Dogs with short legs: description of breeds and nuances of care

Short-footed dogs were once bred to hunt burrowing animals, but nowadays they are rarely used for their intended purpose. Today they are companion dogs and reliable friends, who are often turned on to maintain a glamorous image. There are many types of dogs with short paws, but only a few of them are in demand.

The World Cynological Organization identifies more than 400 dog breeds. At the same time, many of them are not at all similar to each other - some dogs are strong and powerful, others, on the contrary, are thin and fragile. Some have long, strong limbs, but short-legged dogs are not uncommon. Their physiological characteristics are determined by their purpose - so, dachshunds can easily penetrate holes thanks to their shortened limbs, and welsh corgi masterfully hide among the sheep herd and bite their "wards" by the legs, pushing them in the right direction.

TOshort limbs do not in any way affect the level of activity of animals. Dogs remain vigorous and mischievous until old age - they are so cheerful that you can never tell by their appearance that they are already "aged". Moreover, the unusual body structure combined with the playful nature suggests that this is a young dog.

Many people planning to have a short-legged pet are afraid of the difficulties in caring - but their fears are completely unfounded. Such dogs require no more attention than dogs of other breeds, and sometimes even much less. The fact is that many representatives of hunting breeds are distinguished by a special wool structure that repels dust and dirt.To cleanse, they only need to dust themselves off and they will look their best again.

Keep in mind that shortened paws create additional stress on the spine, therefore, representatives of these breeds often develop osteochondrosis, herniated discs and vertebral injuries. It is not recommended for animals to sit in an upright position or jump. It is desirable to carry these dogs horizontally, especially for pregnant bitches. Exercise and exercise should be selected in such a way that it matches the physical characteristics of each particular breed.

The rest of the health status of short-legged dogs is quite good, so before buying an animal, you should answer yourself to the question - are you ready to become the owner of pets, which will have to be limited in the types of activity. If the answer is no, it is better to give preference to animals of other breeds.

These pets were bred in Scotland. Their original purpose was to hunt small burrowing animals, but today they are almost never used in this capacity. Such dogs are brought up "for the soul" as a pet. This animal can be a very loyal and reliable friend, it is sincerely devoted to its owners, has a cheerful and friendly disposition.

Despite the fact that these dogs are short-legged, they tolerate long walks with ease, in addition, such a load is vital for them to maintain normal health. It is very important to educate such dogs from an early age - in the absence of training, they become too independent and it will be rather difficult to cope with them in adulthood. These animals calmly endure loneliness and the temporary absence of the owner, but they really like to communicate with their own kind, so Scotch terriers are usually given in pairs.

People began to breed these short-legged people a long time ago - back in the 6th century, so this breed can rightfully be called one of the oldest in the world. Like all other breeds, they were created for the hunting of noble nobles. These dogs carried through the centuries a certain stamp of nobility and aristocracy, which left an imprint on their character - these animals are proud, stubborn, independent and self-sufficient.

Bassetts are difficult to train, it's almost impossible to get them to do anything - you need to negotiate with them. Nevertheless, these dogs are completely non-aggressive, self-possessed and playful towards their owners.

The appearance of the bassets leaves no one indifferent - they are real stalwarts with shortened strong paws, long ears and a sad look, at the sight of which you want to immediately take the pet in your arms and regret it. In adulthood, dogs reach 25-30 kg. They have a short coat that sheds all year round, so owners must brush their pet daily.

Please be aware that Bassets absolutely cannot stand loneliness and at the same time love to barktherefore, in the absence of their owners, they arrange long “concerts” - they bark in a deaf uterine voice that is well heard by all neighbors.

Dachshunds are fun short-haired dogs that can be smooth-haired, wire-haired or long-haired, as well as dwarf dogs. This breed is recognized as one of the most widespread in the world. Due to their narrow body, animals can easily crawl into any burrows, even very small and long ones. Like all other long-hulled dogs, dachshunds need constant physical activity and long walks. When creating comfortable conditions for keeping animals they can live up to 15 years or more.

Caring for them does not require any specialized procedures - you need to monitor the condition of the pet's coat and ears, which require periodic treatment with veterinary lotion to remove ear discharge. If the weather is dirty, slushy, it makes sense to put on overalls on the dachshund so that the wool is kept clean. But you don't need to wrap them up in winter - a dog trained to walk for a long time grows hardened and can easily withstand sub-zero temperatures.

