▁distances ▁because ▁it ▁is ▁smooth ▁and ▁energy ▁conser ving . ▁The ▁can ter ▁is ▁usually ▁slower ▁than ▁the ▁tro t , ▁but ▁can ▁be ▁easily ▁shift ed ▁to ▁the ▁faster ▁gal lop . ▁The ▁can ter ▁is ▁an ▁asym met rical ▁g ait ; ▁the ▁lim b ▁pattern ▁is ▁different ▁depending ▁on ▁which ▁front ▁leg ▁leads . ▁The ▁dog ▁is ▁said ▁to ▁be ▁in ▁either ▁" right ▁lead " ▁or ▁" left ▁lead " ▁when ▁the ▁front ▁right ▁leg ▁or ▁front ▁left ▁leg ▁is ▁in ▁the ▁lead . ▁The ▁leading ▁leg ▁is ▁not ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁diagonal . ▁Example : ▁Left ▁h ind ▁Right ▁h ind ▁and ▁left ▁front ▁Right ▁front ▁( leading ▁leg ) ▁ ▁Single ▁susp ension ▁gal lop ▁The ▁single ▁susp ension ▁gal lop ▁is ▁a ▁four - time ▁g ait . ▁ ▁The ▁dog ▁supports ▁its ▁weight ▁with ▁its ▁feet ▁in ▁the ▁uns ym met rical ▁sequence : ▁R F , ▁L F , ▁R H , ▁L H ▁( it ▁can ▁happen ▁that ▁the ▁two ▁lim bs ▁L F ▁and ▁R H ▁hit ▁the ▁ground ▁simultaneously ). ▁Just ▁after ▁taking ▁off ▁from ▁the ▁front ▁left ▁foot ▁the ▁dog ▁ach ieves ▁susp ension . ▁Each ▁front ▁foot ▁must ▁be ▁lifted ▁off ▁of ▁the ▁ground ▁before ▁its ▁corresponding ▁rear ▁foot ▁is ▁set ▁down . ▁The ▁rear ▁foot ▁may ▁hit ▁the ▁corresponding ▁front ▁foot ▁if ▁the ▁timing ▁is ▁wrong . ▁ ▁Double ▁susp ension ▁gal lop ▁The ▁double ▁susp ension ▁gal lop ▁is ▁also ▁a ▁four - time ▁g ait .