Ok...not sure where to put this, so its in general. My young border collie (16 months old) has the most beautiful flowing trot, which is his preferred gait. Its smooth, covers the ground well and he looks awesome doing it...we even get comments on it from random people lol ;) I have noticed his walk however isn't particularly smooth, it almost looks as though he is very slightly lame, but the second he gets up into a trot or faster he looks 100% sound?? Obviously I am wondering whether if there was something wrong he would still trot so well? Anyone got any ideas?? Have no problem taking him for a vet check but I just wondered if anyone else had any similar experiences? Thanks.

If he was mine i would get his hips and elbows x-rayed to check for displasia

Is he moving both legs on the same side forward at the same time (pacing) this can look very ungainly as it makes the dogs back roll from side to side.  This is how both Camels and Elephants walk.

Dogs often adopt this gait as a lazy habit, or especially when being walked by a  human whose walking speed is too slow for them to trot, but faster than they would walk.

Yes, my girl has fantastic movement, but I have to set off at a good speed or she will pace instead, I have to stop and start again. 2 of mine do it on normal walks if I'm just ambling along, it does look a horrible gait!

I will watch him properly tomorrow morning on our first walk. He trots beautifully on lead walks but as my older dog tires and we slow down, that's when I notice this so maybe he does start to pace. I've just watched him out in the garden and there is no sign of any lameness at a proper walk. I haven't ever seen him pace off lead, in fact I've always laughed at this dog and called him pony-pup because he has such defined paces lol :)

You could possibly take a video of him and slow it down, then you could really study what's going on.

Panic over lol, think it is because he is pacing!! My lab does it constantly but I've never seen the BC do it. Watched him closely today, trotting no problem, then as we slow he paces for a few steps, then slows into a walk. Its that change that was making me think he was slightly lame... In a proper walk, he is 100% sound and as he does the very slow collie walk (stalking the lab lol) he looks fine. Will try and get someone to walk with me and video him just to make sure, thats a very good idea, thank you :) 

Phew! They do look horribly off balanced when they pace don't they!

They really do!! Thankful that its not anything more serious though :)  My lab has always done it and I dont notice it anymore with him...it just looks strange when the youngster does it! :)

I have two that are difficult to show as they tend to pace -but they CAN move properly and both are CC winners. It is mainly a way of preserving energy. I have noticed several of mine that never pace normally do it when we walk uphill. And my oldie who now has very weak legs paces all the time whereas before the age of 13 I never saw her do it even once.

If my 9 year old was interested in preserving energy she might like to consider NOT jumping up at me barking for treats throughout the class..... ;-)