dog feet

conformation in dogs has a significant purpose and it goes way beyond bench shows or making a dog look good. Feet on dogs are just as important as your feet. If your feet are not right you will still do the job but your feet will hurt you more at days end. Same for dogs. Catfooted dogs can endure more because their feet support them better over rough terrain. Dogs feet can be toughened up to take rough hunting.That is the pads job. I don't think the open footed (coonfooted ) dogs would be disadvantaged in the marshes,etc. Buy to me sooner or later the foot is going to bottom out on something solid and the cat footed dogs would not be at a disadvantage there. Feet are not the only thing either. A lot of hound people went to breeding for a real straight legged dog (post legged) Those looked good on the bench but were no good to stay in a long ,hard race. Read a real good articl in Coonhound Bloodlines by a vet that told why correct conformation was so important to hunting dogs. It's way more than just feet.