Breed Standard re. gait - Page 1

"The correct proportions of height to length and corresponding length of the leg bones results in a ground-eating gait that is low to the ground and imparts an impression of effortless progression."

So, why is it we see so many show dogs, both German and American, with the sort of gait pictured above?  I don't think I've seen a discussion of this before.

hi,

One of the reasons the dog lifts the front legs during gaiting is

because it is compansating for the powerful hind drive.

This happens when a dog has very good ,(as in correct hind angulations,

correct placement and length of a muscular croup) powerfull hind quarters,

which transmits a powerful drive.

And a not so good fore quarters,(forward placed shoulders,a short and steep upper arm,

a short fore leg) which restricts the forward reach. The dog will lift the front,in order to compansate

for the powerfull hind drive.

Hope this is helpfull.

This might help: it's an entry regarding gate, with excepts from Linda Shaw's article (c. 2003; L. Shaw) and a video of a GSD in motion.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=153334285&blogID=391327517

Great article, JC, but this was even better!

The Truth About Dog Shows: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=153334285&blogID=390463971

ROTFLMAO!!! 

Dogs that move this way do so because they are not able to fully open their shoulder joints.  In the AKC world, it's called pounding. The foreleg should make a straight line from the point of the shoulder blade to the foot when fully extended. The pad should touch the ground directly under the tip of the muzzle when the dog is moving with it's neck extended. Look at the U-Tube video of Dingo v Haus Gero, considered by many breed experts to be a perfect moving GSD. GSD's  should never pound, it is not correct for the breed although many seem to think it is.  Otherwise they wouldn't use such faulty movement photos to advertise their dogs.

Link to Dingo's movement vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIFpKL0qRQ0

Here is the actual cause:  force vector of the rear drive is directed upward too much, can be a byproduct of steep croup or abnormal ratio between rear upper and lower leg and rear hock.  The reason this is abnormal is that it is inefficient. Good slow motion analysis at 1/1000 sec per frame will easily show this abnormal force vectoring of the rear drive and any shockwaves or rumba generated by imbalance between the front and rear.

I was hoping to hear your comments on this, Preston! Thank you, that makes good sense.