Random Scientific Dog Question

[DaveShoelace]

Just been on a long walk with my dog and I wondered, will my dog be more tired because he has to move twice as many legs or will he be less tired because he has less relative weight to move on each leg?

Obviously ignoring the fact I can take much longer strides etc Anyone got any idea?

[boldie]

Less tired because he's not such a fat....erm....the first one

[Dewi_cool]

 

[outragous76]

just ask it ldo 

[TightPaulFolds]

Just been on a long walk with my dog and I wondered, will my dog be more tired

yes

 because he has to move twice as many legs

no, the main work is the movement of the body weight, two extra swinging legs doesn't add that much weight

 or will he be less tired because he has less relative weight to move on each leg?

The distribution of weight on each leg is not a significant factor overall.

[/quote]

Obviously ignoring the fact I can take much longer strides etc Anyone got any idea?

Your dog is more tired because he is quadrupedal and you are bipedal, bipedalism is a more efficient form of locomotion at walking paces at least, over flat ground. You lean forward, weight on one foot, and gravity swings your leg forward, repeat. This "gravity swing" is much less present in quadrupeds as far as I can see.

Unless you have Faith:

[DaveShoelace]

 

Thank you very much TightPaul

[NoflopsHomer]

Absoluted devved that this thread didn't begin with a picture of a dog in a labcoat giving a lecture.

Shame on you Bazza.

[boldie]

Very dissapointed @ tightpaul...a serious answer? Surely that could have waited until page 4?

[DaveShoelace]

Sorry Floppy, please accept this as a token of apology

[TightPaulFolds]

Very dissapointed @ tightpaul...a serious answer? Surely that could have waited until page 4?

lol yeah I tried to fight the urge, I just wanted an opportunity to post that amazing dog vid really.  

[gatso]

if I had to walk a long way on all fours I'd be well knackered at the end so I'm going for the dog being more tired

[RED-DOG]

Just been on a long walk with my dog and I wondered, will my dog be more tired

yes

 because he has to move twice as many legs

no, the main work is the movement of the body weight, two extra swinging legs doesn't add that much weight

 or will he be less tired because he has less relative weight to move on each leg?

The distribution of weight on each leg is not a significant factor overall.

Obviously ignoring the fact I can take much longer strides etc Anyone got any idea?

Your dog is more tired because he is quadrupedal and you are bipedal, bipedalism is a more efficient form of locomotion at walking paces at least, over flat ground. You lean forward, weight on one foot, and gravity swings your leg forward, repeat. This "gravity swing" is much less present in quadrupeds as far as I can see.




[/quote]

ARRRGGHH!!! Can't stand it any longer. This answer is total tripe.

Any average dog (i.e. not one with inbred defects) could out walk any human by a factor of about 10.

[byronkincaid]

Any average dog (i.e. not one with inbred defects) could out walk any human by a factor of about 10

so if we can find a man who can walk for 24 hours any average dog can walk for 10 days?

[RED-DOG]

Any average dog (i.e. not one with inbred defects) could out walk any human by a factor of about 10

so if we can find a man who can walk for 24 hours any average dog can walk for 10 days?

Yes. I was thinking more in terms of distance than time but basically, yes. (Proberly)

[TightPaulFolds]

Just been on a long walk with my dog and I wondered, will my dog be more tired

yes

 because he has to move twice as many legs

no, the main work is the movement of the body weight, two extra swinging legs doesn't add that much weight

 or will he be less tired because he has less relative weight to move on each leg?

The distribution of weight on each leg is not a significant factor overall.

Obviously ignoring the fact I can take much longer strides etc Anyone got any idea?

Your dog is more tired because he is quadrupedal and you are bipedal, bipedalism is a more efficient form of locomotion at walking paces at least, over flat ground. You lean forward, weight on one foot, and gravity swings your leg forward, repeat. This "gravity swing" is much less present in quadrupeds as far as I can see.

ARRRGGHH!!! Can't stand it any longer. This answer is total tripe.

Any average dog (i.e. not one with inbred defects) could out walk any human by a factor of about 10.

[/quote]

What makes you think that canine quadrupedalism is much more efficient than human bipedalism (by a factor of 10 by the sound of your post, presuming they have similar energy storage: weight ratios) ?