uncoordinated legs?

[gecko_mom]

My catahoula girl is almost 11months old. I got her when she was 4 months old. She came from a breeder of working lines.

Since I got her, I've noticed that she hardly runs with coordinated legs. My vizsla is very fast, and Nyah tries desperatly to catch her, but never can. It's always like her back legs don't match her front legs like they should. So she frequently has to slow down to get her legs back in sync.

It's very strange to see because she always looks awkward while running, and half the time when she slows to get her legs back in sync, her back end bounces up in the air kind of funny.

Has anyone else noticed this about their dogs? I should try to get a video of it next time we are at the dog park.

[milos_mommy]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean...But I've seens LOTS of "uncoordinated" dogs. Didn't Nyah have an injury to her back leg? Maybe that's why...she still can't move it quite as fast as she should be able too, or something?

[gecko_mom]

I've never noticed anything with her that would be considered an injury. She's actually a fairly mellow dog and isn't a crazy jumper or anything like that.

She's taller, thinner and has a deeper chest than Schatze, so by looking at her you'd think she's be faster. It's just weird to me - and my husband has noticed it too, but he knows a lot less about dogs than I do.

[ACooper]

As milo said, I'm not sure what you are talking about so a video would be good.

Orson (doberman in my signature) was VERY uncoordinated as a pup/teen. Seriously a galumphing oaf that would run into walls, furniture, PEOPLE, LOL. Phoebe (also in my signature) is/was very speedy and could run circles around him even when he passed her in size/leg length. (she is 1/2 his size almost exactly) It would frustrate him very badly when she would shoot past like a rocket, come back around to tease, then take off again because he was truly trying his best to at least keep up

Then he grew out of his clumsies at around 18 months??? (I don't remember exactly) and he learned to use those long legs and muscles together. Then the shoe was on the other foot.............he would race past Phoebe and tick HER off because SHE could no longer hope to catch HIM, LOL. Of course her being his elder, she just wouldn't race with him anymore

If it doesn't appear to be an injury or case for the vet to examine, I'd just give her time to grow into herself. It's not easy to control those long legs until you mature a bit sometimes, LOL

[bubbatd]

We had a Golden who paced -- if that's what you mean .

[Doberluv]

Lots of dogs don't become very aware of their hind legs for a long time. Like Coop said, her Doberman took a while. Mine did too. When starting agility, he'd fall off of boards and such because he just didn't know what to do with his back legs. Give your pup some more maturing time. I'm sure he'll catch up.

[gecko_mom]

Thanks for the input, guys.

She's the first puppy I've raised on my own. I grew up with cocker spaniels and don't remember much as I was only 5 years old.

It's just funny to think that a creature born with 4 legs is so uncoordinated for so long. I've read that catahoulas can take longer to mature, so we'll see how long it actually takes.

Although almost everything I read for 2 years about the breed before I got her is a complete contridiction to the dog she is.

[milos_mommy]

OOps, sorry, I confused her with another dog on this board.

It could very well be her age or just her build. Some dogs are clumsier than others...

[Upendi&Mina]

Mina is nine months old and she's probably the clumsiest dog I've met. She'll fall off the bed because she doesn't pay attention to where her back feet are, she runs into things and on the rare occasion she'll realize it too late and slam on the brakes only to then slide into the wall/couch/kennel/etc. Right now she looks gangly too me and I imagine as she grows she'll become more conscious and grow into herself.

I'd just give your puppy time.

[bubbatd]

My first neighbor's dog was so clumsy they named him " Ford "