Puppy Devlopment: Hind end Awareness

Have you ever called your puppy in from outside, and it runs up to you, about to follow you inside, then stops with its front paws on the step into the house and just looks at you? You might even try to encourage it indoors, and it is almost as if it is stuck, even though it is just standing there. Well, when I worked with young puppies preparing them to go to their new homes, this was something that I noticed. It often happens in young puppies who encounter stairs or other obstacles for the first time. They can get their front end over, but it seems that is about it. Why does this happen? While this is not the only reason your puppy may be stopping like this, it may be stopping because it is still developing what is called “hind end awareness.” What is this, and why does it happen? Let’s take a quick look.

What is It?

Hind end awareness is just that, awareness of one’s hind end. Believe it or not, this is something that puppies have to learn as they develop. Most healthy puppies figure out how their back end works pretty quickly. However, many dogs can benefit from hind-end awareness exercises throughout their life (this is especially common for dogs working in acting, medical fields, and agility).

Why Does It Cause Some Hesitation?

Hind end awareness is essentially part of your puppy’s coordination. Think of it like a baby learning to walk and hold something or to use both hands simultaneously. Because many mammal brains tend to develop motor skills from center out and top to bottom, the hind end is one of the last parts of the body to be included in coordination development (kind of like how human babies learn to grab things with their hands before they learn to walk). Many puppies will “get stuck” when going over larger obstacles or upstairs because they must ensure their front and hind ends move the correct way. But don’t worry; a bit of hesitation in young puppies when encountering a new obstacle is a normal part of the process. You may also see puppies who are a little older, say ten to sixteen weeks old, go for it, full tilt, and slip a little when it comes to getting their hind end to fully commit. This lack of coordination is normal if it happens a few times. Most likely, there is no need for worry unless this hesitation or lack of coordination occurs regularly in puppyhood and/or persists into adulthood. However, I would recommend discussing your puppy’s physical coordination development with your vet to ensure things are going well. If there is a problem, certain exercises can often help your puppy develop better coordination.