Common Reasons Why Dogs Walk Sideways
There are several normal, non-medical reasons your dog may be walking sideways:
It’s how they like to move
Some dogs learn to walk on two legs as puppies and never really grow out of it. Breeds with shorter body lengths are often more prone to walking sideways, as their back and front legs interfere with each other when walking forwards.
Breeds are known for walking sideways:
- German Shepherds
- Border Collies
- Cocker Spaniels
- Pointers
- Vizslas
- Boxers
They are still growing
If your dog is quite young, it could be walking sideways because they are still growing. Just like people, growing often causes dogs to be uncoordinated. To compensate for this lack of coordination, dogs often tilt their bodies to walk. It prevents them from tangling their feet up and tripping over their own paws.
They’re using their dominant side
Everyone has one side of their body that is dominant over the other, and the same is true for dogs. When a dog is running, the dominant side will push off the ground with more force than the dominant side, which tilts its body and makes it look like they’re running sideways. This is totally normal and usually only noticeable at fast gaits.
Collar or harness irritation
If your dog’s skin is irritated by its collar or harness, it may walk sideways in an attempt to get away from it. Sometimes it’s not the collar or harness itself, but something stuck underneath it. Ensure your dog’s gear fits properly and isn’t causing rubbing or irritation to their skin to fix the problem.
Medical Reasons Dogs Walk Sideways
It is rare for a medical condition to cause dogs to walk sideways, but it can happen. Here is a list of conditions that can cause your dog to have a sideways or abnormal gait:
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Structural imbalances
- Hip dysplasia
- Vestibular disease
- Orthopaedic issues
- Ear infections
- Anal gland irritation
- Undetected pain
If you suspect that one of these things is causing your dog to walk sideways, see your vet to confirm the diagnosis. If you can’t figure out the problem, it’s always a good idea to have a check-up so you can at least rule out a medical problem.
Understanding How Dogs Move
Knowing how dogs move normally can help you understand when a movement is abnormal. Dogs (and many other four-legged creatures) have four primary gaits. If you’re familiar with how horses move, these will be second nature to you. If not, here’s what they are:
Walk
Each foot gets lifted from the ground in sequence (one rear, front on the same side, opposite rear, front on the same side). The body is always supported by three legs, resulting in a “four-beat” gait.
Trot
A “two-beat” gait where the feet at diagonal ends of the body move and strike the ground simultaneously. The front right touches the ground with the hind left; the front left touches the ground with the hind right. In between steps, the body is suspended in the air for a split second.
Canter
This “three-beat” gait can be slower or faster than a trot. The feet move forward in a 1-2-1 pattern. One hind foot, followed by a front, the opposite hind foot, and the opposite front. The leading front foot is known as the lead. It determines direction.
Gallop
A “four-beat” gait occurs when a dog is running.
So, why is this important? Because often dogs who walk sideways can run in a straight line. This is because the spine is extended at a gallop, which straightens the body. If a dog can perform any of the four gaits in a straight line, their sideways walking is likely a result of their body shape, and the dog is trying to avoid tripping over their own feet. If a dog moves sideways at all four gaits, there may be a medical issue causing them to do so.
Final Thoughts
Just because it looks weird when your dog walks sideways, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something’s wrong. If you are worried or the behaviour develops suddenly out of nowhere, see your vet to rule out any medical issues.
