When I was growing up, I never thought too much about the feet on the Siberians. I took it as a given that they were good. But even with a group that is adapted to the conditions of the North, you have differences. I've been lurking on a mailing list devoted to judging dogs according to the standard and the question of feet has arisen. I was inspired to step into the dog lot and take some pictures of feet. My model is a dog that has been on the race team for the  past four years and never had occasion to require any attention to his feet. No foot salve, no boots, just a lot of running through every kind of snow and water condition at extreme temperatures.

 During this time some of the other Siberians in the kennel have required the occasional boot to heal a web crack or cut pad, not this boy and a few others. I'm hard pressed to see that the shape is of much significance in this group because they all look similar to me. An easy gait helps I'm sure as the impact would be significant, especiallly at speed. I tend to think that the hair is of great importance. It must be thick and it must be coarse. Snow doesn't like to stick to this kind of hair. A foot like this is not a blanket immunity. Attention still has to be paid because there are conditions where snow will stick to anything.

A thick and coarse hair is the best foot protection.