Please Critique my dog - Page 1

Hey Guys,

I know this is not the best picture but I was hoping to find your opinions on my male. He is now 2 years and 4 months old. I had asked for a critque when he was younger and I was curious to know how he is now. I know this may not be the best pic as I took it with my phone and the colours are not great either. If you guys want a better picture then please let me know and I will take another. I guess I'm asking for your opinions so I can learn from my own dog cos I have seen him grow up. I cannot take him to any breed warden or get him surveyed because that is not available in my country and there are hardly any breeders who are knowledgeable so that is why I need to rely on you guys. This is my dog esko not the new one I got recently. If you do not feel comfortable giving a harsh answer on the messageboard please feel free to pm me. Oh, and any tips for stacking him right, i just can't seem to get it exactly they way it should be .

Thanks again.

Hey people if she's asking for a critique than can please answer her! Thats how she will learn. Maverick im certainly not an expert. All i can say is thats hes beautiful!

I don't consider myself an expert either, but I'll have a go at it. Strong, substantial male with good bone and good masculine expression. Good secondary sex characteristics. Nice topline, with gently sloping croup. Upper arm could be longer and shoulder slightly more laid back. However, dog is posed in a 'bridged' stack, with front legs not vertical, so front might appear better if stack were better. Pigment slightly faded. Good overall length to height ration. All in all, a very nice male!  I'll bet he moves nicely, too!

Oh and IMO geting a V rating will no sweat for him!

He looks very balanced.  I like him.

Thanks guys for commenting. Sunsilver any ideas on how to stack him better? If anyone has any comments on my dog please feel free to put it on this thread. Looking forward to hearing from you guys.

Thanks Again,

Mav

The front legs need to be vertical, that is straight up and down. He is leaning back slightly, and this is called a 'bridged' stack and some judges will fault you for it. (At least  this happened to a friend of mine who was showing her lab pup in an AKC show.)

Other than that, his stack is just fine. The left hock is right where it should be (straight up and down, not overstretched), and his right foot is positioned underneath his...uh...male member, which is just where you want it.

As for HOW to get him to stack: practise, practise, practise! Go to shows, and watch how the pros get their dogs to stack nicely, then copy their technique.

The stack is not bad.  To stack him better to show him off better, make sure the front legs are both straight and under his chest, they are slightly out in front of him - if they were just slightly back it would make his shoulder look better (his shoulder as it is does not look too bad so I think it would look very good if his front were stacked better).  His hind is stacked ok too - the backward one is correct (hock to ground is perpendicular to the ground) but the front-most one is too far forward.  This can cause the back to appear "humped" or roached, and could make his croup appear steeper than it should.

So the dog - his head is beautiful, very masculine.  I like his expression.  His color looks nice, his coat looks good, he looks in good condition and healthy/well cared for.   Maybe for showing he should lose just a little bit of weight or be conditioned just a little better (more muscular, more fit).  But he looks very good to me.  His topline is very nice, his withers are high and this would only look better with a better stack.  His shoulder looks good and would be better if his front was not bridged.  He has a very deep chest, very strong.  In contrast to the deepness of chest, I think he looks a little light in the bone, would like to see a little more bone for his size of dog.  His feet are also flatter than I like - should be more round and upright.  I think he has very correct angulations front and rear - his hind legs have very long bones but they don't look out of proportion to the rest of him.  Overall very nice, certainly "V".

molly

Thanks molly and sunsilver for the comments. Molly do you have any suggestions on how to condition him better? currently i get him to run for the ball and i jog with him a little. I know swimming is good for him but there is no place close to me where i can take him swimming. trying to get one of those above the ground pools for him but till then i have to rely on throwing the ball. any other suggestions besides swimming. also, he tends to lean back when i pull the forward most hindleg back rather than lean forward. any idea why he does this? when he sees the ball or another dog then he leans forward. About his weight, should i reduce the food or increase the exercise? Molly you said you will like to see more bone for his size, why do you think he is light in bone, is it a genetic thing or am i doing something wrong? sorry for the questions but just trying to get a better idea.

Thanks Again,

Mav