Worried how my Sheltie Sits

R

ryanelguiri

Forums Regular
Hi everyone,

I am the proud father of a 16 week old sable-headed white named Ella. She's a fantastic puppy.

What I am worried about is when she sits, she doesn't sit with her back legs supporting her. Instead, she sort of sits to the side with her right hip tucked in. I guess the best way would say that she is sort of slouching.

I'm just worried that it's a problem with her hips or something. We take her to the vet again next Thursday, but when shes been there, he says that she looks great, etc.

Anyone have this happen before? Or is this normal?
 
ryanelguiri said:
Hi everyone,

I am the proud father of a 16 week old sable-headed white named Ella. She's a fantastic puppy.

What I am worried about is when she sits, she doesn't sit with her back legs supporting her. Instead, she sort of sits to the side with her right hip tucked in. I guess the best way would say that she is sort of slouching.

I'm just worried that it's a problem with her hips or something. We take her to the vet again next Thursday, but when shes been there, he says that she looks great, etc.

Anyone have this happen before? Or is this normal?
Click to expand...

My trainer refers to that as a flipped hip, I try and discourage it when we're practicing my sheltie's 'drop' for agility, it allows the dog to get up faster. I'm fairly certain that it's normal in a sit, just a lazier way of sitting. Sort of the same thing as when they lie down with their hip flipped sideways instead of with all the legs pulled underneath them.

If you don't like it you can try discouraging it, but that may be difficult. Practice having her sit correctly. You'll have to tell her to sit and then try and get her to sit correctly on her own. Give her lots of praise and some really good treats when she does sit correctly.
 
Thanks for the replies.

Yes Tango, she sits exactly like that. Cute sheltie by the way.

Good, now my girlfriend won't be so worked up. We just want to make sure that she is not hurting herself when she does that.

Thanks!!

-Ryan
 
The others have hit the nail on the head. I often call it a "puppy sit" as you will most often see it in puppies before their coordination and precision is polished. As a youngster, I wouldn't worry about it. But I do like to encourage a proper sit once the dog nears 10 months old or so, so that you don't get into any bad habits later down the line.
 
"Hip-Sitting"

My puppy does this to! It must be a sheltie thing (or just a dog thing, my min-pin sits with her butt tucked under sometimes):smile2:
 
Treader does something kind of like that...he likes to lay down with his hind legs on their sides and behind him. He doesn't do it all the time, just sometimes. I know I've got a picture of that somewhere...
 
Layla "the amazing boneless Sheltie" does sits whopperjawed, too. I agree: when it's a commanded "sit," she has to sit straight.
 
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