Please dont laugh... :) Dog Gait Question

[Apreston]

I have a question; I might be an idot; but here it is;
I was reading several posts about a dogs gait and to my understanding the left front moves along with the right hind and the right front moves with the left hind. So if that is right and I am understanding it correctly Titan moves both left (front and hind) at the same time. I notice with him sometimes he tries to correct himself (i think) he trips and tries to shuffle his way to walking correctly but he reverts back to the one side moves than the other. I think this has to do with his "oh his clumsy ways" We are walking along and its like he looses count or something and just ends up sitting and starting over.
I have been horseback riding for my enitre life and if the horse is on the wrong foot I slow him down and correct so we can trot and canter at comfortable "grove" otherwise it feels rocky....now I cant not strap a saddle on Titan
Is there anyway to correct this or is this how he walks OR am I just way off base and not understanding what I am reading!
Thanks in advance for you help and advice
Adrienne and Titan

[Guardian Angel's White lightning]

The gait that you are describing has a certain name...i am sure that someone here can remember what it is called. But the way he walks is just that, i don't believe it can be fixed although, you can train a dog to do anything. I know this is not much help sorry...when at a gait, does it happen then? or is it just when walking? My titan will sometimes walk that way, and yet when at gait he is the other way.  I guess dogs will be dogs!

[Apreston]

All the time...when gaiting and walking. I dont know its just weird.... I have been paying extra attention to his movments the last couple months and just started noticing how he actually moves and that might be the reason he is so clumsy! 

[Guardian Angel's White lightning]

let me get my gait book...the answer does lye in there....

[Guardian Angel's White lightning]

The reason why dogs walk this way is because:
the are moved too fast
are too short in body
are too long in leg
have one end stronger than the other
are over angulated

(from the book an eye for a dog by robert cole)

[People Whisperer]

Here is a great link to a conformation gaiting...even with pictures! LOL

http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Writing/confgait.html

[Guardian Angel's White lightning]

that was awesome website....the word i was thinking of was Pace  ... does titan pace?

[Apreston]

Ok gonig to read Be right back 

[Apreston]

GREAT website and info....and yes that is Titan... Titan the pacer...they called him ewww...
Any Idea how i can get him to trot. Or is it just him maybe it Titan the unteachable! LOL
Modified to add: Titan's one end is stronger than the other; hence the HD in his right rear hip. So maybe that's way he walks that way???

[Guardian Angel's White lightning]

that would be my guess...it is kinda like over compensating??

[People Whisperer]

Modified to add: Titan's one end is stronger than the other; hence the HD in his right rear hip. So maybe that's way he walks that way???

Indeed, if the dog has hips or elbows issues he/she will not gait correctly or will not gait at all. That is exactly why you should show off the gait of the dog in the conformation ring. Trained person would notice every little issue in the dog's structure just by looking at the gait 

[Apreston]

Thanks guys.... been reading more up on it and see if i can correct it tonight when we are walking. See if he does it with a little tug to slow him dowm. If by chance he feels more comfortable pacing then pacing he must!!

[sc.trojans]

If a dog has HD, he will pace certainly - no changing that.

Pacing is a sign of a physiological issue - it can be many things, including what has already been listed.  So it can be structural (which can't be changed) or it can be injury or trauma and absolutely addressed.

Knowing what is causing it really helps to know the dog since a puppy - not everyone has this benefit.  If the puppy had good movement and then changes, and depending on when this occurred during growth - there could be a correctable issue.  My current Bernese Mtn. Dog had beautiful movement, and a correct gait...then at 1 1/2 years, started pacing.  I knew this was an issue and we headed to an ortho specialist, chiropractor, and physical therapist and we worked on her for a year to correct the subtle injury that never showed any other signs - the injury was to her head actually and manifested down her spine....corre cting things one at a time resolved it.

Other dogs with HD, ED, or poor structure will pace inherently.

[Apreston]

If a dog has HD, he will pace certainly - no changing that.

Pacing is a sign of a physiological issue - it can be many things, including what has already been listed.  So it can be structural (which can't be changed) or it can be injury or trauma and absolutely addressed.

Knowing what is causing it really helps to know the dog since a puppy - not everyone has this benefit.  If the puppy had good movement and then changes, and depending on when this occurred during growth - there could be a correctable issue.  My current Bernese Mtn. Dog had beautiful movement, and a correct gait...then at 1 1/2 years, started pacing.  I knew this was an issue and we headed to an ortho specialist, chiropractor, and physical therapist and we worked on her for a year to correct the subtle injury that never showed any other signs - the injury was to her head actually and manifested down her spine....corre cting things one at a time resolved it.

Other dogs with HD, ED, or poor structure will pace inherently.

Good to know...and now that you mention it Titan did not always do this. We noticed it along the same time as he ws dignosed with HD. We are curentlly in acupunture and have seen wonderful results; even after the 4th session. How did ciropractor work for your Bernese? I have been thinking of it for Titan but I do not want to over stimulate him; I was thinking one thing at a time but I would condsider going if it would help him. 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?!? Dont know if it just a sweet spot or it just really sensitive to touch? Might be worth a trip to the ciropractor! Thank you for the info!

[VdogLover]

Just for thought....Som e dogs have been taught to pace or amble on a regular basis by their owners. When an owner makes a dog heel/Walk nice on a leash at a speed that in between the dogs normal walk and trot speeds you can acually train them to pace or amble...much like a Standardbred. not saying that why he is pacing just pointing this out.
Here are some wonderful website...

http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/gaits/index.html

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