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REARS:
Now this seems
to be such a
problem area,
I find it hard
to know where
to start. So
many Shelties
that we see
today are too
long and too
LOW, I think
this can be
contributed to
the size
issue.
BREEDERS when
you breed for
the long and
low one day
you are going
to have
Corshelt’s
in your yard.
Remember
the Sheltie is
equal from the
ground to the
elbow, equal
from the elbow
to the withers
and 9% longer
than high. Now
we have that
over with.
The
rear assembly
on a Sheltie
has form and
function,
remember the
LOIN area is
about the
width of 3
fingers, you
take that
measurement
from the end
of the rib
cage. The loin
has a slight
rise to a well
defined croup
and a low tail
set. Well
built dogs are
very athletic,
form and
function are
as important
today as in
the past.
Rears
are NOT
SQUARE, NOR IS
THE LENGTH
FROM THE
WITHERS TO THE
START OF THE
TAIL IN A
STRAIGHT LINE,
LESSON NUMBER
ONE. Dogs like
this will
usually have a
tail that is
over the back
when moving,
and a square
rear comes
with over
angulated 2nd
thigh, not a
well let down
one as
required in
the Standard.
Also, this
type of
Sheltie has no
reach or drive
at all,
don’t ever
ask it to move
past a walk .
Why, without
the proper
angulation in
the rear these
dogs can only
move under
themselves,
and they have
no ability to
drive from the
rear as the
angles are to
severe.
Spraddle
hocks, that
means that the
hock joint
from behind
and on the
move is bow
legged, not in
a straight
line. These
dogs will also
have an
incorrect
front as
spraddle hock
rears are
usually out in
the elbow.
This can be
seen as the
dog moves away
from you, as
the front
appears wider
than the rear
when viewed
from behind.
Cow
hocks, easy to
see as the
hock joint is
pointed inward
and the feet
out, think of
the cow in the
rear and you
will get the
picture. These
dogs usually
have elbows
out as well,
due to the dog
trying to have
some kind of
balance when
it stands. Our
first sheltie
had this
problem and as
an old dog it
was so sad to
see, feet flat
turning in,
and the rear
almost totally
under the dog.
From this
special
sheltie I
learned the
importance of
good
structure. No
one wants to
see old dogs
crippled and
eventually
have to be
placed into
doggie heaven
due to the
pain they are
in.
How
often do I
preach balance
and symmetry -
lots - we can
never hear it
enough times.
We
as breeders
need to go
back and re
read our
Standard until
you can quote
it from
memory, the
outline of the
Sheltie
without coat
(Sheltie Talk
- Yellow Copy)
should be
permanently in
your head, and
applied when
we watch the
breed in our
homes or dog
shows. We can
all produce
better dogs if
we understand
the STANDARD
and apply this
knowledge to
our breeding
programs.
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