Dogs with short legs: description of the breeds and the nuances of grooming

Short-legged dogs were once bred for hunting burrowing animals, but today they are rarely used for their intended purpose. Today they are companion dogs and reliable friends who are often made to maintain a glamorous image. Many types of dogs with short legs are known, but only some of them are in demand.

The World Cynological Organization allocates more than 400 dog breeds. Moreover, many of them are completely different from each other - some dogs are strong and powerful, while others, on the contrary, are thin and fragile. Some have long strong limbs, but short-legged dogs are far from rare. Their physiological features are determined by their purpose - for example, dachshunds can easily penetrate burrows due to shortened limbs, and Welsh Corgi masterfully hide among the sheep herds and bite their “wards” by the legs, pushing them in the right direction.

TOShort limbs in no way affect the level of activity of animals. Dogs remain vigorous and mischievous until old age - they are so cheerful that in their appearance you can never say that they are already “aged”. Moreover, the unusual body structure in combination with a playful character suggests that you have a young dog in front of you.

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

Keep in mind that shortened paws create an additional burden on the spine; therefore, representatives of these breeds often develop osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, and vertebral injuries. Animals are not recommended to sit upright and jump. It is advisable to wear such dogs horizontally, especially pregnant bitches. It is necessary to select exercises and physical activity in such a way that it corresponds to the physical characteristics of each particular breed.

Otherwise, the health status of short-legged dogs is pretty good, so before buying an animal you should answer your own question Are you ready to become the owner of pets, which will have to be limited in activities. If the answer is no, it is better to give preference to animals of other breeds.

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

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

People started breeding these short-footed animals long ago - back in the VI century, therefore this breed can rightly be called one of the oldest in the world. Like all other breeds, they are created for the hunting of noble nobles. Over the centuries, these dogs carried some seal of nobility and aristocracy, which left an imprint on their temperament - these animals are proud, stubborn, independent and self-sufficient.

Bassets are difficult to train, getting them to do something is almost impossible - you need to negotiate with them. Nevertheless, these dogs are completely non-aggressive, restrained and playful towards their owners.

The appearance of bassets does not leave anyone indifferent - these are real robust men with shortened strong legs, long ears and a sad look, at the sight of which you want to immediately take a pet in your arms and regret it. In adulthood, dogs reach 25-30 kg. They have short hair, which sheds year-round, so the owners should comb their pet daily.

Keep in mind that bassets absolutely cannot stand loneliness and at the same time they like to bark very muchtherefore, in the absence of their masters, they arrange lengthy “concerts” - they bark with a deaf, uterine voice, which is well heard by all neighbors.

Dachshunds are funny short-legged dogs that can be smooth-haired, wire-haired or long-haired, as well as dwarf. This breed is recognized as one of the most common in the world. Thanks to its narrow body, animals can easily climb into any burrows, even very small and long ones. Like all other long-body 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 hair and its ears, which require periodic treatment with veterinary lotion to remove ear discharge. If the weather is dirty with slushy weather, it makes sense to put on overalls to the dachshund so that the coat is kept clean. But you don’t need to wrap them up in winter - a dog accustomed to walking for a long time grows hardened and can easily withstand sub-zero temperatures.

This is a funny, short-legged, white-and-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 is one of the oldest - the first mention of it appeared in the X century, although if you believe some data on the image of dogs resembling Corgi, date back to 1500 BC. e. These are the smallest representatives of shepherd breeds, but the size does not affect the physical characteristics of animals.

Corgi is a friendly dog ​​with a stable psyche, loyal, funny, very smart, so the animal is very easy to train. These pets get along well with members of the host family and with other pets. However, the outward calm of this dog is deceptive - he is able to watch his master and people around him for hours on a walk, trying to keep everything under control.

This is another faithful breed of dogs with short legs. The Pekingese were bred in order to accompany the royal people, so the appearance of the animals is distinguished by exceptional aristocracy, as if confirming their high status. These are small pets whose mass does not exceed 3-5 kg. Colors can be very diverse.

Unlike Corgi, Pekingese - this is just a typical "indoor" dog, which prefers to lie on the couch, delighting household members. This dog can easily keep company with its owner for a walk, but significant loads of animals of this breed are contraindicated, so the Pekingese lives best in a family of couch potatoes. If we talk about character, then this is a faithful and faithful pet, which can be stubborn and disobedient.

These are small dogs with a very entertaining appearance hailing from Scotland. Nowadays, the animal is used as a companion, although the blood of their ancestors endowed them with high protective and protective characteristics. Sky terriers are quite squat, they are distinguished by powerful legs and luxurious wool. In their structure, the hairs resemble goats and grow even at the tips of the ears, so if you take care of the pet correctly, it will always attract attention with its chic and impressiveness.

The temperament of the sky-terrier is not easy - this dog is very proud and extremely stubborn, it knows its value well and does not tolerate neglect. Pets from a young age show fidelity, sincerity and courage, they are very active - a measured life in four walls is not suitable for them.

This variety is also called peken pengu. 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. Its exterior looks like chihuahua, but possesses all the characteristics of hounds.

A dog of this breed was bred in ancient times. Then it was used as an etching dog, necessary to provoke the bulls for the fun of the English nobility. Thus the name of this dog appeared: bull (bull) and dog (dog).

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

There are a lot of 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 abilities to care for the animal and arrange long walks. It is important to decide who you need - a shepherd, security guard, companion or decorative dog who will lie on the bed and require 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. Keep in mind that unscrupulous sellers often try to sell the smallest animals from the litter to customers. In order not to be deceived, even at the stage of choosing a pet Be sure to request photos of the selected puppy in the circle of your brothers and sisters.

It will be good if the breeder sends you a video - then you will be able to fully understand the proposed dog. Get an animal with all the necessary veterinary documents, which confirm the absence of hereditary diseases, and also contains information about all vaccinations given. When examining a dog, make sure that it is active, cheerful, does not show aggression and fright.

It is necessary to adhere to the following rules for keeping dogs with a disproportionate body:

• independent descent of the animal on the steps is not recommended;
• jumping from a bed, an armchair and other high surfaces is strictly prohibited;
• animals are contraindicated in games in which they must bounce, for example, throwing the ball up;
• beware of playing together with taller and larger dogs;
• strict taboo should be placed on the stand on the hind legs;
• when walking for an animal, ice or slippery cover 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, as this significantly strengthens the muscle corset, increases overall tone, improves cerebral circulation and enzymatic activity; all this significantly reduces the risk of injuries that occur due to uncompensated loads on the spine.

See more about dogs with short legs in the next video.