What is a Chihuahua's Gait?

What is a Chihuahua's gait? A Chihuahua's gait is its quality of movement. It is given a great deal of importance in the standard of some breeds of dogs, has lesser importance in other breeds of dogs. And in some breeds, gait is not even important. The Chihuahua, being a toy dog and companion animal, has never been known for its gait. In the last couple of years though, Chihuahuas are beginning to be perceived as one that can move marvelously in shows and competitions.

The first real definition of gait or movement in the Chihuahua did not appear in the American Kennel Club (AKC) standard until 1990. Until that time the statement “A graceful, alert, swift moving little dog” was the only real reference to movement in the standard. The following was added in 1990 about the Chihauhua's gait:

Gait- The Chihuahua should move swiftly with a firm, sturdy action, with good reach
in front equal to the drive from the rear. From the rear, the hocks remain parallel to
each other, and the foot fall of the rear legs follows directly behind that of the
forelegs. The legs, both front and rear, will tend to converge slightly toward a
central line of gravity as speed increases. The side view shows good, strong drive in
the rear and plenty of reach in the front, with head carried high. The topline should
remain firm and the backline level as the dog moves.
The Chihuahua's gait should be fluid, smooth and quick, but the topline and backline should remain level. If bounce is perceived in the Chihuahua's topline/backline during movement, the reach and drive of the Chihuahua are not in balance. The Chihuahua is a double tracking breed, and while the legs, both front and rear will tend to converge as speed increases, the Chihuahua should never single track or cross.

Movement is one of the best indicators of soundness, and sound healthy Chihuahuas should
be the goal of all owners and breeders. Soundness is essential in all toy dogs, including the Chihuahua. This is because their purpose is to serve as a longtime companion. My wife and I have seen Chihuahuas that were well into their teens, still moving just as soundly as they did at the age of three. I have always described the Chihuahua as “a dog that wants to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible with a minimum of effort”. The Chihuahua's head should be held high, tail up in the air, not tucked between the legs, and a saucy attitude.
There are a few conditions that can effect the Chihuahua's gait. If you notice your Chihuahua's gait is unbalanced and off, it could be a sign of Hydrocephalus, which is a serious condition in Chihuahuas and can be fatal. The other condition is not as serious, which is a common knee problem that can be treated