Buddy is not an under cover dog he'll start at the top of the bed, get his nose just under them and push them back to the foot of the bed bunched up then lay against it.
Here is a pic of a normal dog paw and a Basenjis, even if your girl doesn't have pads like a Basenji it doesn't mean she hasn't got some Basenji in her.
When we had a Basenji i noticed Benjis pads were joined but at the time thought all dogs were like this. It was only later that i found out only Basenjis, possibly Huskies and wolves have these pads
ChowChow's have feet like that and it's really noticable in feet that big. I'll try to get a pic next time i'm around a chowchow foot.
All dogs that are treated well will be good protectors.You want big dogs means like Labs, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, etc. or any mixed breed dogs will do as well.