The show trot
 

Why "trot" your dogs around a show ring? Why not walk or run your dogs?

Very good question, others here can chime in that have studied pondered this question, but in my opinion and supported by different videos I've studied, history I've read; the trot is the best gait to evaluate the structure of the dog. That is for most dogs ( we will not go into here the exceptions and there are some).

Here at the trot you get to see the reach and drive, that is not blurred by a gallop or run, or just not there in a saunter around the ring. Here at the trot, you get to observe a topline that stays steady or not, footfall that is easier to see turn out or in, head and tail carriage and neck extension

For most breeds a trot should be a gait that is able to be kept up for an extended period of time. Of course so can a walk, but a walk, can't show you reach and drive, and also willingness, the heart that can take a trot for the day!.

Gallops are all out runs for most animals are short bursts of energy, the head reaches forward and slightly down, the rear legs gather up underneath the body, the front legs reach as a pair forward. The top line in this gallop can't remain steady, and isn't meant to.

All dogs can walk, trot, and run. But the show dog is trained to trot for more lengthy periods of time, but the training is interspersed with lots of standing, and walking (these other two activities strengthen different postural muscles of the structure).

Some show breeders will use Cavalleti training, some will climb hills, some will swim their dogs, some will use stair climbing to condition their show dog. The conditioning is as much about health of their dog, as it is to do well in the ring. Many breeders will have their pups/young dogs evaluated for movement, will videotape that movement and critique the results.

This trot, is a learnt skill for the ring, that has many many benefits for the health and general well being of the dog.

I couldn't agree more! I knew all what you are talking about since I started out in horses :) Great post!

oh and to add to this.....if you think about there are alot of dog show people that started out with horses and still show horses and show dogs :)

I've used the horse analogy several times on conformation info

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It's so very true, but I didn't have your experience with horses, but my hubby does, and speaks similar language. I was like most teenage girls horse smitten, sometimes I say I rode in the Royal Winter Fair! And I did, a owner took pity on a horse struck girl, and let me exercise in that ring one of his geldings! I was ever so happy, the best day of my life. I did take for a couple of years dressage, rode a Palomino quarter horse,e tc.

That's really interesting. My breeder also started out showing horses and now shows Yorkies. I always thought she was the exception rather than the rule. I do see the correlation though.

Lol, I grew up around horses. Have you ever rode a horse with a bad trot? I got my first horse when I was in the 7th grade. She had the smoothest trot and canter. Over the years I would occasionally ride a horse with a horrible gate. A smooth gated horse can spoil you.:)

As for judging a the proper yorkie gait, I know what I perceive as a proper gait. It seems that a some of the yorkies that win do not have the reach and drive but they have a rinky dinky movement. I guess some judges look for more than just proper movement. I have seen a few yorkies too with a hackney front movement. I don't like seeing a yorkie strung up on a real tight lead, it is hard to judge their true movement when they can barely put their front legs on the ground.

Tight leads in our showing class were absolutely penalized. No stringing up of dogs.

Generally speaking the Yorkie should move like a terrier. Starting from the head to 90 degrees or almost there; ie an alert forward looking gaze. Tail carried high, and certainly not tucked, and not carried too far over the back.
The front paw should reach on footfall under the chin, not beyond it or behind it. The rear paw should match front extension. The paws on trot front and back should not cross each other on line of travel. The hock joint should be springy but not lax, and certainly not stiff. the distance the paw should travel from the ground ideally would be at the height of the ankle to the paw tip. There should be no hackneyed gait, or paddling. The top line should stay straight. The hindquarters should not evidence roll.

As our standard does not in any detail describe ideal gait what do you think about the above description?

Yup I've been on many horses with a VERY rough trot!! Well I barrel raced and not dressage, that is where you find your smooth gaited horses that are taught how to trot-gait correctly. A real good friend of mine OMG her horses are smooth gaited awesome feel! But with barrel horses they have to have the right kind of gait, gallop ect for correct shoulder placements, rear placements to make tight turns around barrels ect....also strong legs.
As with dogs and horses you will find all kinds of movements and thankfully when barrel racing there were no judges!
Yes, I see alot of rinky dinky movement and paddling alot! Oh well...

That is an excellent description, very helpful....thank you.:)

Great post Gail.

I wanted to ride after seeing "International Velvet" when I was little. My mother finally signed me up for classes, but my best friend had her class first and was kicked in the head by the horse and seriously injured. I wasn't allowed to go after that. :( The only horse riding I ever got to do was with mountain trail tours on older horses.

