Front angulation - Page 4

Great thread!

If the angle is very open and the scapula and humerus are both fairly long, then the front-reach will be very great, but often it will kick out very high in front, which is also not correct--the front foot at its greatest extension should be fairly close to the ground.

Here's more reading:

www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/Index_Page/Index_Page.htm

Something to remember, too, in all this discussion is that it is important to see the dog in motion and for a dog to be well balanced all over. And always, the best thing is to see how a dog moves--how well does he/she use the angulation that he has, how well does the dog transfer power of motion from the hind end to the front, etc.

the GSD should be looking like this

jouri vant heuske that is what most gsd should look like

Have a look at Linda Shaw  -  Illustrated Standard of the German Shepherd - She gives excellent examples

A full discussion of the forequarters of a GSD would be rather long and complex and hard to do without video clips. However, a few points or tips would probably benefit some of those following this thread.

Structurally, the bones that need to be looked at are the scapula and the humerus, their relative positions and lengths. As mentioned earlier, the best way to judge the ‘lay back’ of the scapula is by looking at the appearance of the neck. The upper visible portion of a well laid back scapula is further back from the head (near the 2nd or 3rd thoracic vertebra) making the neck to appear long.

Next are the relative angles of the shoulder (scapula) and the upperarm (humerus) and its length. To be correct, both should appear equal in length and the angle at the point of attachment should be about 90 degrees, in a standing dog. The best way to judge this is by looking at the placement of the front leg. In a dog with a well laid back scapula, if the front leg is directly below the withers, then the length and angle of the upperarm will probably be as desired. A front leg that is ahead of the withers would be the result of an upright / short upperarm.

All this is largely to analyze if the standing dog will move well at a trot. But there are dogs that may not be structurally ideal and yet move well (Rik’s dog in the picture, seems to be one) because a lot depends on the muscles that attach the scapula to the torso. Some dogs that are very flexible can and do move well notwithstanding other issues.

Also, too much front reach can have an adverse effect too. This is because, in an ideal dog, the front feet should be close to the ground at full stretch and should touch the ground gently to save energy. Over extension will not cause this to happen as the foot will decelerate before touching down with a thump and result in loss of energy. The ideal can best be judged by looking at the trotting dog from the side and seeing that the front feet stretch only as far as in line with the dog’s nose, no less, no more.

Movement however is dependent on how the entire dog is put together and so depends on both the front and rear quarters, besides other things. Movement can best  be observed by the human eye, not by looking directly at a moving dog, but  through the periphery of your eyes by looking slightly beyond the dog . This helps greatly in analyzing movement.

S

Extension should not be the end all and be all of a correct front. That is a an artifact of the 'aritificiality' of the show ring.
For a hint of proper front construction, go watch a GSD tending sheep. Go attend an HGH trial.
Notice that the herding dog does not always trot in a straight line or even in an oval in one direction as in the show ring.
A herding dog is often almost on its toes - perfectly balanced - to be able to change directions instantly, or to stop or to accelerate instantly. It trots, it gallops, it canters, it walks, it stands, it stops, it jumps. That is the real world of a working dog.
Movement is best observed by a dog truly in its working environment off-leash not restricted in any way.
Most conformation judges have never worked a dog, or even attended an HGH trial, how can they have a clue what a working dog actually does or how it moves in the natural state?
This is correct front construction as proven by work not theory.
http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/353.html

this is a video of a GSD doing the original work of a GSD. Watch not its movement but its many requirements for a variety of functional dynamic attributes - now how would you design the front for the dog that does this kind of work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b45WYL_2Xb8

Shezam1,

Thanks again for the valuable explanation.

DDRshep,

Thank you so much, your explanation and the video were of very good help.

Ibrahim

We should have more threads such as this- it was very educational for me and I am sure for many others. Thank you to all who shared their knowledge.