How Does your Dog SIT?

[Freedom]

As you know, Willy is in obedience classes. I spoke with the instructor tonight, as he does not go from a "sit" to a "down." He gets up, puts his front end down first, and then drops his rear.

This is a proper sit position: the German Shepherd, below.
Willy sits like this pug, kind of: pushed WAY back on his rear to relieve pressure, pushed over onto one side, and one leg is extended almost all the way forward.

The instructor said he is structurally not able to do a sit, and no way he can get from that odd position to a "down," so he has to get up first.

Sigh. I wish I knew what this means. Hip dysplasia? Something else?

Marlin has bad hips. By the time I asked the vet about it, and he got x-rays, both hips were too far gone for surgery to be able to help correct it for him.

[cassiesmom]

Freedom, do you think Willy has pain when he sits, or when he shifts one way and then the other to get into the position you instruct? (could that be why he was growling, because it was painful?) Does it matter how he gets into the position, as long as he ends by doing what you instruct him to? He does fine on walkies, right? Do you think he has the same problem when he tries to sit at home? If so, is there a dog equivalent of Tylenol or Advil you could give him before his class? I hope he doesn't have hip dysplasia. ((((HUGS for WILLY and MOM)))

[anna_66]

As you see from the picture I posted Roxey sits the same way and her problem is that she has a ruptured ACL. Our vet said she can tell from the x-rays it's been like this for a while because she has a lot of damage in that knee.
If he has acts at all like it's painful I'd get an x-ray.

(((HUGS))) to your sweet Willy.

[Freedom]

First, Willy does NOT seem to have any pain at this time. I would not be addressing the issue this way if he was, believe me!

There must be some discomfort though, for him to sit as he does.

Elyse, he does fine on walks, and it does not matter how he does get to a down. I am more in the "what does this mean, do I need to follow up on this? position. I sent all this along to my Team Leader in the rescue late, late last night. They will need to decide if I need to pursue this with vet visits.

Anna, thanks, I had no idea what the possibilities were, I could only think of hip issues. Odd that an ACL issue could impact the sit, to me; I don't know much about dog anatomy, lol!

He jumps up on the chairs, and down, with no issues, no pain or limp, no wincing etc.

As I said, I've let the rescue know. I decided if I was concerned enough to ask here, they needed to know as well, what I am seeing. I know the rescue HAS done the hip surgery for young dogs. Among the top folks at the rescue, they have seen a lot more issues than I have and ultimately, they have to decide how to spend money for me to proceed, anyway.

If Willy had a vet visit already set up (like a follow up for his eyes or some such) I would ask the vet. As it is just now, he has no vet appts scheduled.

[MoonandBean]

Willy sure is lucky to have such a great dog mom like you.

[Freedom]

Aw **blush** thanks, Deb!

[pomtzu]

Sparky sits like the Pug Pic too - always has - even before he had a knee problem. I presume he just likes to sit that way, and not on the tush, since he doesn't like a cold or wet bottom. He's funny to watch outside, especially in the cold weather. Sometimes he forgets and starts to put the tush down on the cold ground or patio, but it comes back up really quick! Sissy.........

[Freedom]

Sparky, we WUV you, WOOF!

[lizbud]

I had both my dogs sit just so I could check out their legs. Both do
ok. (Like the GSD sits) Both learned the "down" command from the "sit"
position ok, but Maggie was much slower catching on to the complete "down".
(she always wanted the treat before she got all the way down)

I don't think I would worry to much about the way Willy gets into the down
position, if he shows no pain otherwise. Dogs learn in different ways.

[Freedom]

Thanks, Lizbud. Hope the pups got treats for working for you, lol!

[lizbud]

Thanks, Lizbud. Hope the pups got treats for working for you, lol!

Oh, of course. They are both completely spoiled.

ps. I'm taking pictures to post some time soon, I hope. Poor Maggie doesn't
have a spot in my sig right now & she feels left out. LOL.

[cassiesmom]

Dear Willy,

Cassie and I want to suggest that maybe it isn't how you sit, but where that's important. As long as you sit with the person who pets you or gives you a yummy treat, we're happy!

Seriously though, we hope this does not turn out to be something major and we are glad your mum caught it very early. We think your mum takes very good care of you! And we hope you will be healthy and happy for many more years.

(((HUGS))) for Willy and mum,
Cassie and elyse the fudz lady

[Freedom]

Well, the folks at the Rescue have decided this is just the way he sits.

Eventually, I do plan to ask m vet about it, anyhow.

Thanks, all!

Lizbud: I'll be waiting for the results of your photo shoot!

[Mooshi]

My chow sits just like the pug in picture does she's not in pain and well last time she visited the vet he gave her a clean bill of health no knee or hip problems so it could be nothing to worry about. i attached a picture of her when she was about 8 weeks old she always sits that way and still does.

Lots of hugs to you're cute pooches

[anna_66]

I'm glad there's no pain and that's just the way he sits
It's always a relief to hear that.