I've been kicked, dragged and run into a barrel HARD, taken under trees with thorns, rolled on LOL....I have nerve damage in my knee because of barrel racing but oh how I loved to ride! I had horses since I was 4 until about 8 years ago when the horse I trained myself when I was 15 passed away at 30 years old. I have loved horses and dogs all my life and the reason I have such a passion for them!!

Ouch, ouch, ouch! What exactly is barrel racing?

It's a speed event with a time clock...you have 3 barrels set up...2 in front side by side but apart and then one barrel in back set up that looks like a triangle but you run in a clover leaf pattern....it's a speed event...if you've ever watched a rodeo and saw the girls run the barrels that is what it is...LOVED IT! No judges ROFL just you, the horse ane the clock, if you screwed up no one to blame but yourself

I have seen it, wow, you are brave!!

LOL....I was a dare devil growing up...rode dirt bikes (motorcyles) too LOL...rode horses almost all my life!

sorry Gail for going off topic LOL....back on topic now ;)

Sometimes I wish I did have the time, money, energy to show, the one remaining pup we have just glides and has that little kick out with his front feet (some little thing I noticed watching the Yorkie shows, not that I know anything about that, but I noticed the winners seem to have that very neat prance to them). I keep looking at him and thinking so sad he'll probably never be shown. (I'm not planning on showing just trying to learn more about the correct standard etc, so that's why I'm paying attention to his attributes) His topline is perfect and everything else as far as I can tell but of course I'm no show person. But, in all honesty from what I've learned here I don't think he has the proper ear set. I think his ears are probably too big and too wide set (but I don't know if that's something they grow into). But other than that he's seems to be a nearly perfect specimen. Such a nice disposition too.
Anyway, the point was about his "kick out" - I think it's so cool and I always thought that was something the show people trained their Yorkies to do but apparently it's a natural gait. Interesting that's all.
I grew up with horses also. Barrel raced. We lived in CA as kids and my parents (being from the midwest) decided the city was no place for kids and packed us all up and moved to the northwest - bought a ranch, got us horses and put us in every local rodeo my dad could find.

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

I understand what you are say, proper structure and coat should be there. Ear size, ear set, muzzle length, etc are not as important and can be easier to correct than a structure problem that involved the movement of the dog.

I have a question about puppies and toeing out (easty/westy front). If a puppy is slightly toeing out at 12 weeks can that correct itself when the puppy gets older? I have heard the term about 'when the chest drops' that sometimes this will correct a front that is just a little off. What are you thoughts on this and at what age does the chest drop?

Yes, the chest can drop and do some correcting but the shoulder placement I think still has a lot to do with the front like the toes being eastie westie. ?depends on the lines in my opinon some develop later than others. Knowing your lines will pretty much tell you at what age somethings will correct itself and if not. Like Radar's gold....his lines shade out richer at a later age. So when he was younger his gold was lighter and now that he's mature his gold is very very nice. I knew that from his lines :)

I'm not a Yorkie breeder, but slight toeing out at 12 wks old, can be corrected. Maybe through chest drop, or in many other cases through physcial muscle conditioning.

Thanks Donna, yes, knowing lines is important but sometimes when you outcross you might encounter things that you are not sure about. Some breedings really click and others might not.

I love Radar's gold.:) I like a beautiful shaded gold versus the redish gold I see on some yorkies.

Thank you. I do think that exercise can help, especially if it is weak pasterns that are the problem.

Even with an outcross you should know the lines and if they have outward toe placement ect...and if what happens early or late. It's just you don't know what the outcross is going to produce. But with going on an outcross it should be done when there is something you want to improve on in your breeding and lines ect...and yes some lines just don't click regardless. Just like the outcross Kathy and I just did with Radar and Drea...we both knew what each other needed to improve on and we felt this breeding will compliment the other knowing what each line has produced. So far, we have been correct in what we are seeing with the pups.

You are right, that is where knowing you lines and have a reputable, honest breeder is important but you know as well as I do that even the best planned breedings can still create pet quality dogs.

Radar and Drea's pups look really nice right now. I hope they all turn out to be show babies. :) I can't wait to see them in the ring.

Of course nothing is guarnteed! There is no absolute!

Thank you Barb! I think so far they are very nice! I hope they hold together too...so far so good. All of them have beautiful heads and nice short backs, great tail sets, and nice angulation, just have to wait and see if they hold together :)