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YOUR DOG QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What are dewclaws?

A dewclaw is a non-weight-bearing toe on a dog’s paw located on the inside of the leg near the carpus (the wrist area). Dogs are typically born with two front dewclaws, but some may have one or more dewclaws on their hind limbs as well.

Dewclaws contain nerves, blood vessels and a nail that grows just like the other toenails. The dewclaw also typically contains bones and is firmly attached to the leg. It can be moved slightly by the animal. However, some dewclaws – especially the rear ones – contain no bones and may appear to dangle from the side of the leg. The nail will grow as normal, but there is no bony attachment to the limb, and the dewclaw is immobile. These are called detached dewclaws.

Many people argue that front dewclaws serve no purpose for dogs today. After all, dogs without dewclaws seem to be perfectly fine without them! However, while they are not essential, they can be pretty useful for many reasons. Firstly, dewclaws can help dogs dig, climb and hold objects or prey. Watch a dog handling a toy or treat, and you may notice that they use the dewclaws to stabilise the object.

Also, when dogs run, their dewclaws make some contact with the ground and can serve to stabilise the carpus. Rear dewclaws are quite different and are considered vestigial structures that serve no function.

Dewclaws commonly cause no issue for dogs. However, there are situations where problems with the nail occur. Most commonly, dewclaws can grow too long, curl and grow into the skin of the paw pad. This causes pain, inflammation and often, infection. Dewclaws can also get caught on objects and bedding, especially if they are too long. If a toenail gets caught on something, it may tear the nail or even fracture the toe. Detached dewclaws are at the greatest risk of getting caught simply because they hang freely.

Most dewclaw problems can be avoided by checking the nails regularly and trimming the nails as required.

Why do dogs sniff each other’s butts?

A dog’s olfactory system is complex and advanced, making their sense of smell far superior to our own. To give you some idea of the difference, consider that humans have 5 million olfactory receptions in their noses, and dogs have about 220 million. Dogs can smell layers upon layers of scents even when we can smell nothing.

Many people consider butt-sniffing among dogs as a type of greeting, but it is so much more than that! Through sniffing, dogs are able to learn so much about each other. The scents they pick up are especially potent around the genitals and anus. Scents in this area can tell another dog about gender, reproductive status, diet, health status, temperament and much more. A dog can also remember scents and determine whether they have met this particular canine before.

If dogs are healthy and well-socialised, it is a good idea to let them sniff each other as much as they want. However, if one dog is overdoing it and the other dog becomes irritated or stressed, then the dogs should be called away from each other.

Why do dogs like squeaky toys?

Your dog may enjoy their squeaky toy for a variety of reasons. Still, most canine behaviour experts agree that the three main reasons dogs like squeaky toys are related to their natural hunting instincts, their desire to chew and the sound of the squeak itself.

HUNTING INSTINCTS

Many squeaky toys are shaped like something a dog may instinctively want to hunt. The squeaking sound they make may even be similar to the alarm sounds of prey. This goes some way to explaining why hunting breeds have a higher affinity for squeaky toys than non-hunting breeds. This also explains why some breeds, such as terriers (which were originally bred for ratting), may love destroying their squeaky toys.

DESIRE TO CHEW

Some dogs love to chew things. This is especially true for teething puppies. In fact, different dogs are thought to have different preferences for chewing textures. Teething puppies tend to enjoy softer, rubber toys, whereas older dogs, especially smaller breed dogs that are prone to dental disease, may prefer soft, stuffed squeaky toys. Power chewers may do well with so-called indestructible dog toys with a squeaky element.

SOUND

When your dog chews on their favourite toy and gets a squeak, they get a sense of immediate satisfaction. This can trigger something like a positive feedback loop. Hearing the squeak triggers dopamine to be released from the reward centre of your dog’s brain, and the dog keeps squeaking the toy to keep getting that dopamine rush. Another element to this positive feedback loop will occur if they learn that squeaking their favourite squeaky toy around you causes you to play with them!

SAFETY WARNING

Squeakers, stuffing and even rubber pieces can be hazardous to your dog if they eat them, so it’s important always to supervise your dog when they have a toy. Toys should be checked regularly for any rips or tears, and plush toys with holes must be removed or repaired before the dog plays with them again. Plastic toys can become sharp, so these must also be disposed of once they develop rough edges.

Why do dogs circle before they lay down to sleep?

Most professionals believe that circling before lying down is an instinct passed down from dogs’ wild ancestors. A wild dog can survey all of their surroundings by making a circle. They can get one last look at everything around them to ensure there are no potential predators in the immediate vicinity. They can also make a final check on where all other family members are to ensure that everyone is safe. Making a full circle also allows a wild dog to determine where the wind is coming from. If they work this out, they can sleep with their nose to the wind so that they can smell the scent of any predator before the predator can smell them. Additionally, wild dogs will walk in circles to tamp down tall grass and even rustle out any insects or wildlife hiding in their sleeping place. This preparation of a sleeping area is also a clear indicator to other wild dogs in the family that the sleeping position is taken! Then, in terms of responding to the climate, for wolves and coyotes that live in colder areas, circling can avoid them sleeping on the top of the cold snow and allows the snow to be used as insulation from the freezing temperatures around them. The circling also enables them to curl up in a tight ball with their nose under the tails to help to conserve body temperature. Similarly, wolves and coyotes living in warm areas may circle to churn up the sand or soil to create a cooler place to rest.

Thus, while science doesn’t give us a definite answer about why dogs circle before lying down, there are some pretty logical explanations for this behaviour.

NOTE

For the most part, circling before laying down is completely normal behaviour. However, if your dog seems to circle excessively or is suddenly circling more than normal, it may be worth chatting to your vet. This excessive or more frequent circling can result from pain, leading your dog to struggle to find a comfortable sleeping position and need to circle more. Some neurological conditions can also cause this circling behaviour. Other dogs suffering from obsessivecompulsive disorders can start to circle excessively as another manifestation of this condition.