WEB-FOOTED DOGS: HERE ARE 10 BREEDS OF ADORABLE DOGS THAT HAVE WEBBED FEET – FROM DACHSHUND TO LABRADOR RETRIEVER

1. Labrador Retriever

The world’s most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever was originally used to retrieve (hence the name) fish, fishing nets and even fishermen from the ice cold sea. This made their webbed feet invaluable – as well as their water repellent coat and rudder-like tail. These dogs are one of the strongest swimmers.

2. Newfoundland

Like the Labrador, the web-footed Newfoundland was used by fishermen to help them bring in the daily catch. Their thick coats mean they can stay in icy water for longer than almost any other dog – and these days they are frequently used as search and rescue dogs. A real all-rounder.

3. Poodle

Bred to retrieve waterfowl, the Poodle may now be more at home at dog shows and as family pets. Whatever the size – toy, miniature or standard – they all have webbed feet. It also helps them walk on mud, hopefully meaning less muck gets into those beautiful coats during walkies.

4. Dachshund

Not exactly known for their swimming abilities, it comes as a surprise to many that their cute sausage dog has webbed feet. Originally bred for hunting, their specialised feet help the Dachshund dig really quickly to locate critters underground.

5. Weimaraner

Bred to be an all-terrain hunting dog, the Weimaraner’s long legs and webbed feet make it comfortable running on all surfaces before confidently jumping into the water when required.

6. Golden Retriever

What is true for the Labrador Retriever is also often true for their close cousins the Golden Retriever. That’s certainly the case with their webbed feet, although they tend to be slightly less webbed than the Lab.

7. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

By this point in the list it’s probably clear that if a dog has ‘retriever’ in its name then it has webbed feet. Another example is the curly haired Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

8. Irish Water Spaniel

As the name may suggest, there are few things the Irish Water Spaniel enjoys more than going for a dip in a river, lake or sea – aided by their webbed paws.

9. Otterhound

Thankfully the Otterhound is no longer used to hunt the cute aquatic mammals from which they got their name. When they did though, they were greatly assisted in their task by having the same webbed feet as their prey.

10. German Short-Haired Pointer

Another dog bred to hunt, the German Short-Haired Pointer has quite small ‘scoop-like’ webbed paws for paddling through water with ease. Their close cousins the German Wire-Haired Pointer also have webbed feet.