Walking Dog

June 25, 2003 9:38 AM

Dancing dog, schmancing dog. Walking dogs is where it's at (you'll see). A dog tale deserving of a 'standing' ovation. I still say, dogs rule! [video link under the last image on the left]
posted by Witty (11 comments total)

I think it's just sick that in order to have a walking dog, the family cut off the front legs of that poor thing. Deplorable.
posted by soyjoy at 9:46 AM on June 25, 2003

Hmm... I know these kind of human interest stories are supposed to be inspiring, but this just makes me kind of sad. I mean, a deformed dog? Sure, it's adapting, learning to overcome obstacles, but it's still, at the heart of it, a deformed dog. Who knows what kind of pain it will be in when it reaches full size and has to support its full body weight on the back two legs... I dunno, maybe I'm just being overly senstitive? I do agree with you, though, Dogs do rule.

On preview: Shame on you, soyjoy!
posted by jonson at 9:48 AM on June 25, 2003

I support MY body weight on my two back legs. And I weigh a lot more than that dog ever will.
posted by konolia at 10:15 AM on June 25, 2003

Konolia, your boddy wasn't built to walk on all fours, silly! Dogs frames are built for distributed weightload, that's why so many get hip problems later in life, the skeletal systems just don't hold up to much unorthodox use such as this.
posted by jonson at 10:19 AM on June 25, 2003

On the other hand, maybe none of the humans realize that this dog has a dire need to urinate.
posted by ed at 10:24 AM on June 25, 2003

I agree with jonson; stories like this just make me sad for some reason.
posted by debralee at 11:20 AM on June 25, 2003

I don't think it really affects me either way. The curiosity is about all it's worth. But I don't know if a walking two-legged dog is sadder (if I may) than a deformed dog that just lays there waiting to be "put to sleep".

Still kinda neat to see that 'lil bastard bound around the front yard though. I wonder what it's like to see the dog jump into a pool. 'Course doggy paddling is out, so I don't really want to see that. But I'm curious if the dog would go in feet first, maybe a belly flop regular dog-type leap, or perhaps a head first human-like dive.
posted by Witty at 11:31 AM on June 25, 2003

They do have walkers designed for dogs and cats who have lost the use of their back legs. Perhaps they could fit this pup with one for the front, and the back legs could push- if of course, there is some kind of problem when the pup gets to full size (the weight distribution).
posted by oflinkey at 11:54 AM on June 25, 2003

Okay, just stop it, soyjoy, Witty, I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!!
posted by sparky at 12:38 PM on June 25, 2003

Flealick.
posted by skryche at 12:49 PM on June 25, 2003

I read an article years ago in Reader's Digest about a Dachshund whose front legs were amputated...the owners devised a device out of a child's toy wagon strapped to the front of the dog. He was able to propel himself in any direction via his hind legs.
posted by Oriole Adams at 6:17 PM on June 25, 2003