FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
Figure 10.
Figure 11.
Figure 12.
Figure 13.
Figure 14.
Figure 15.
Figure 16.
Figure 17.
Figure 18.
Figure 19.
just about any breed. In a coated breed, however, you have to use the palm of your flattened hand to move back the coat to see the position of the bottom of the chest (brisket or sternum) in relation to the elbow. (See Figure 16.) Most breed stan- dards call for the elbow and the brisket to be at the same level. (See Figure 17.) On a dwarf breed, the elbow naturally has to be positioned above the brisket, but the brisket should not be so low as to encroach upon the pastern area. (See Fig- ure 18.) On this long-coated Pembroke (called a “fluffy” in the standard), the elbow is definitely above the brisket. (See Figure 19.) If you have any questions or comments, or to schedule a seminar, you may contact me at jimanie@welshcorgi.com. To purchase a copy of the DVD, “Structure and Move- ment in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi,” go to https://www.welshcorgi.com/DVD.html.
The average dog’s pelvis angle is at 30 degrees to the ground. The slope of the pelvis determines the follow-through or backward extension of the hindfoot and the length of forward reach of the hind legs under the dog’s body. The angle of the croup determines the set-on of the tail. (See Figures 14 & 15.) On a short-coated breed, the bend of stifle is easily seen. To determine the turn (bend) of stifle on a coated breed, run your hand down the forward edge of the leg from the top of the leg past the stifle, down to the junction with the hock. The hock is at the upper end of the rear pastern, between the hock joint and the foot. The final determination to be made concerning the dog’s outline is the under- line. In a short-coated breed, the depth of chest and its position relative to the elbow is easy to determine by visual exam. The elbow is a very easily found landmark in
The next step is to ascertain the angle of the pelvis, which is harder to palpate than the much easier to feel spine of the scapula. Gently palpate down the spine until you can feel the landmark of the ridge of the pelvis. You may be able to feel along the side of the pelvis (ilium) up to our next landmark, the highest point of the pelvic bone (iliac crest). (See Figures 10 & 11.) By gentle palpation of this area, you will have a good idea of where the top of the bone is located. To determine the angle at which the pelvic bone is set, you must try to locate the next landmark, the pin bone (ischial tuberosity). The pin bone landmark is eas- ily palpated, except perhaps on a very well- muscled dog. It is one of the more impor- tant landmarks that can help us determine structure without radiographic examina- tion of the rear assembly of the dog. (See Figures 12 & 13.)
104 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2022
Powered by FlippingBook