Understanding the Different Gaits of the Dog

Observing your dog's natural movement daily helps you become familiar with their gait and detect any signs of potential health issues such as lameness or fatigue. Understanding how your dog moves is also invaluable if you are considering canine sports or energetic activities, as gait can indicate endurance and suitability.

In competitive dog shows, gait is a key judged feature influencing a dog's score. However, many owners only have a basic understanding of the variety of canine gaits. This article explores the main gaits dogs use, how they work, and what they can tell us about our pets' health and abilities.

The Six Main Canine Gaits

Dogs exhibit six distinct gaits: walk, amble, pace, trot, canter, and gallop. Each gait serves a different purpose and has unique footfall patterns and energy usage.

Pace, or Pacing

The pace is an unusual gait where the legs on the same side move forward together. It is considered a breed-appropriate gait only for Neapolitan Mastiffs, Old English Sheepdogs, and Polish Lowland Sheepdogs. Typically, pacing is slower than the trot but faster than a walk or amble, offering good shock absorption and lower impact on limbs. You are more likely to observe pacing in large or overweight dogs and puppies learning how to move efficiently before mastering the trot.

Amble

The amble is a transitional gait between walking and trotting. Dogs move their legs in pairs on the same side, but with less speed than pacing. Typically, the amble occurs only briefly when a dog is increasing speed from a walk toward a trot, and is rarely sustained for long.

Walk

Walking is the slowest and most energy-efficient gait, characterised by a four-beat rhythm with each leg moving sequentially—starting with the left back leg, then left front, right back, and right front. Three legs remain on the ground at all times, providing stability. The dog's head rises as front legs contact the ground and lowers during the lift.

Trot

The trot is a two-beat diagonal gait where the front and opposite hind legs move together. It is faster than walking and the most efficient gait for endurance and covering distance. A brief suspension phase where all limbs are off the ground occurs at the transition between strides. This gait is often requested during dog shows as a standard movement evaluation.

Canter

The canter is a smooth, three-beat gait commonly associated with horses but used by dogs as a comfortable faster movement. Both hind legs move together with one front leg, a brief suspension follows, then the opposite front leg proceeds. This gait allows the dog to conserve energy while moving quickly.

Gallop

The gallop is the fastest gait, with a four-beat rhythm and extended suspension periods where all four legs are airborne. Dogs use gallop during sprinting or chase bursts. Sighthounds have a special double-suspension gallop that maximizes speed by fully extending front and rear legs in alternate phases. Since it is energy-intensive, galloping is used only for short durations.

How to Use Gait Observations Responsibly

Being attentive to your dog’s gait can help you detect early health changes or fatigue signs. If you notice irregularities such as limping or altered gait phases, consulting a vet promptly is important to rule out injury or medical conditions. Regular exercise adjusted to your dog’s build and capability helps maintain healthy joint function and muscle tone.

Whether for health monitoring or training for dog sports, understanding these gaits empowers you to better care for and enjoy your dog’s natural abilities. For owners interested in finding a specific breed with gait characteristics like those of the Neapolitan Mastiff or Old English Sheepdog, it is advisable to seek reputable breeders who follow ethical practices to ensure healthy, well-socialised puppies.

FAQs About Dog Gaits

What is the best gait to assess lameness in dogs?

Quick Answer: The trot is considered the best gait to spot lameness as each limb bears weight independently and abnormal movements become more noticeable.

Detailed Explanation: Due to the diagonal limb pairs moving together and brief suspension during trot, irregularities in leg function, pain, or weakness are easier to detect. Veterinarians often observe a dog trotting to assess gait abnormalities and musculoskeletal health.

Can all dogs pace?

Quick Answer: No, pacing is unusual and typically only considered normal in a few specific breeds. In many dogs, it can indicate discomfort or fatigue.

Detailed Explanation: Most breeds prefer the trot over pace for moderate speed movement. The pace puts less impact on limbs but at the expense of efficient movement, so it is often seen in overweight or tired dogs. Puppies may pace temporarily before mastering other gaits.