Breed Standard re. gait - Page 3

Preston, there was a particular book or video you recommended as being the best on German Shepherd gait and movement. What was it again, and who is it by? It's pretty hard to understand this stuff just by reading words, and not seeing pictures, or better yet, videos (like Dingo gaiting).

Preston, Okay, when I watch Dingo's front extension, it does look straight, when fully extended; but surely the bone structure underneath is not straight?

And, Blitzen, I'm sorry, but what are 'joint mice'? I'm thinking fragmented cartilage? Like crepitus?

I must say, though, I've studied that video over and over, and it never fails to impress! jackie harris

Linda Shaw's writing on front extension is mostly correct, it is her writing on the back and rear construction and action that needs a lot of work.  VA-1 Dingo like his grandfather Canto did extend with a straight line from the shoulder blade spine connection forward and down at approx 45 degrees from the vertical.  Very few GSDs do this since that is the ideal.  Most bend up at the elbow. 

One dog who extends in a straight line from the shoulder and certainly is one of the world's greatest moving, very correct GSD is  Xsensation Norton.  I don't know where he is from or who owns him or if he is still alive and being used.   Seeing him standing, one would never expects such correct and extreme movement like Canto.  His pedigree has a lot of Lasso and perhaps this is the reason.  I have a film of him moving at the Siegerschau and he is perfect, unbelievably impressive in every way. 

The only movement flaw that  VA1-Dingo has if you want to get overly picky is that he flips his rear hocks just a little.  If you watch closely you can see it.  Most who view his film strip are seeing the screen proportions a bit off with too more horizontal, making him appear a bit longer than he was.  Other extreme movers sometimes do this too.  Xsensation Norton does not, however.  Remember the source of almost all this extreme sidegait was Canto Winerau, whose strength and flexibility of ligamentation was astounding.  Norton is an alternative path to some of these gene complexes.

X-Sensation Norton http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/116335.html

Preston, that is indeed a magnificent looking dog! What country is he from? I've never heard of him before.

I can't add anything to Preston's last post. I am glad he pointed out that the dog in Sunsilver's photos could be moving that way due to its being strung up. When we show at AKC shows most judges ask for the dog to be moved out on a loose lead. I've never quite understood why handlers teach dogs to gait with their heads held high; that too can result in padding.

The thing we all need to understand is that this breed has a very, very specialized gait; there is nothing else like it in the entire dog world. Years ago, before the advent of videos one of the k-9 movement experts, McDowell Lyons, wrote in his book "The Dog in  Motion"  that the GSD was the only breed to move with a flying trot where all 4 feet were actually suspended off the ground for a split second. We now know that most breeds move that way although none are quite as exagerated as the GSD and most are not visible to the naked eye. Every now and then you might see a movement photo of another breed where all 4 feet are suspended from the ground, but it's hard to capture on a still photo and the shutter must be snapped at exactly the precise movement when the gait is suspended. It's easier to see on a video where you can stop the action.  Another thing that is interesting to note on Dingo's vid is that one hind leg passes the front on the inside while the other passes on the outside. I now know that is a breed characteristic and should never be faulted in a GSD. Another unique feature of our dogs.

Jackie, joint mice are bone fragments that are usually the results of remodeling and/or arthritic changes in the joints. In this case it would refer to the elbows. I don't know much about ED or UAP but I'd assume that joint mice would preclude a dog's receiving an OFA or SV elbow clearance. It could also prevent a dog from opening up its shoulder joint and/or elbow joint wide enough to make that coveted straight line from the withers to the pad.

Okay, I answered my own question. I just HAD to know more about that dog! Videx lists Kennel X-Sensation as belonging to Lena & Thomas Sjöstedt, of Sweden. Unfortunately, the domain name/url is no longer valid. I get a link saying it was purchased by someone, but it seems they no longer have a website.

If anyone else can provide more info, I'd love to know. I just compared this dog's photo to Ursus v. Batu's 1996 Sieger photo, and to my eye, his structure is superior to Ursus' in every way! He has more bone, but does not appear coarse the way Quax does. (Quax also has a very domey skull, which is contrary to the breed standard.) Just everything about Norton appears to be in perfect, harmonious proportion!

Yes, X-Sensation Norton was a superstar when shown at the Sieger show some years back and went high V which should have been VA.  His father was extreme as a mover and perfect in conformation, a real eye pleaser.  The thing that made Norton so rare and so impressive, was his very masculine head and type, his great bone and extreme power of rear propulsion.  Probably one of the top 5 movers ever and as good as Muscava's Rocky was, which is saying a great deal.

This is an excellent thread. Interesting and educational for those of us just learning about the showline shepherds. Hope to see a LOT more topics like this. Good reading :)

Stacy