Puppy Gait Development

WrylyBrindle

Does anyone know of a brief, layman's description of puppy gait development? Or can you speak to it? I have been watching my pup's run change as he grows and I'm curious about what Im looking at. It seemed when he was a roly poly little guy he'd move both back legs in a push together as he ran, but now that he's grown some he is running more like an adult dog, with the back legs leaving tracks one diagonally ahead of the other, not side by side in the run. All his lower speed gaits had 'grown up' back legs already, just the full out run is where I am noticing greater grace now. When I first got him, he walked like a cowboy, but grew out of that. He has a very muscular round butt, a large thick frame and is rather well and diversely exercised and rested for his age. So coupling this with my interest in wildlife tracking, I am interested to find out more. But I am not looking for veterinary journals, they are coming up on google and its more than I care to wade through. What do you know? What have you read that's helpful?

ayk

This one is like an intro/primer.

http://www.amazon.com/Dogsteps-New-Look-Rachel-Elliott/dp/0944875734/ref=pd_sim_b_3

WrylyBrindle

AH! that looked familiar, so I rooted thru my dog books and realized I actually have the 1985 3rd edition of this book- picked it up in a box labelled FREE- but had never read it. I guess I will now! I might also have one of Suzanne Clothier's booklets on movement...(I had a dog book junkie phase.)

sjp051993

All of my dogs gaits changed as they matured. As muscle develops and other changes happen, so does the gait. Kuma had a rather strange gait as he was maturing, but once he matured WOW.