Please show me your WL gaiting! - Page 12

Susie can you expand on what you mean about head up. i have to convert this discussion to horse movement not prolly relevant but it is what i get in the brain box.
The higher the head carriage the if the back is rounded not flat the more collected the gait yeah??



Joan get over here and translate.

Blitzin, a conformation show is all about picking the best quality dogs for breeding............titles, hips/elbows ARE very important.

I hate this damned language barriere

Normally there should be an almost horizontal line from head to tale while a German Shepherd is in a floating trot, the whole dog is stretched, the power goes forewards.

The "modern" dog has an erected head during the trot, not enough extension, not enough power forwards.

You really can feel it over the leash within a second.

Susie, years ago I took handling lessons from a wonderful man who professionally handled rough collies. The first thing he taught me was to NEVER, EVER teach a dog to gait with its head held above the level of its topline. High head gaiting, too much lifting.  I haven't been to a lot of SV shows, but I have honestly never seen a German dog or bitch that could full open its shoulder joint including my own that was exhibited at the German Sieger before I got her and the lovely Galaxy, a dog that  you handled in Germany, a dog that I absolutely adored in every way.

I love watching GSD's of any line, it is the most awesome breed I know of and the variety in movement and type is the thing I love the most about them. Not a cookie cutter breed by any means. You should try to come to the GSDCA National specialty held in Kansas in October. I'm pretty sure you would see some really great dogs there too.

VK, the higher a dog holds it's head, the more it will lift in front, a hackney gait as is perferred in some breeds, mainly terriers, not in the GSD. If you can find the book "The Dog in Motion" by McDowell Lyons, you may enjoy it. It's out of print I think but it might be available on the net.

Blitzin, a conformation show is all about picking the best quality dogs for breeding............titles, hips/elbows ARE very important.

I don't disagree, Sitasmom, but those are still separate issues from a gaiting discussion.

Blitzen, hackney motion actually isn't correct in the majority of terriers.  Their movement should often be "stilted", but the hackney gait is one looked for in (as an example) the Miniature Pinscher :)

That was my guess with the head carriage. was just checking.


i still don't get tho a floating gait still requires a high head carriage back to horses compare a halter class arab stallion with its neck erect and head high literally look like they are floating above the ground.


an extended trot is different to a floating gait.


altho both should look effortless.


the genesis of the side gait in gsd is the dogs legs look like a fence to the sheep. that is some serious BS imo. but makes for a great story to the clueless.

SV dogs going at full speed look more like this........

the faster they go the lower their head are placed.

 

Very nice, haven't seen any German dogs that can move out that way. Impressive. Can you identify the dog? The idea is for the handler to not teach the dog to hold it's head above the level of the backline when gaiting. Allowing the dog to move out without being restricted is what every good handler does be it in the SV ring or the AKC ring. .