Front Matter

Chapter 2 Locomotion and Athletic Performance 29

the body and pushes off from the ground,

experiencing a second period of suspension as

it flexes the spine and brings the pelvic limbs

forward to initiate the next stride. This is why

the dog’s gallop is often termed a double sus-

pension gallop.

As in the canter, dogs most often use different

lead legs on the thoracic and pelvic limbs when

galloping. In contrast, horses use the ipsilateral

thoracic and pelvic legs as lead. The pattern of

footfall for the canine rotary gallop using the

RF leg as lead would be RR and LR, then LF

and RF (Figure 2.11).

The amble

When a dog is walking and begins to speed up

gradually, the thoracic limb swings forward

very soon after the pelvic limb swings forward,

and it starts to appear as if ipsilateral limbs are

forward together. As long as there are moments,

however brief, when there are three feet on the

ground, this gait is still considered a walk.

This fast walk is often referred to as an amble.

The amble is a normal, although not generally

preferred gait. Dogs tend to use this gait when

they are tired but want to move quickly, to use

a different set of muscles from the trot, or when

they are not fit enough or have not been trained

to trot at a slower speed.

2

3

2

1

Figure 2.9 A dog that is using the rotary canter can
easily abduct the right thoracic limb to pull itself in the
direction to which it is turning, and also can push off in
that direction when both pelvic limbs are on the
ground.

Figure 2.10 In the gallop, the dog uses the power of its highly muscular and flexible spine and abdomen, producing
two moments of suspension, each followed alternately by the thoracic limbs or the pelvic limbs striking the ground.
Source: Illustration by Marcia Schlehr.