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Originally Posted by bjh  What are some of the faults that can be seen by observing movement that can be hidden when the dog is still? For example, topline....if a dog is moving down in the front, is that due to poor shoulder placement or could it also be caused by straight stifles? What causes the hackney movement, is that poor shoulder placement also? What causes crossing over in the front?
Rear movement going away..... I see some that almost look like they are sorta paddling like a duck, what is this due to? Would being cowhocked cause that or too much angulation or pulling on the lead?
I have been to some shows where the dogs misbehaved badly and won. I don't see how the judges were really able to access their behavior. It seems that some judges really like dogs that show a lot of spunk. On the other hand, I have observed dogs that looked almost crippled at one show and the next show they had beautiful movement. I think that can be attributed to handling. If a dog is strung up or is pulling or being pulled it is hard to really judge their movement. That is one reason I have learned not to assume a dog has a problem just from observing them at one show. We all have a bad days and dogs do too.  |
Of course all dogs have bad days but crippled is crippled...one can place back in a stifle while stacking and the dog move correctly. People can hide many things as you've seen yourself sad but true.
Everything has to fit in structure and I think shoulder placement has a lot to do with it along with the dogs angeluation in the rear. The front movement in my opinion has to do with the shoulder placement and the rear movement has to do with the rear angulation and also having the correct shoulder placement. I dont like a dog that paddles or single tracks in the rear but some can live with that but I personally can not as it's a structure thing for me. I can live with a wider ear set and I'm not talking eastie westie ears and I can live with a lighter colored dog and I'm not talking light silver but a medium color. I can't live with a bad bite either LOL...
Donna