to stop. We will start with the toenails or claws, which are at the end of each toe. (See Figure 2.) Composed of keratin, the nails enable the dog to grip the ground and also to scratch (both the ground and themselves) and help maintain a grip on something they are chewing. The average dog has four functional toes (digits) and may be born with a fifth toe called the dewclaw, located on the inner side of the pastern on the front leg. The dewclaw is considered to have lost most or all of its original function. Dewclaws may also be found on the rear legs. Several breeds require dewclaws on some or all of the legs. On the average dog, however, they are usually removed, especially if they have no contact with the ground. Each of the toes is supported by a pad composed of thick layers of fat and connective tissue covered with several layers of skin, forming a thick, horny skin. This thick skin makes it possible for the dog to comfortably work over many types of terrain, from abrasive to slick and slippery. It also varies greatly in fluctu- ating temperatures. The pads serve as a weight bearing, shock absorbing cushion, and aid in traction. (See Figures 1 & 2.)
DIGITAL (TOE) PADS
METACARPAL PAD
DEWCLAW
CARPAL PAD
Figure 1. The Forefoot from Underneath
CARPAL PAD
METACARPUS
PHALANGES
DIGITS
TOENAILS
Figure 2. Skeletal Structure of Forefoot
174 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2021
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