Why Do Dogs Walk Sideways?

Have you ever met a dog that appears to “walk sideways,” or with its body curved or at an angle? They move forward in a straight line, but it looks like their back legs are a bit off to the side from their front legs.

This unusual-looking walk can surprise people who haven’t seen it before, but it’s actually quite common. So common, in fact, that there’s a specific word for it: crabbing. According to the AKC Glossary, crabbing (also known as sidewinding) is “when a dog moves with its body at an angle to the line of travel.”