Difference in stacks - Page 7

Yaaaaaaay!!!!! Nothing like truth and knowledge!!!

Gustav, you have previously made the point on the importance of balance in movement and this needs to be emphasized, not only for its relation to movement but also as to how the dog walks, stands and sets itslef up. Some GSDs that look like they have extreme reach in the front are really lifting and holding off of a tight lead, they tend not to set themselves up correctly.  A properly constructed balanced mover will not be sickle hocked, will open up at the hock and will not appear as extreme to the untrained eye, but it will tend to stand and set itself up in an attractive and correct stack.  What is correct is a GSD that mopves with its feet in an arc close to the ground without lifting.  A steep croup or a roach back (both can have the same effect) cause the rear to drive upward, wasting force and limiting range of motion.  I would much rather have an athletic, well ligamented GSD of proper proportions and construction that moves correctly but is not extreme than a dog which appears to be an extreme sidegaiter. Well balanced, correctly built GSDs tend to move like a well oiled, smooth machine that is strong and highly efficient and tend to set themselves up correctly off the end of the lead.  When there is an intrinsic imbalance between the front and the rear the dog must compensate for it standing and moving. This is why correctly built balanced GSDs are hard to breed and acquire and quite valuable.  They can vary substantially in type and conformation, but still have a wonderful balance in motion which is impressive to the trained eye.  These dogs can herd sheep all day because they are efficien, correct movers. 

Hi Preston, good to  hear from you again. I've been gone from here for 3 years and just started to post a little again. Hope all is well with you. Did you get another dog?

Blitz.......

As always I couldn't agree more with Preston's thoughts but I'd also like to add (even though it is going a little off topic) the additional confusion of speed in the gait. I've seen some dogs which have fine structure and impressive speed but more often than not it's achieved with much grim determination, pounding of the front and "knitting needle knees" whirring around at the rear.

I'd much rather see a balanced, athletic dog with, dare I say it, grace/finesse in their movement, at half the speed. You can also be sure that such a dog will be able to maintain this pace over greater distances and varied surfaces. Could you imagine the former attempting such speed across a ploughed field or a muddy track chewed up by horses hooves?

For me, I often think the dogs with initially the least to see in their movement (& stack) probably have the best.

AandA