Article for show line fanciers - Page 1

deleted, thanks for the response

well written and informative, thanks! 

 think of what it does to a dog lacking correct structure. Incorrectly made dogs most often have very poor foot timing anyway (a one, two, three, four beat rather than a two-beat trot), and having their heads held up and back only adds to their inefficiency.

I've been saying this for YEARS about the German showlines, yet some people have told me I don't know what I'm talking about, or the dog is striding incorrectly because the leash is tight!

I'll say it again: the trot is a TWO BEAT gait. Anything else is incorrect!

Vegas gaiting off leash in Ulm. The diagonal legs move in unison at the trot, so the left fore and right hind should both be on the ground at this point. Instead, the foreleg is still in the air, and BOTH hind feet are on the ground. Yes, he is probably tired. You can see how far his tongue is hanging out of his mouth. However, that is the whole point of the prolonged trotting during the Sieger show. A correctly built dog will maintain a correct stride even when tired, while the incorrect dog will become fatigued due to the extra effort caused by its incorrect structure.

Here's the type of exaggerated gait the article is talking about. Fine if you're breeding hackney horses, but totally incorrect for a dog where the BREED STANDARD says the feet should travel as close to the ground as possible!!

deleted

He has very nice reach in the front, and a correct sequenced of footsteps for the trot. Looks like he's being held back by his handler, so gait is not as free as it might be. Kicking up a bit in the rear? Hard to say without seeing a video! Rear extension could be better, and likely WOULD be better on a loose leash.

deleted

deleted

deleted, thanks for the response

you deleted your best post ever. why? The article was very good for an informed group to see. 

I was about to post some comments about the article, but I respect the wish of OP to discontinue this thread