This is a funny short-legged white-red eared dog, which has earned the love of thousands of breeders around the world due to its balanced character and unusual appearance. Initially, these dogs were used as shepherds, the variety belongs to one of the oldest - the first mentions of it appeared in the 10th century, although according to some data, images of dogs resembling corgi date back to 1500 BC. NS. These are the smallest representatives of herding breeds, but their size does not affect the physical characteristics of animals in any way.

Corgi is a friendly dog ​​with a stable psyche, loyal, funny, very intelligent, so the animal is very easy to train... These pets get along well with the owner's family members and other pets. However, the external calmness of this dog is deceiving - he is able to watch his master and the people around him for hours while walking, trying to keep everything under his control.

This is another loyal breed of dog with short paws. Pekingese were taken out so that they would accompany royal persons, therefore the appearance of animals is distinguished by exceptional aristocracy, as if confirming their high status. These are small pets, the weight of which does not exceed 3-5 kg. Colors can be very diverse.

Unlike the corgi, Pekingese is just a typical "lap" dog that prefers to lie on the sofa, delighting the household. This dog will easily accompany its owner on a walk, but significant loads are contraindicated for animals of this breed, so the best Pekingese lives in a homebody family. If we talk about character, then this is a devoted and loyal pet who can show stubbornness and disobedience.

These are small dogs with a very amusing appearance originally from Scotland. Nowadays, the animal is used as a companion, although the blood of their ancestors endowed them with high protective and protective characteristics. Skye Terriers are rather squat, they are distinguished by powerful legs and luxurious coat. In their structure, the hairs resemble goats and grow even on the tips of the ears, so if you take proper care of your pet, it will always attract attention with its chic and imposing appearance.

The temperament of the Skye Terrier is not easy - this dog is very proud and extremely stubborn, it knows its worth well and does not tolerate neglect. Pets from an early age show loyalty, sincerity and courage, they are very active - a measured life within four walls is not suitable for them.

This variety is also called podengu pequenu. It has become widespread among dog breeders. Initially, the breed was bred for hunting small game and rabbits, which had a significant impact on the temperament of the animal. With its exterior, the podengu resembles a Chihuahua, but has all the characteristics of a hound.

The dog of this breed was bred in ancient times. Then she was used as a pickling dog, necessary to provoke bulls for the amusement of the English nobility. Thus, the name of this dog appeared: bull (bull) and dog (dog).

English Bulldogs are quite large, their weight reaches 25 kgd. These animals have a disproportionate build and wrinkled skin, which makes them incredibly charming. Dogs are very attached to their owners, they are easily trained, they are distinguished by intelligence and balanced character. It is very important to socialize animals from the very first days. Despite the fact that it has not been used as a fighting dog for a long time, nevertheless it is not a decorative dog, therefore early training and education will only benefit her.

There are many short-legged dogs, each of them has its own character traits and features of appearance, therefore, first of all, it is necessary to assess your ability to take care of the animal and arrange long walks. It is important to decide who you need - a shepherd, a security guard, a companion or a decorative dog that will lie on the bed and demand the adoration of the household.

As a rule, the cost of dogs with short legs is high, so when choosing a pet, preference should be given to kennels with a reliable reputation. Be aware that unscrupulous sellers often try to sell the smallest animals in a litter to buyers. In order not to be deceived, even at the stage of choosing a pet be sure to ask for photos of the selected puppy in the circle of your siblings.

It will be good if the breeder sends you a video - then you can fully get an idea of ​​the dog offered to you. Purchase an animal with all the necessary veterinary documents, which confirm the absence of hereditary diseases, and also contains information about all the vaccinations delivered... When examining a dog, make sure that it is active, cheerful, does not show aggression and fear.

You must adhere to the following rules for keeping dogs with a disproportionate body:

• independent descent of the animal up the steps is not recommended;
• Jumping from a bed, chair and other high surfaces is strictly prohibited;
• games in which they must bounce, for example, tossing the ball upward, are contraindicated for animals;
• beware of joint games with taller and larger dogs;
• a strict taboo should be placed on the stand on the hind legs;
• when walking for an animal, ice or slippery surfaces can be very dangerous;
• it is important not to overfeed the dog, as this will increase the load on the spine and lead to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system;
• during active growth, regular training is very important for short-legged dogs, since this significantly strengthens the muscle corset, increases overall tone, improves cerebral circulation, and enzyme activity; all this significantly reduces the risk of injuries that occur due to uncompensated loads on the spine.

For more on dogs with short legs, see the next video.