Hock walker? - Page 7

Sitasmom.....Thanks for the history lesson....take care!

What's missing from the history lesson is the reason why the GSD is NO LONGER the # 1 choice for a guide dog or medical service dog, herding dog, and, certainly where the showlines are concerned, police dog.

Blitzen, I have to disagree with what you said above. I can show you at least 10 pictures that are very similar to the photo in question, all but one of them coming from the same source (PDB ads).  It's part of a trend or fad with the showlines. People think the raised foreleg looks flashy (to hell with the standard!) and the loose hock that lands flat on the ground gives the dog a longer stride. Unfortunately, the dog has to have loose ligaments to allow the hock to land on the ground, and this produces weak. wobbly hocks and cow hocks. What's happening with the rear legs in the German showlines is exactly what has happened with the American showlines, and for the same reason.

Of course, I have heard time and time again that the raised foreleg is due to the dog being held back by the handler. But no one ever explains to me why the American dogs don't do the same thing when gaited on an equally tight lead....

Below: Ch. Katarina v. Kenlyn, a very nice bitch from Kaleef Kennels. She competed at Westminister in 2011, but did not place.

I have a video camera that can shoot 120 fps, and I'm betting if I try, I'll never find that "moment" in the gaiting sequence of my dogs.

Sitasmom,

Those last posts of yours are very interesting though at some places I was lost between your own words and the quotes you made.

I personally like Cruherta's approach in breeding, on the other hand I understand that GSD was meant to be able to do all sorts of jobs/work but not necessarily excell at each one of them.

Can some one put these jobs GSDs are used for at present time in descending order from the biggest numbers of GSD are used for, then less numbers are used for and so on.

1. Pets
2. Companions including family protection
3. Guard
4. Herding
5. Various Police works
6. SAR

Sunsilver you mentioned cow hocks? Can someone post a picture of what that looks like?

The hocks point in towards each other, and the feet turn out slightly. As a result, the rear legs will wobble when the dog gaits. Some people say the dog's 'knitting a sweater'!

For gsdguy 

Melissa

Thanks, I didn't know what people were referring to when they mentioned that.