Each competition places different demands on the dog. There are certain factors that are common to all athletic events. The external factors of performance include the design and boundaries of the event, the environmental conditions, and the handler. The internal factors of performance include the athlete's anatomy, psychology, training, conditioning, and health. Locomotion Motion is the one common component of all athletic competition.
Motion is a result of a combination of nerves stimulating muscle to move bone.
Abnormal motion occurs when this chain of events is disrupted. Locomotion of an animal is described as its gait. The walk, trot, and gallop are three forms of gait. The walk and trot are symmetrical gaits. In this type of gait the movements of the right side mirror the movements of the left side.