Uncovering The Mystery: How Many Nails Do Dogs Really Have?

Dogs typically have four toenails connected to four individual paw pads. Some dogs also have a fifth nail called the dewclaw, which is usually located higher up on the leg. The number of nails a dog has can vary from breed to breed.

Dogs have four toenails connected to four individual paw pads

All dogs typically have four toenails connected to four individual paw pads. Each nail should point forward with a slight curve toward its respective pad. Some dogs also have a fifth nail called the dewclaw, which is usually located higher up on the leg. These nails are made of a strong protein called keratin, which is also found in human nails. The keratin in dog nails creates a nerveless outer shell that protects the inner bundle of nerves within. Unlike human nails, dog nails tend to be thicker and stronger to sustain activities like running and digging. While our nails lay on the tops of our toes and fingers and grow from our cuticles, dogs' nails connect directly to their skeletal system.

Canids have four claws on the rear feet, although some domestic dog breeds or individuals have an additional claw, or more rarely two, as is the case with the Beauceron. A more technical term for these additional digits on the rear legs is hind-limb-specific preaxial polydactyly. Several genetic mechanisms can cause rear dewclaws; they involve the LMBR1 gene and related parts of the genome. Rear dewclaws often have no phalanx bones and are attached by skin only. There is some debate as to whether dewclaws should be surgically removed. The argument for removal states that dewclaws are a weak digit, barely attached to the leg, and thus they can rip partway off or easily catch on something and break, which can be painful and prone to infection.

It is normal, although not biologically necessary, that certain breeds will have more than one dewclaw on the same paw. One of these dewclaws will most likely be poorly connected to the leg, and is often surgically removed. When a dog has extra dewclaws in addition to the usual one on each front leg, the dog is said to be double dewclawed. For certain dog breeds, a dewclaw is considered a necessity, e.g., a Beauceron for sheep herding and for navigating snowy terrain. As such, there is some debate about whether a dewclaw helps dogs gain traction when they run because, in some dogs, the dewclaw makes contact when they are running and the nail on the dewclaw often wears down in the same way that the nails on their other toes do, from contact with the ground.

All dogs have them. Usually, no problem but have known a couple of dogs that have had to have them surgically removed cos they were more like dangly testicles that would get caught on furniture and stuff. I've never had that happen to me.

Some dogs have a fifth nail called the dewclaw

All dogs typically have four toenails connected to four individual paw pads. Each nail should point forward with a slight curve toward its respective pad. Some dogs also have a fifth nail called the dewclaw, which is usually located higher up on the leg. These nails are made of a strong protein called keratin, which is also found in human nails. The keratin in dog nails creates a nerveless outer shell that protects the inner bundle of nerves within. Unlike human nails, dog nails tend to be thicker and stronger to sustain activities like running and digging. While our nails lay on the tops of our toes and fingers and grow from our cuticles, dogs' nails connect directly to their skeletal system.

Canids have four claws on the rear feet, although some domestic dog breeds or individuals have an additional claw, or more rarely two, as is the case with the Beauceron. A more technical term for these additional digits on the rear legs is hind-limb-specific preaxial polydactyly. Several genetic mechanisms can cause rear dewclaws; they involve the LMBR1 gene and related parts of the genome. Rear dewclaws often have no phalanx bones and are attached by skin only. There is some debate as to whether dewclaws should be surgically removed. The argument for removal states that dewclaws are a weak digit, barely attached to the leg, and thus they can rip partway off or easily catch on something and break, which can be painful and prone to infection.

It is normal, although not biologically necessary, that certain breeds will have more than one dewclaw on the same paw. One of these dewclaws will most likely be poorly connected to the leg, and is often surgically removed. When a dog has extra dewclaws in addition to the usual one on each front leg, the dog is said to be double dewclawed. For certain dog breeds, a dewclaw is considered a necessity, e.g., a Beauceron for sheep herding and for navigating snowy terrain. As such, there is some debate about whether a dewclaw helps dogs gain traction when they run because, in some dogs, the dewclaw makes contact when they are running and the nail on the dewclaw often wears down in the same way that the nails on their other toes do, from contact with the ground.

