Claws or Nails?

[Wolfgirl777]

Claws or Nails?

Countless and i mean COUNTLESS wolf roleplay's, I have watched people use their "Claws" to wound people as if they were a  cat or a lion. Is this even possible?
I can remember watching a programme about canines and it mentioned that a wolf's only wepon is it's teeth, and it's nails were useless against it's prey.

Even look a household dog; it has short, blunt nail's. Even it they do swat you with their paw's, it doesn't cause any cut's or wound's.

I have had to refuse many roleplay fight's, because someone decided to "Bring out thier claw's" or "Scratch me on the face."

So what do you think, should a wolf use claws? Or should we stick to nails?

[EvilSock]

They can be referred to as either claws or nails, I think. I often always see them labeled as 'claws' in most places.

Not all people carry this knowledge of wolf anatomy with them. Unretractable claws are blunt claws, their only use is to allow them better purchase upon the ground when in pursuit of prey; however, they also use their dew claws to bring down smaller animals e.g. rabbits, hares, voles and to burrow dens.

Source was found here.

Some people probably just don't know, don't care, or prefer to role-play in a more unrealistic manner. I see some people use the excuse that: 'they have a 'mutation'; or just have 'really long claws that can't wear down/sharpen them on trees'? lol.

[SteampunkWolfdog]

Real wolves don't use their claws as 'weapons' but more like tools. As you pointed out, canine claws are blunt and would be rather useless in using them as an offensive weapon. I imagine they use their claws to maintain grip and for digging dens and such. But I'm not expert...at least not yet

[hugrf2]

I have been hurt by a canine's claws in real life. One of my dogs. But it is rare or nearly impossible to hurt someone like that. There are little kids in this game who don't know that canines don't use they're claws to attack. Canines truly just use they're teeth as realism but not everyone knows that canines use they're teeth only. Some people just want to claw when they are canine as EvilSock said. To remember that "Canines use they're teeth not claws." You might want to download Tigg's claws and if your on your canine with them then you'll remember if you just look down at your canine's claws. Some kids play this game and don't know that canines don't have very sharp claws.

Yea, i suppose Mutation is a legitimate excuse, but I seen this happen even in the most literate and realistic role plays, and when i try to correct them, even with all my facts explained, I never seem to win.

Pfft, lol. I remember once... This happened with a lion pride:

Dark Wolf: Hey, get out of this den!
King of the pride: Sorry, but we have been here for about an hour or two, and we haven't seen anyone here.
Dark Wolf: I don't care, this is my den!
Other pride member: Dude, you can't den claim...
Me: This is a public map, if you want your own den, create your own map.
Dark Wolf: -Bring's out claws and claws face, making you to bleed-
Me: Eh, wolves can't use their "Claws" to cut open another's face. Infact, they are referred to as nail's.
Dark Wolf: WOLVES HAVE CLAWS, SO I DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!
Another pride member: Whoa, caps!
Me: Uh, I'm pretty sure they don't, I have watched a few programs on wolves, and i have never came across any wolves using it's nails against another animal...
Dark Wolf: WELL THATS WRONG, WOLVES CAN USE THERE CLAWS AND THEYRE JUST AS SHARP AS LIONS!
Me: Oh come on, even look at your average dog, since when did your dog claw you across the face?
Dark Wolf: **** YOU *******!!!!!!!1 STUPID ****!!!
Me: Ugh, that's it, I'm blocking you and reporting.
*User -Insert user name here- has disconnected*

(Note: This wolf was supposed to be realistic, i had seen her with a realistic pack earlier)

Eh, lol? Now, that's just an example of a pathetic no brainer, but i have seen this happen with maturer users before, but luckily, they have refrained from cussing and caps spamming.

This person might've had been overreacting as for no reason and yes, he truly is a no brainer even that is not even a word though. Good thing you didn't overreact in this topic like the topic owner of "Why do people hate wolves" in this same board.

[Zaroque]

I think Evil's used the best information here,
Considering feline's often use their claws to hang onto their prey, they would have to be considerably larger than to an animal that doesn't actually have to use them in that way. Looking at my canine's paws, his nails are blunt and not largely curved in a 'deadly way'. Normally, Wolves would use their teeth and jaws, since their power mainly lies in there.



And about using the word claws or nails, we often use claws for a wild/un-domesticated create, like bears, Lions, wolves etc. But with Dogs, we use nails. Funny that.

[SummerGlade]

I've actually never thought about this topic before, but now that you mention it, I have to say, it's rather illogical to believe that wolves have 'claws'.

I mean, I haven't ever had a dog claw me and break the skin, so I suppose that, though wolves are different from dogs, they still share basic physical characteristics, so it makes sense that it should be the same for wolves.

[Chipper]

Ok yes, wolves don't use there claws/nails for wounding, they use them for gripping the ground when hunting. But if an average house dog were to 'scratch' you, it can really hurt, it depends on how often their claws/nails are trimmed or what sort of terrain they usualy walk on. For instance, if a dog lived in a city and was usually on concrete, their claws/nails would be blunter because they would have wore down when walking on concrete, but if a dog lived in the country, there would be less chance of their claws being worn down, so they would be sharper, and since wolves don't tend to live in citys, their claws/nails would be sharp. But no, wolves don't use there claws for wounding, simply gripping the ground.

[MadMoai]

Interesting... now that I think about it, dog claws don't hurt that much. I've never had a wolf use his claws in a roleplay to wound somebody else, just because I never thought about it doing much damage... It makes sense that canids would only use their jaws now that I'm reading this. After all, I think I calculated that a wolf's bite pressure is about 100 times that of atmospheric pressure.

Thanks for reminding me - I probably would have messed up and used my claws somewhere... ^^;

[Toxikk]

I've been studying canines for a few years. Not professionally, but using things such as books, TV shows, and such..never have I seen a canine use their claws/nails. Now, a cat, totally different story. Dogs and wolves mainly attack with their body force and teeth. Wolf claws probably could be painful though. House dogs, not so much. Don't forget that most owners trim/cut their dog's claws/nails.

In a semi-realistic roleplay I'd think it'd be mildly tolerable. Same thing with a non realistic roleplay. But if you're going for complete realism and the person is just like "scratching" you, I think its annoying, unrealistic, and for all you people who deal with this, maybe just stop role playing with that person, or remind them before starting that it is realistic and that canine fights do not involve claws. :3

[Miles101]

Felines have retractable claws that they use for various things like fighting. Canines have nails that are not retractable, like humans. They don't use their nails much, and they're mostly there for extra traction. Canines fight and hunt mainly with their teeth.

Strange how self-proclaimed animal lovers don't know much about animals.