Cow hocks how to tell true or acquired? - Page 1

Good topic brought up by "is it true" thread... Big issue of concern for show and breeding also for evaluation of soundness of dog planned for trials or heavy training. Any judges or vets out there care to expand on this? Anyone with experience about its genetic transmission? Good or bad results? Example that makes me interested more is one dog I see regularly looks quite cowhocked untill in motion, but then travels straight and is incredibly agile, and also powerful, hits well on target, but like a locomotive. No point giving novice helpers. Dog makes clean contact and good bite, but has knocked over all so far..... thinks this is part of the game, experienced ones get just winded or stagger backwards. Hip Xrays are as perfect as they come! I have placed my own research results in answer to the aforementioned thread... would really like to hear other input! Thanks.

Any definite research on possible connection to HD?

When assessing 'away' movement for soundness of hocks, if in doubt to hockiness or Cow Hock, request animal should be taken 'away' on the walk, not gaited. When gaiting the hocks can look more true than they actually are, Walking away shows more the true extent of any hock problem. Experienced handlers should or will know this, hence judges again need to be vigilant to judge the dogs and not the expertise of the handler. Regards Sue B

Sue, Two questions - no, three! How widespread is existence of hockiness? How would you decide or define what degree thereof is acceptable breeding or judging-wise? What, in your experience, is its relationship to HD. Nice to have you back.

Hi guys, I had a pup that at 5 month old was extremely Cow Hocked, but then I did a lot of phisycal conditioning/training with her, and at about year and a half she was totally normal in her hocks. I think proper phisycal development of muscles is very important in this case. She has never been X-raid, but at 11 years old was as agile as any young playful dog.

Cow hocks are the result of a misalignment of the knee joint. If the tibia aligns slightly to the outside of the femur in the knee joint the dog will be cowhocked. If the the tibia aligns to the inside the dog will toe in going away. Dr. Reiser of the OFA showed this to me on an xray of my dog in 1970 at the University of Pennsylvania. He also explained that physical conditioning can sometimes correct the condition.

Assessment coming and going at walk and preferrably without tension on leash is definitely the gold standard for evaluating hockiness. Problem is getting concerned handlers and eager dogs to do that. At least off leash may get it but if dog walks in fus turned to face up at handler then is never travelling true. Video cameras with a healthy zoom are helpful too to catch "candid" unstructured poses and movement for later review. Out of the ring is often best environment to assess in.

Why do judges pardon east west fronts and cow hocks? The explanation is typically, "the dog is otherwise excellent". Does this mean these two faults are really minor? Is it proven to be heriditary?

Hi Olddog, The term Hockiness can be used for other incorrect conditions of hocks i.e looseness etc therefore a generalised term which in itself does not describe the condition of Cow Hocked. A dog described as being Hocky would not lead me to thinking he was Cow Hocked. So, in answer to your question I would say that Hockiness is a much wider spread problem than that of being Cow Hocked and personally consider the latter to be more serious a fault than just a general looseness, or lack of strength in the ligaments of the hocks (of course depending upon the degree of looseness) simply because loose hocks can be almost tightened up with excersise designed to tighten up the ligaments. Many pups at young age can look slightly Cow Hocked due to the different growing stages of bones, along with lack of young muscle tone and strength of young ligaments. I will answer your third question next, as your second will take longer to answer and I have need for sleep, I will try remember to reply tomorrow if that's ok with you, but even if it isnt, it will have to be . I do not think Hockiness or Cow Hocked has any relation whatsoever to HD. In fact upon returning to your second question tomorrow, I will mention that two very hocky imported dogs have both been Hip Improvers. Now obviously not advocating that to improve hips one should use a Hocky dog, just that one does not necessarily imply the other. However, what I will add is that I have noticed that incidence of high hip scores very often relate to dogs with OCD etc of Elbow/Shoulder. Also before closing will add that when assessing hocks or looseness thereof, a hip problem can sometimes be seen to effect the movement of hocks, ie Dog will 'Throw' Hock out and although description of problem will be critiqued as such, this hock action is probably more due to effective Hip Joint than problem with hock, as is the noticeable straining and/or lack of hind thrust and apparent limping on back leg/s. Thank you for your kind welcome back My Best Regards Sue B

Hi again Sue, I mistook the more wider-defined hockiness as being same as cow-hocked - by default beneficially so as I read your informative reply. I think that, coming from a Judge and Breeder, I and many others would be interested to learn how widespread problem of cow-hocked state really is and, at what degree you start to take serious note thereof where Showing and any breeding is concerned. If still awake, very best in New Year.