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Sidewinding gait

LizB

Well-Known Member
We have noticed something about Busa, our Dane x GSD, and his gait. We have a flagstone path that goes from the deck to the back yard, which has a tall hedge on one side and a picket fence on the other, so when the dogs are going out to the yard ahead of you, you can see their gait directly from behind.

Busa trots (he does not do this when walking) with a sidewinding gait, in that his left hind foot lines up with his right fore foot when moving ahead. I was riding my bike with him this weekend and my husband was riding behind me, and he commented on it too. He does not move sideways, in that when he's trotting alongside my bike he doesn't creep over into me, or creep out towards the middle of the street, but his body is oriented sideways, moving straight ahead. He seems quite comfortable when trotting beside me but the bike rides are very short - not quite a half-mile one way - going from our house to my sister's house for dinner or play date with her pup.

I am sure there is nothing that we can do about it, but I was curious if this was an indication of HD or other issues. I will bring it up with my vet next visit but that isn't until the spring. I don't want to continue biking with him if it is bad for him, and will stick to regular walks if indicated. I am 5'0" with short legs, so with him being so tall (31.5") walking alongside me is absolutely no strain on him, lol!
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Liz Mason does this and I remember Thor doing it sometimes. The body moves in every direction imaginable yet the dog is still walking a straight line. lol.

Stone is built more like an EM so I can't compare him. Its been so long since I had Duke ( my first rescue dane) and I can't remember.
 

LizB

Well-Known Member
Someone told me that it may be related to his "see-saw" growth, causing his hind end to be higher than his shoulders, for the moment, lol. Now that I watch him I am pretty sure out other DaneX did this too - it looks very familiar - though he doesn't do it now that he's grown.

Busa does not seem to struggle to trot, or try to avoid doing it, but he is just so wonky when he moves - a real mess! I'm assuming when he finally matures physically he'll figure out where his long legs need to go.... he truly looks like a colt right now.
 

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
You're a horse person, yes? Have an equine vet watch his gait. A vet once told me if you want to know if there is a problem with an animal's gait, have an equine vet look at them. ...Makes sense, race horses are too expensive not to know if there is problem just by looking at them.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Someone told me that it may be related to his "see-saw" growth, causing his hind end to be higher than his shoulders, for the moment, lol. Now that I watch him I am pretty sure out other DaneX did this too - it looks very familiar - though he doesn't do it now that he's grown.

Busa does not seem to struggle to trot, or try to avoid doing it, but he is just so wonky when he moves - a real mess! I'm assuming when he finally matures physically he'll figure out where his long legs need to go.... he truly looks like a colt right now.

Interesting, this is what I noticed with Thor when I actually thought about it. His whole body would be diagonal but he was trotting towards me haha. Stone has a different kind of gait "camel pace" like the fila. Mason is the same like Thor, but he's still growing as well.


Cee Cee, I would think they would tell me that Mason would have some sort of displasia, lol. He walks like he has something up his ass. :D