Quote: Steven Lepic

Hmm. Can't say I've seen it.

This, right?

Yes, and here it is in action:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_gait#Pace

I wasn't clear on how it looked until I saw that.

 Quote: Lynn Cheffins

While pacing can be from structure or a fatigue gait - some dogs just pace naturally. I have one sled dog that is a big guy and he can maintain a very fast pace when other dogs in the team are at a lope or a fast trot. Alot of bigger, heavier framed dogs seem to use a pace as a fast-ish gait

Interesting! I learned all I know about the pace (until today ) from watching and researching horses, though quadrupedal gaits between species carry a lot of similarities - As it is applied to horses, the pace can be MUCH faster than the trot, though not all horse breeds are inclined to pace, and those that are have been bred SPECIFICALLY for that pace speed. Either way, in the case of horses, or other large mammals, it isn't at all a structural fault, rather, the larger and more gangly the animals (as elephants and camels were referenced in the text I found) the EASIER and more EFFICIENT it is on their body to naturally fall into a pace. I don't see why large dogs wouldn't fit into that as well...

My boy is quite a big guy also and while I always thought his pacing looked strange, he does it so often on his own (it's not his PRIMARY gait, and he has WICKED speed in a gallop) that it must be comfortable for him. I never for once considered that it could be from a structural fault - and I tend to think, while it *might* in some cases be the result of age, fatigue or some imbalance, on the whole it's pretty normal.

~Natalya

You know Natalya I think all the possibilities posted can be right. It depends on Breed, age,size, individual dog, etc. etc..
Sometimes it matters, sometimes it's no big deal.

 Quote: steve strom

You know Natalya I think all the possibilities posted can be right. It depends on Breed, age,size, individual dog, etc. etc..
Sometimes it matters, sometimes it's no big deal.

True, and true.

~Natalya

For some reason I see a lot of JRTs do this. I think it gives them character.

 Quote: howard knauf

For some reason I see a lot of JRTs do this. I think it gives them character.

It's not uncommon in short backed breeds (many terriers). With a (normal" gait the rrear foot lands aproximately in the same place where the front foot just left. With the shorter back, the rear foot will over run the front foot until the gait changes to a pace, the speed increases, or the dog crabs.
When I showed terriers in the breed ring (ok, I've had a few falts in my life time) It was easy to take out of a pace, which was incorrect for the show ring. Just lift up the front end of the dog by the lead while moving. It works similar to changing leads on a horse.
As a few mentioned it can also be from fatigue, overweight, laziness.

It is an expected trait in Filas.

A very interesting thread.......my long-haired shepherd has always paced, (since puppyness) and I was concerned about it till her hips x-rayed sound. The rescue guy we got in Jan. has the typical GSD trot and seeing the two of them together I've come to believe that Jordan's pacing is of the energy-conservation variety. She's not really lazy but will always seek the path of least resistence! Funny thing though, when she is stalking squirrels she'll go right to slow-motion trot/creep and explode into a dead run in what looks like 1 length..........pretty impressive.

very nice link Jennifer - thansk for posting that