Movement (single tracking)

[Sylvaen]

We had a discussion at the last Euro Tamaskan meeting in 2011 about wolf movement / single tracking, which is also a feature shared by many arctic breeds and Tamaskan Dogs. Basically, when the dog is moving, the footprint of the back paw will perfectly fit into the footprint of the front paw (leaving only a single track of footprints) - it is a lupine gait that saves energy and allows the dog to travel great distances without getting tired.

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At the time, I pointed out that German Shepherds also show this trait when trotting - here is a photo that illustrates the movement comparison between Lara (female German Shepherd) and Vega (female Tamaskan Dog) - in essence, it is identical.

movement comparison.JPG

[Katlin]

That's interesting! Snoopy does that when he's stalking a bird or something

I'm not sure if I see the difference between Vega and Lara in that picture except that they are in different stages of the trot.

[Booma]

Aws pictures

[JulieSmith]

That's interesting! Snoopy does that when he's stalking a bird or something

I'm not sure if I see the difference between Vega and Lara in that picture except that they are in different stages of the trot.

I read it that there isn't a difference

[AZDehlin]

Zephyr single tracks when he is out on walks or just sniffing around the yard... He is a bit of a spaz if there is anything exciting going on though and looks more like a Mexican jumping bean.

[Katlin]

That's interesting! Snoopy does that when he's stalking a bird or something

I'm not sure if I see the difference between Vega and Lara in that picture except that they are in different stages of the trot.

I read it that there isn't a difference

Duhhh! I'm an idiot haha. Thanks

[Hawthorne]

Coyotes do this too. That's how you can usually ID their tracks in the snow / sand due to the straight line of tracks.

It's an anatomy thing...the narrow chest allows this

[jraloff]

Zoe (Hawthorne Blacktail Plateau) age 5 mos - does single track at times. I've also noticed that she sometimes "paces" (using equine vernacular) - fore and hind foot on same side move forward together instead of on a diagonal in a trot. It doesn't seem like she does it often but I wondered if this was a gait often seen in Tams?

[blufawn]

We call it pacing too.
Its common in arctic breeds and is most often seen in working sled dogs as they use this gait to conserve energy.

[Blustag]

A dog that 'paces' in the show ring would be penalised. You have to watch for that and bring them out of it into a trot.

[arianwenarie]

A dog that 'paces' in the show ring would be penalised. You have to watch for that and bring them out of it into a trot.

Why's that? I mean, if it's a natural gait, then it'll be difficult to change it, right? lol.

[Blustag]

No its not difficult to change it. Much like a horse when jumping in competition. One has to change the pace as you approach
a jump... Flying change its called. We do the same with the dogs IF they are pacing when we are running them around the ring.
The judge wants to see them at a 'trot' when they are judging. When pacing the body 'rolls' from one side to the other which is
why they use this pace to conserve energy.

[TerriHolt]

That's why i won't watch dog or horse shows... At crufts, they are supposed to show the best dogs and compete to become "best of breed" but how do you find best of breed if you change all the natural traits of your breed? From fur down to movement because then it's not natural to the breed but human taught. To find best of breed, you should have to enhance the natural side of your animal, not try to change it. Just sayin...

[blufawn]

Not all breeds are guilty of this, but most are I agree.
Luckily the kennel club are now introducing a fit for purpose scheme and I think slowly it is helping. This year some best of breed winners were not allowed to compete in the big ring after a vet judged them to be too unhealthy. Hopefully this sort of attitude by dog shows will encourage breeders to breed better dogs, after all it isn't the shows fault, its the breeders and the judges for placing those dogs.

I like a dog to look like a dog which is why I have stuck to primitive breeds. Deerhounds still look the same now as they did in paintings from hundreds of years ago. My CED are imported from working kennels in Canada where the breed is still bred for working and have not been 'improved' for showing. I don't wish to change their looks, I love them the way they are, even if they both could do with an attitude adjustment

[Tiantai]

Getting a bit off topic but yes I strongly believe that the show competitions and the judges did indirectly screw up some breeds, especially with that extremely long hair pekingese dog with breathing problems and it unfortunately caused many reactions from owners and breeders of that breed. But I believe they are slowly trying to reduce these problems in the future.

As for the single track, I really like it! I wonder though if the Lapland huskies played a role in adding this energy-conserving movement pattern into the breed. A nice trot in the park i'd like to see with my future dogs

[blufawn]

I don't think you can blame it on the Finnish huskies when English huskies and Malamutes and indeed most other breeds know how to do it too.

[JulieSmith]

We call it pacing too.
Its common in arctic breeds and is most often seen in working sled dogs as they use this gait to conserve energy.

I have noticed Saga trotting along like this quite often went out on walks.

[Tiantai]

This is definitely a trait that we want to keep in the breed.
A dog that trots very fast means I need to run more to prepare for the future when my dogs and I marathon together in the park.

[Hawthorne]

Just an interesting note: I was reading "Dog In Motion" again last night (a bugger to get through this book--interesting, but very dry!)

It says that turned out feet help a dog single track. And our breed standard calls for slightly turned out front feet. Neat.