Please dont laugh... :) Dog Gait Question

[sc.trojans]

 Titan has this REALLY sensitive spot on his back; his skin twiches everytime you touch it. It is right at the base of his neck; i was thinking of going and having it checked out?!?

Absolutely a perfect issue for a good chiropractor.  Out of all of the specialists I use - my chiropractor is my most valuable after events, or high activity.

A twitching spot is the telltale sign of a subluxation and a quick adjustment would likely resolve.  My Berner had this in her lower back after a lot of jumping and it took two adjustments to resolve the nerve twitch and sensitivity.  Good signs that things are out of whack and could benefit from chiropractic adjustment are nerve signs - like twitching when you touch the area, biting and chewing at a specific spot, licking a specific spot or like a cat - gentle licking like self massage.  More blatant signs are limping, favoring, affected gait, tilted head/unlevel ears - but these are tougher signs for most owners to diagnose.

I would highly recommend it for your boy as he sounds like he would benefit - be sure the individual is experienced, and certified in small animal chiropractic.  The best ones in my experience are human chiros with years of experience who then become certified in animals.  They are usually equine specialists as well.

http://www.avcadoctors.com/

[SadieA]

Hmm, Sammy paces a good bit. He's never shown any indication of orthopedic problems, other than periodic bouts of panosteitis, but I wonder if this is something I should keep an eye on. I'd say he's always done it, and he's just a year old now. Some of the tie, it could definitely be related to me pulling back against his leash, as that Web site mentioned. But I do wonder. In the picture of a dog "pacing" they mention how this gait makes the rear raise up higher than the shoulders, and this is definitely noticeable in Sammy. He only paces at slow speeds, and definitely moves into a trot when he's jogging along.

[Apreston]

Titan's left rear moves with his left front. So one side moves and then the other; almost giving him a wobbly effect... not a balance stream line when he's walking; I think that's what the mean by "in the same plan"
I dont think its a breed thing; I have no idea but it does seam that a variety of breeds do walk that way.
I think we are going to try a chiropracter for Titan to see if getting him "lined" up might help.  His nerves on his back in one spot are very sensitive and it could be a result of an injury or maybe he just twisted wrong. So no hard no foul we are probably going to book an appoitment next week.

[VdogLover]

Titan's left rear moves with his left front. So one side moves and then the other;>>>

He is pacing. Pacing is faulted and considered an incorrect gait in all breeds other then the Neo & OES I believe. Even if considered incorrect most dogs will pace at one time or another.

[sc.trojans]

For those trying to understand more about correct gait and incorrect gait, this is an informative beginning video:

http://accad.osu.edu/~hcaprett/COTA_741_sp04/CanineLO_090504.html

Also, for those of you with Berners, this should help understand the breed standard and how the breed should move (this varies for other breeds of course):

http://www.bmdcsew.org/illustratedbmd/sidegait.php

And this as well as other illustrations found here help to educate on how poor structure affect gait:

http://www.bmdcsew.org/illustratedbmd/hindquarters.php