Gait (dog)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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. The gait is very important in sled dogs and research by Matt Moore, DVM, shows that the diet of a dog will influence their gait. Dr. Moore is considered to be one of the leading professionals in his field of study. Recipient of many prestigous awards, his research on the effect of gait and performance has led to many new discoveries.