#dewCLAWS

[midi-wizard]

Galen Tipton & Shmu merch for dewCLAWS

art by me

[dinosaurwithablog]

In Morocco, goats climb trees to graze because of the lack of grass. They graze in argan trees. Goats are such great climbers. I've seen where they scale precarious slopes that are almost vertical so trees must be rather easy for them. Their cloven, convex hooves, and their sharp dewclaws keep them from slipping. Animals are so amazing.

[thenewobjective]

galen tipton & Shmu

Last summer we covered galen tipton & Holly Waxwing‘s keepsakeFM, which six months later became one of our top twenty albums of the year, as well as one of the happiest.  The vibe continues on dewCLAWS as tipton collaborates with Shmu, while inviting seven other contributors, an Orange Milk hallmark.  While not structured as a mixtape, the album’s energy level remains high, thanks to an overload…

[zaryathelaika]

PSA: do not remove your dogs' dewclaws unless they are easily torn.

Dewclaws have a purpose. They act as ice awls so the dog can pull themselves out of the water.

This public service announcement was brought to you by Zarya recently running out on a frozen lake and I had to pray to Odinn (sarcastic, I'm atheist) that she doesn't fall through the ice because of the spring thaw. Forgot the geese were returning.

[shreksstepfather]

Jumping on the chimera Moonpaw hype bandwagon!!

[mistfallengw2]

How do charr hands function? Here's my headcanon (with drawings!)

So I made this poll earlier today and I ended up making some sketches to explain how I headcanon charr hands and their supposedly retractable yet too big claws. The idea is that both the game and the books are partially right: claws can be big (not as big as the models), and they're semi-retractable (so fully-fluffy paws). [Disclaimer: I am bad at anatomical drawings and did not try to make them super accurate :')]

Basically charr fingers are made of three phalanges, but functionally they're just two, with the 2nd and 3rd being much shorter and sort of "merging" with the claw itself, which is mostly supported by the 3rd and starts very close to the knuckle between them. The palm is covered almost entirely by a skin pad/paw pad, which usually extends to the first phalanx of each finger, and the fingertips are covered by pads as well.

The claws are semi-retractile, though the exact range of motion depends on the individual's genetics (claw size and shape + hand anatomy) and preferences (how much they trim the claw). The ability to retract their claws is managed by specialized extra tendons and muscles in the hand's structure, and they can lock the claw in place or move it, even while the fingers are bent, though with some limitation at the extremes of movement. While the claw at rest will stay at a "safe" angle, the claw's bed can shift on the cartilage structure when pulled, sliding back into a "sheathed" position or be pushed outwards. [note: I was too scared to go too far with the "x-ray" sketches and probably the claws could go a bit further back in the finger lol]

Ancestrally, this system kept the claws from always digging into the ground and losing sharpness when running on all fours, while still allowing for extra grip when necessary (similar to cheetahs) and the use when fighting or taking down prey. During the evolutionary transition in which charr started walking upright most of the time and using tools, it lost some of its ancestral necessity and functionality. However, instead of turning into something vestigial, charr evolved the ability of controlling each claw's movement independently from the rest of the finger, allowing for greater precision, fine motor skills and dexterity.

The pad grants grip and softer manipulation of items, while the claw handles movements finer and more precise than the pad allows, and other races find it complex, fascinating or a bit freaky. Some say that charr are as dexterous than humans, if not more, which is quite an accomplishment for creatures with such big hands.

That said, variety is huge among charr. Some have stubby paws with big, wide claws, while others have long, slender fingers with narrow claws.

Claws are still used as a natural weapon by many soldiers, but it's totally not uncommon for charr to file their claws down or keep them blunt, as there's a huge variety of reasons for not wanting sharp knives on one's fingers (job requirements, handling of delicate materials, safer interactions with cubs or creatures with softer skin, personal preference, etc), and some even keep their claws at different lengths for specific uses.

That said, claws can't be trimmed beyond the quick without bleeding or potential damage, and since it extends out of the sheath it's not possible for a charr to fully sheath their claws. Claws grow quite fast to make up for the daily wear and tear, so upkeep must be done regularly, as trimming too much might temporarily impact coordination. Declawing can happen during combat or following injury, and those affected might wear prosthetics/fake claws to make up for it.

[intriga-hounds]

the video i took before cutting 106 doggy nails

[sad-leon]

This poll inspired by a discord convo i watched happen,, somewhere,,, <- i forgor what server it was in, but i've been meaning to make this poll for a while

[luciyote]

Twinning

[spindleclan]

ah shit,, here we go again 🚶

[lilmothiits]

bee dancin in my pjs bc its cute

[bambamnesiac]

You have been bapped!

tch, you dont know who youre talkin to, kid

[nefja]

New moodboard face

[seabeck]

I have a email alert set up for springer spaniels on Craigslist and everyday it’s pinging for this breeder (who seems at least partially a backyard breeder, $600 for a purebred springer is low, advertising on Craigslist is 🚩). The puppies are bench springers and have tails docked 🙄

[pine-needle-scuffle]

my boooooy

i'm still have to over design his fit too hell and back, but this is where im leaving off tonight ^^

[intriga-hounds]

we be tryin boots