But WHY the Camel Pacing?

[Winterspring]

We all know about the camel pacing that Filas do. I watch him trot around, one, two, one, two, having a smoke while waiting for him to find the perfect spot to relieve himself while I'm standing in the backyard like a dork in my underwear at four in the morning.

I know a few of the breeds that went into making this one. I'm not sure I've ever seen that gait before on a dog of any breed.

Is anyone well-versed in the history of the breed enough to know if the pacing was intentional or incidental? If it was intentional, why? I know it makes camels and Tennessee Walkers smoother to ride, but with camels, it's just how they move, and the TW was bred to be a very smooth ride. However, I have noticed that I'm a bit too tall to saddle up on the ol' boy, so I'm curious.

Also, was anyone else completely neurotic when they got their first dog, or their first Fila? I'm neurotic about *everything* to do with him. Watch him poo. Watch to see how much water he's drinking. Checking his pads to make sure they're in good condition, not too soft and not too hard. Why does his muzzle look pinkish? It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that he drags his face on the ground looking for a good pee spot. It has to be dog plague. Check his ears. Do they still look clear? Did the antibiotics and ear washes do their job? Whose advice do I take on whether to feed him on the floor or in an elevated dish?

Finally, everyone tells me my dog is huge. He just doesn't seem that big to me. Am I warped? Or does he just not look that big to me because he's mine. I've not been able to get him to stand still long enough to measure him. He keeps trying to eat the measuring tape. >_<

 

[Winterspring]

Best I could get with Food Lady holding him in a (relatively) standing position is 26-27" at the withers.

 

[dogman#1]

winter, The camel pace is to conserve energy. the fila was not bred to look, walk the way it does it is wha we call a "natural breed"..... I'll explain a lil bit. The farmers needed a big strong dog to to various jobs, the ones that did that job well got fed, the others died. The Fila developed its characteristics in order to perform work efficiently... the camel pace allows them to walk in a fashion that conserves energy on long drives (they dont have licenses so I mean cattle drives). This is why I harp on type so much...form follows function and function follows form.

 

[Winterspring]

Oh! That's actually pretty cool.

Pity about the driver's licenses, though.

Thanks!

 

[angelbears]

winter, The camel pace is to conserve energy. the fila was not bred to look, walk the way it does it is wha we call a "natural breed"..... I'll explain a lil bit. The farmers needed a big strong dog to to various jobs, the ones that did that job well got fed, the others died. The Fila developed its characteristics in order to perform work efficiently... the camel pace allows them to walk in a fashion that conserves energy on long drives (they dont have licenses so I mean cattle drives). This is why I harp on type so much...form follows function and function follows form.

Then why don't more working breeds have a camel's gait? Not being argumentative, just curious.

 

[allsierra123]

Because there inferior lol.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

 

[chuckorlando]

ahahahahahaha. I have also read it makes them that much more agile when a cow tries to kick them and it allows them to move more cat like than other large breeds.

 

[Winterspring]

He IS an agile thing for something so big. It's like he's got shock absorbers in his legs. From behind, the gait really does make his back and shoulders move in a more catlike manner. It's like watching a panther until he picks his head up and looks at me with that "Well? You comin'?" expression. <3 And the little booger is FAST.

Angelbears, if what dogman said is accurate, back then they kind of "culled the herd" indirectly by feeding/not feeding selected dogs. The camel pace ended up just being a part of the Fila. Not sure how other working breeds were bred, and obviously until this didn't know how Filas were bred in the first place, either. Yeah, part of me is going, "Nooo! The puppies!" but that was then, and this is now, and I can just close my eyes and pretend they just gave all the other dogs away to...um...nice people that made a different South American breed.

Is my interpretation correct?

Still kinda bummed about the driving. Hey. He's tall enough. And they let people from New Jersey drive...

 

[Hector]

I heard a camel's gait enables the dog to turn fast.

 

[aceoutdoor]

They can turn as fast or faster than any giant breed. A few of mine have been in pursuit and taken some corners on loose terrain and I was sure they were gonna bust their ass but they stuck it like a Corvette.

 

[chuckorlando]

Yea they dont play. I would bet money if you could get them to do it proper, they could slap kill an agility coarse

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I heard a camel's gait enables the dog to turn fast.

Interesting. .....Stone does this if there's one thing I can give credit towards him is that he turns on a dime. Never seen another dane do that. Many pivot on their hind leg. Stone spins in mid air and he does it so fast catches me off guard.

 

[chuckorlando]

Kona also leans into turns like you would on ice skates

 

[aceoutdoor]

Kona with her cape on, wearing ice skates?

 

[chuckorlando]

ahahahahahaha. Every winter. ahahahahahaha. Now that vision is all up in my head. 4 skates, red cape flapping with her ears and jowls ahahahahahahaha

 

[lizzy.bu]

Not really on topic but I had to tell you Winterspring that I always read your threads! I love the way you write The description is perfect and I always find myself smiling and giggling

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Someone photoshop Kona ice skating. Epic!

 

[chuckorlando]

ahahahahahaha

 

[dogman#1]

no, the camel pace is to conserve energy.. the higher rear and loose joints enables them to turn on a dime st high speeds.
as to why other working breeds don't have it? I don't know... how many other breeds were developed in the exact same fashion, to do the exact same work in the exact same environment and climate?

 

[Winterspring]

Thanks, Lizzy! I do my best to be light-hearted, especially since dogs can be such a touchy topic. (Sometimes literally. Mine likes to shove his face in my armpit while I'm trying to eat...>_<)