Gait (dog)

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This is an article on canine gaits, for other meanings see: gait (disambiguation).

A dog's gait is its quality of movement. It is a heavily weighted conformation point in some breeds, of lesser importance in others, and in some breeds gait is not described at all.

Like all conformation points, the dog judge must know the gait requirements for each and every breed. The Miniature Pinscher, for example, must have what is called a hackney gait, reminiscent of the gait of a horse. In working small breeds such as the Miniature Fox Terrier, a hackney gait is a serious or disqualifying fault.