How do slick floors contribute to knuckling over?

Slick floors—such as solid concrete, tile, or wood—lack the surface texture that a puppy needs to be able to grip with their toes.

Because the front end of a dog supports its entire body weight, it is crucial that their front feet have adequate traction. When a puppy is kept on slick surfaces, it is unable to use their muscles, ligaments, and tendons properly. This lack of proper structural engagement weakens the front-end assembly, which directly contributes to “bowing in” and “knuckling over”.

To help prevent or correct this condition, the sources strongly recommend keeping puppies off slick, hard surfaces and placing rubber-backed throw rugs around the house so they have a textured surface to grip as they walk.