Sitting funny- hip issues?

[Jess041]

Something that I've noticed is that when Missy sits, she seems to have a very wide sit- as in, her legs go out to the side quite a bit. I'm kinda concerned that maybe there is something wrong.. or maybe I'm just paranoid. Does this look weird to anyone? Does anyone else's shelties sit like this? When she lays down, she also tends to go to one side or the other instead of laying with her legs right to her side.. if that makes any sense. Obviously only a vet and some x-rays could tell us if something was officially wrong with her hips or legs. I was just curious if anyone had any input.


I took a couple pictures of her sitting from both sides and from the front. I did the best I could... I had a cookie in my hand lol. She's quite active and I don't ever see her having trouble getting around, so no lameness.

 

[HopeShelties]

I highly doubt there is any correlation between sitting how she sits and hip dysplasia.

 

[celloyogi]

All of my shelties have had lop-sided sits and downs, unless I asked for something specific (like a good gathered sit in heel position). We'd worried about Olive for a while a few weeks ago but since I've focused on working her mostly on surfaces with good traction - grass, carpet, dirt trails - she's gotten a lot better. My last sheltie, Pavi, always sat with one hind leg out to the side. If you're really concerned, have a vet check out your dog.

Someone on the board here suggested lack of traction contributing to hip issues; not sure who it was but it was a great suggestion!

 

[corbinam]

Lexi does the same--honestly, she's just lazy. If it's easier to sit all sprawled out, she will.

She's been checked out orthopedically (for other reasons) so I know she doesn't have hip issues.

We do a lot of leg exercises and a lot of it includes ball work. I always have to nag her to not be so lazy--her legs dangle all over the place! Bentley, on the other hand, always sits with his legs nicely tucked. Lexi sits however she lands!

Here's her not quite doing the ball work correctly

 

[ElleKayCee]

Riley sits like that too. Like corbinam suggested, I think he's just lazy. I actually call it a lazy sit because he sits right up when there's a treat involved Laying down is the same, he starts off, balanced then flops to one side to get comfortable.

Lazy sit vs. Can I go outside?
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/Lil_Flamez/Riley/Reluctantsit.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e233/Lil_Flamez/Riley/SAM_0476-1.jpg
(ignore the cone of shame)

 

[Justme]

All his life, when my boy sat down, his rear paws/legs often pointed outward, quit a bit.

He lived to be 15-1/2, and never had any hip or leg problems.

 

[marnie]

With my German Shepherds I've always worried more about the dog that didn't seem to want to sit. Slow, creaky sits, slow rises, slow to lay down or get up again.

I wouldn't worry if the sits were quick and the dog didn't seem to be in discomfort. It's interesting tho. I often wonder why some dogs sit on the hip and others sit perfectly straight.