Dogs' nails are made of keratin

Dogs typically have four toenails connected to four individual paw pads. Each nail should point forward with a slight curve toward its respective pad. Some dogs also have a fifth nail called the dewclaw, which is usually located higher up on the leg. These nails are made of a strong protein called keratin, which is also found in human nails. The keratin in dog nails creates a nerveless outer shell that protects the inner bundle of nerves within.

The answer to the question of how many nails dogs have varies from breed to breed. Some dogs have extra dewclaws in addition to the usual one on each front leg, the dog is said to be double dewclawed. For certain dog breeds, a dewclaw is considered a necessity, e.g., a Beauceron for sheep herding and for navigating snowy terrain.

There is some debate about whether a dewclaw helps dogs gain traction when they run because, in some dogs, the dewclaw makes contact when they are running and the nail on the dewclaw often wears down in the same way that the nails on their other toes do, from contact with the ground.

The argument for removal states that dewclaws are a weak digit, barely attached to the leg, and thus they can rip partway off or easily catch on something and break, which can be painful and prone to infection.

Dogs' nails are thicker and stronger than human nails

Dogs have four toenails connected to four individual paw pads. Each nail should point forward with a slight curve toward its respective pad. Some dogs also have a fifth nail called the dewclaw, which is usually located higher up on the leg. These nails are made of a strong protein called keratin, which is also found in human nails. The keratin in dog nails creates a nerveless outer shell that protects the inner bundle of nerves within. Unlike human nails, dog nails tend to be thicker and stronger to sustain activities like running and digging. While our nails lay on the tops of our toes and fingers and grow from our cuticles, dogs' nails connect directly to their skeletal system.

The answer to the question of how many nails dogs have varies from breed to breed. Some dogs have extra dewclaws in addition to the usual one on each front leg, the dog is said to be double dewclawed. For certain dog breeds, a dewclaw is considered a necessity, e.g., a Beauceron for sheep herding and for navigating snowy terrain.

In contrast, human nails are less thick and strong because they are made of keratin, which is a strong protein that is also found in human nails. The keratin in human nails does not create a nerveless outer shell and instead protects the inner bundle of nerves within. This makes human nails more susceptible to damage and less able to withstand activities like running and digging.

The thicker and stronger nature of dog nails is also due to the way they connect to the skeletal system. Dog nails connect directly to the skeletal system, which provides them with more support and strength. In contrast, human nails lay on the tops of our toes and fingers and grow from our cuticles, which means they have less support and strength.

Dogs' nails connect directly to their skeletal system

The answer to how many nails dogs have varies from breed to breed. Canids have four claws on the rear feet, although some domestic dog breeds or individuals have an additional claw, or more rarely two, as is the case with the Beauceron. A more technical term for these additional digits on the rear legs is hind-limb-specific preaxial polydactyly. Several genetic mechanisms can cause rear dewclaws; they involve the LMBR1 gene and related parts of the genome. Rear dewclaws often have no phalanx bones and are attached by skin only. There is some debate as to whether dewclaws should be surgically removed. The argument for removal states that dewclaws are a weak digit, barely attached to the leg, and thus they can rip partway off or easily catch on something and break, which can be painful and prone to infection.

Certain breeds will have more than one dewclaw on the same paw. One of these dewclaws will most likely be poorly connected to the leg, and is often surgically removed. When a dog has extra dewclaws in addition to the usual one on each front leg, the dog is said to be double dewclawed. For certain dog breeds, a dewclaw is considered a necessity, e.g., a Beauceron for sheep herding and for navigating snowy terrain. As such, there is some debate about whether a dewclaw helps dogs gain traction when they run because, in some dogs, the dewclaw makes contact when they are running and the nail on the dewclaw often wears down in the same way that the nails on their other toes do, from contact with the ground.

All dogs have dewclaws. Usually, there is no problem but have known a couple of dogs that have had to have them surgically removed cos they were more like dangly testicles that would get caught on furniture and stuff. I've never had that happen to me.

Frequently asked questions