Basanji paws
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 15:34 last edited by
As a new Basenji owner this question has nagged at us for months but I am finally going to ask it.
The middle two fingers of each of her paws are conjoined. At first glance it looks like each of the four fingers are separate but the middle two are joined at the very bottom. Having never studied dog paw-prints I did not notice this irregularity, but wife is certain that this is not normal in most dogs. Can anyone tell me if this is a Basenji trait, or is our little girl just a freak of nature.
Also, my wife insists Ella smells like peanuts. In fact, "Peanut" is one of her nicknames. Anyone else ever notice this?
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 15:41 last edited by
my dogs smell like corn chips. fritos..
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 16:15 last edited by
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 16:18 last edited by
It is one of the traits that show how little our basenjis are domesticated. Most domesticated dogs have the separation. Basenjis, Huskies, Wolves, Foxes, and Coyotes have the attachment. I have heard that Chows also have the attachment, but the Chows that I have seen are separate. I was always curious about Pharo Hounds though… do they?
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 17:30 last edited by
my dogs smell like corn chips. fritos..
+1
I'm usually awoken by that smell each morning when my B is doing his stretch. He likes to put his paws in my face. You simply get used to it.
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 18:01 last edited by
Dallas feet always smell like corn chips when he wakes up! Whenever I point this out to my family or friends, they literally look at me like I have two heads. I'm glad other people notice it too! Haha
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 18:01 last edited by
I never noticed the joined/not joined thing. I'll have to look. I wonder if my Eski was joined? Too late to look now, he's been gone over a year (sniff).
I'll second the corn chip thing though, and that IS wierd, I've never noticed another dog smelling like fritos before, but my Basenji sure does!
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 18:50 last edited by
On the plus side, their coat is for the most part odorless. I always joke that my B smells like a stuffed animal. No scent.
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 19:23 last edited by
Our dog likes to eat Salsa, a connection maybe?
Now if their breath smells of Margarita and salty lips, then we have proof!
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 19:56 last edited by
Thanks to the B forum for answering those questions so quickly. Love the close up pic of Basenji feet.
My wife now admits that corn chips are a better description of what Ella smells like. She gets that smell from her coat. I have never tried smelling her feet.
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 20:25 last edited by
Fritos here too. I figure a dog that looks as yummy as ours had to smell as yummy too.
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wrote on 17 Mar 2009, 21:09 last edited by
Thanks to the B forum for answering those questions so quickly. Love the close up pic of Basenji feet.
My wife now admits that corn chips are a better description of what Ella smells like. She gets that smell from her coat. I have never tried smelling her feet.
Probably has to do with their paws resting against their coat in areas.
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wrote on 19 Mar 2009, 13:14 last edited by
I checked Tayda and Lennys paws and they are not as joined as the picture you posted, but they don't appear to be totally separate…
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wrote on 19 Mar 2009, 14:00 last edited by
I know when breeders were discussing this a while ago there seemed to be a bit of variance too. Mine are like yours Michelle. The very tops/surface of the pad isn't necessarily joined, but all along the side of the rear of the two middle pads are fused so those can't be separated as much as the outer toes, which have some skin in between them.
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wrote on 19 Mar 2009, 14:00 last edited by
hmmm…. i wonder why ours are the same... :D
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wrote on 20 Mar 2009, 02:57 last edited by
Yup, fritos.
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wrote on 2 Apr 2009, 12:08 last edited by
My B smells like fritos too… but only his feet. I notice it the most when he bats at me to get out of bed in the morning.
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wrote on 2 Apr 2009, 21:13 last edited by
popcorn. Our dogs feet smell like popcorn. A guy I work with is married to a vet. He called her at work one morning when we were having this convo and she confirmed that puppy feet smell like popcorn….
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wrote on 13 May 2009, 11:22 last edited by
I love the smell of my babies feet. I think the best description is popcorn. Warm and sweet. Do any of your Bs have tickly feet. I put my finger in between the pads and stroke the soft furr and it tickles.:rolleyes:;)
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wrote on 13 May 2009, 13:52 last edited by
Corn chips - fritos - peanuts - wish my dogs feet smelled like that - every time we go out she commences digging, and even after a nice bath, her feet pretty much smell like warm dirt! Her coat doesn't really smell at all, except aloe and oatmeal after her bath. I've seen pictures here on the forum of nice pink foot pads - no matter how I scrub, Shaye's feet never get that way any more.
