Examples of Correct Features - Page 4

FCI breed standard:


Forelegs
Seen from all sides, the forelegs are straight and absolutely parallel when viewed from the front.
Shoulder and upper arms are of equal length. Both are held snugly to the body by strong muscles. Angulation of shoulder blade to the upper arm ideally is 90 degrees, but up to 110 degrees is permissible.
Elbows may not turn out when the dog is standing or in motion or be pinched inward. The lower legs viewed from all sides are straight and absolutely parallel, dry, and well muscled. The pastern measures about 1/3 of the forearm length and is angled 20-22 degrees to the foreleg. Pasterns with an angle of more than 22 degrees or very steep pasterns (less than 20 degrees) reduce working capability especially, endurance.
Paws
The paws are rounded, tight, and arched. The soles are hard, but not brittle. The nails are strong and dark. 

Light eyes, non straight fore legs, bulging elbow, east west overangulated pasterns

My dogs pasterns:

  

   now a close up today in my living rooms same dog:
  angle of photo really changes the look of it.

My 15 month old pup:
 



Last winter same pup. Nice straight legs and good feet.



another pup I had, great legs and feet:





My Aleit's ugly flat feet:

O.K. please excuse the questions because I'm just learning the confirmation, etc.  I do Not like the over angulated pasterns at all it looks silly and uncomftorable like they are walking on their forearms.  My question is when you say flat feet, I assume you are talking about pasterns with an angle of less than 22 degrees? This maybe an obvious question as I can see how the over angulation affects the working ability, but I'm not seeing how the flat feet or under angulation will affect it .  Thanks in advance for all the info! This has been a very informative thread!

Flat foot as in the knuckles are not arched and the toes spread because they are weak and not supported. The paw is oblong and long toed not tight, and circular.

Here are 2 of many interpretations of correct angles per FCI.

Thanks for clarifying that GSDNewbie, with it explained that way it really sounds like a daft question now. The charts were really great too Sistasmom.  It's amazing when you first start paying attention to conformation how much there is you didn't know.  I agree Ruger a thread for each part would be easier to follow, we could get into more detail and completely examine each part without jumping around.

I like to think about survival characteristics too since they explain most of the what's and why for's of the correct features asked for in the breed standard. There are good reasons it asks for a specific head shape, overall size, coat type, color and texture, angulation, feet, pasterns while it seems that other things are meant to set a good breed type. Eye color might be one, ears set and carriage another. Some traits could be either survival or breed type. Then there are traits that mattered when the standard was written but don't necessarily apply today. Coat texture and length might be one.

 

Donner, anytime:) dumb questions are ones that are unasked.