Soft paws

My new staffy loves her walks and goes everywhere with us, her old owner told us last night we needed to be careful because white dogs have soft paws and get very sore quickly. We'd just come back from a walk and been miles, we looked her over and sure enough, her paws are softer than a newborn babies, She'd had 2 short walks this morning and seemed a little sore on concrete, should we build her walks up slowly or anything else we can do as she's at her happiest out walking, but I don't want to hurt her xxxxx

You said she hadn't really been walked or exercised much in her previous home? I think it will be like with a young puppy's paws where the pads are just really soft. They will harden up over time. Just build up the walks slowly when shes on concrete/tarmac, it won't take long for them to get hard a couple of weeks or so. She should be fine, its just because her feet aren't used to hard surfaces.

And someone correct me if I'm wrong but don't think it makes a bit of difference that shes white.

Nosipho wrote:And someone correct me if I'm wrong but don't think it makes a bit of difference that shes white.

No, not a bit of difference - that's just the previous owner's excuse not to walk her! Of course her paws are a bit sore, she's probably hardly ever been out of the house! They will harden up, but try & build the exercise up slowly so that they have a chance to toughen.

It sounds like she had a turn of good luck when you came along!

They will defiantly harden up over time,as others have said it was probably an excuse of not walking her.

They'll get less soft as time goes on. I guess just build it up gradually to give them a chance to harden.

Agree with everyone and don't think it has anything to do with color

Agree with all above too, just build up the length of walks gradually.

Thanks guys, thats what I thought! She seems pretty fit.... Just point her in the right direction and she'll just keep going lol. Will knock the 7 mile walks on the head.... Oops! She loved it but yeah, a stroll to the shop and back for the rest of the week I think. We'll have to have extra playtime indoors to keep her happy =D xxxxxx

It won't take long to toughen up her paws - a week or two will probably do it!

My Bailey was the same, when we got him just over a month ago, his pads were really soft. we live by the sea, and on the advice of our vet was told to let him paddle in the sea water, what a difference a month makes. Also we were told he was walked 3-4 times a day for at least half an hour, which we believe to be false, as his pads were so very soft.

That's one relief for us, Dex's paws were as tough as old boots when we got him so he must have been getting a decent amount of walks I think It's great your girl will get some proper exercise now once she has built up some resistance, she has landed on her paws with you

Another thing, dont worry if you see them looking flushed rose colour which they will do even when they harden up. my two will do it even if they are just warm and you can see it more on white feet and paler pads. dog paws are an awsome "feet" (tadaa) of engineering. They have a very clever set up in there legs whereby cooler blood passes by warmer blood and warms as it re-enters the body. They are able to regulate well into minus figures to stop the pads freezing and help cool when it gets warmer....ive gone off on one again havent I... anyway thats why the flush sometimes.

did you know they have different type of fat in the legs and (load bang)

She went for a walk across the beach last night, she loved it... Will take her on the weekend, daylight this time though so we can get some photos =D, She's still happy to be out walking and is doing pretty well, just mindful that she might be uncomfortable at times =D Thanks for the information everyone, just wanna do whats best for her, a happy dog means a happy family xxxxxxxx

axam102 wrote:Another thing, dont worry if you see them looking flushed rose colour which they will do even when they harden up. my two will do it even if they are just warm and you can see it more on white feet and paler pads. dog paws are an awsome "feet" (tadaa) of engineering. They have a very clever set up in there legs whereby cooler blood passes by warmer blood and warms as it re-enters the body. They are able to regulate well into minus figures to stop the pads freezing and help cool when it gets warmer....ive gone off on one again havent I... anyway thats why the flush sometimes.

did you know they have different type of fat in the legs and (load bang)

Thanks for mentioning the flush thing, I had wondered if that was ok Dex's paws do that after a walk

Paws have hardened up a treat now! YAY =D xxxxx

i have a solid white dog and mostly white dog and NEITHER have soft paws what so ever.

They can walk for hours (and have done) over really rough terrain with no problems!

Yes she is very gun hoe when we are out now! Totally loving all the new places we go and meeting new friends! Happy staffy at last xxxxx