An athlete?

[aardogs]

An athlete, Toby is not. He's shorter than Panic, but incredibly solid and stocky.

While watching Panic run and jump, even over 26 inches, is like watching something completely effortless, with Toby there is an incredibly amount of effort that goes into his jumping even at 20 inches. He has so much power behind him (he is the most powerful dog I've ever met) and he exerts that power into whatever he does. 

So for all intensive purposes, he is not built to be an agility dog. He runs and jumps in the strangest manner I've ever seen, with his back legs spawled out behind him with every stride. I can only describe it as being similar to a rabbit (like in this agility photo from September vwperryphotos.com/DogAlbums/DCAA_Sept/Monday/open/slides/DSC_8399.html )

He always seems to run with his back feet together, as if he was jumping. It just seems incredibly strange to me, but is it? Maybe some dogs are just like that, but it seems to be that he just doesn't know how to work his body properly. Everything he does takes SO much effort. I'd like to take some video of him running. I've observed Panic's movements so much, and watching Toby in comparison to him is just near comical. It's all very fascinating.

In any case, the next show Toby does he will be moved down to 16. He is not a bar knocker by any means, but no amount of jump training has seemed to help him be more comfortable and effortless in his jumping. He seems to do a lot better when there doesn't have to be as much effort involved.

Comments

[ophidiophile.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, have you ever had Toby's hips and knees tested? I've heard when a dog runs with its back feet together, kinda "bunnyhopping" as it were, it could be a sign of hip or knee issues...

Monkey runs like that, and she has horrible luxating patellas on both knees...

My Rune dog his the beginnings of hip dysplasia and she has had difficulty jumping this last year...its like she is missing her "umph" during the take-off.

[aardogs.livejournal.com]

Actually, he does have a luxating patella on one of his back knees. I never connected the two before, but that must have something to do with it. It hasn't bothered him in a long time so I haven't even thought of it.

[chardog98225.livejournal.com]

I have actually seen a lot of Goldens run with their back legs and front legs together. It is really awkward looking.

[barksong.livejournal.com]

My golden mix Mocha runs the same way. Just strange!