An ambling dog looks very ungainly. The rear end sways from side to side and the dog doesn’t pick up the rear feet, often scuffling them on the ground. But an ambling dog often moves at the same speed as a dog moving at an easy trot. This wasted energy is why the amble is not a preferred gait and should only be used briefly when transitioning from a walk to a trot, or when a tired dog wants to rest the muscles used for trotting, and use its legs in a different way for a while.