A digitigrade is an animal that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. Digitigrades include walking cats, dogs, and most other mammals, except humans, bears, and a few others. They are generally faster and quieter than other types of animals. While humans usually walk with the soles of their feet on the ground (plantigrade locomotion), digitigrade animals walk on their distal and intermediate phalanges. Digitigrade locomotion is responsible for the distinctive hooked shape of dog legs.