Revealing Paws

The pattern of movement of animals during (terrestrial) locomotion.

Gaits used by cats and dogs include the walk, the amble, the pace, the trot, the canter and the gallop.

A phase of a gait when all four feet are off the ground.

A symmetrical, two-beat gait in which diagonally contralateral limbs move in unison.

This is an endurance gait, which allows coverage of ground at a reasonable speed but without expending maximum energy. The trot may, therefore, be maintained for hours.

This is a four-beat gait, at which an animal reaches its fastest speeds.

The suspended gallop has suspension phases (when no feet are in contact with the ground).

There are two varieties of the suspended gallop: the single suspension gallop and the double suspension gallop.

A gallop in which at least one limb in on the ground at any one time.

This is more usually known as a canter, and is contrasted with the (full) gallop.

An asymmetrical, four-beat gait, in which there is just one suspension phase, which occurs when all four limbs are airborne, gathered under the body.

All four limbs contact the ground separately, none in unison.

Relating to the same side of the body.

For example, ipsilateral limbs are limbs that are on the same side of the body.

Relating to the opposite side of the body.

For example, diagonally contralateral limbs are limbs on diagonally opposite sides of the body.

The period of a gait from the initial ground contact of a limb to next ground contact of the same limb.

This is also known as the gait cycle.