Q. My dog often lifts one of her front paws and kind of tucks it up under her when she sniffs something outside that she finds interesting. What is that about?
Pip Lindstrom
Edina, Minnesota
Dear Mr. Lindstrom,
A. It’s a dog thing and nothing to worry about. Animal behaviorists say it’s an aspect of the tracking part of the hunting sequence — a physical expression of a dog’s focusing on something. It is more commonly seen in hunting dogs than other breeds.
Note that if it’s a small dog who keeps lifting a back leg, she may have a luxating patella. That’s medicalese for “her knee cap keeps popping out of joint.” By holding it up, she’s trying to get it to slip back into place. Your vet can show you how to reposition it and also let you know whether surgery is needed to fix the problem once and for all.
