Conformation
Conformation is vital for health. It is not only a requirement for the Show Ring.
Conformation ( Con-formation ) is just a fancy name for body structure. Since the body is made up of hundreds of moving parts, then just like a finely tuned machine, it makes perfect sense for the various skeletal parts to be correctly aligned. This is because the bones form the framework upon which the muscles, ligaments and tendons etc are built. In doggy parlance this alignment is known as 'angulation'.
KEY FEATURES
Minimal up and down movement of the back and an even topline when trotting, requires the full extension of limbs both front and rear and this comes from correct placement and angulation of the various parts. Effortless and gliding, the Australian Cobberdog's movement gives the appearance of 'floating'. As they run about, full of the joy of life, I often think of the expression "Look at him/her go! He/she wouldn't crush a daisy even if they stepped on it!"
In the video below, Rutlands Jesse was only a puppy when the video was taken by his owner. Jesse's fluidity of movement explains exactly what I'm talking about.
ANGULATION AFFECTS EVERYTHING
Horse people know (or should know) that the forehand (front end of the horse) is the most important aspect in the conformation of a horse because two thirds of a horse's weight is at the front half of the horse.
Not so many dog people know that it's exactly the same principal for dogs. The length and placement of the scapula and humerus bones with their attachments, determine the carriage of the head, the length and shape of the neck, the depth of the chest, placement of the front legs and the overall movement of the dog. Regardless of how the hind end is constructed, the way the front end is built, governs everything else. All this just from two bones!
Horse people know (or should know) that the forehand (front end of the horse) is the most important aspect in the conformation of a horse because two thirds of a horse's weight is at the front half of the horse.
Not so many dog people know that it's exactly the same principal for dogs. The length and placement of the scapula and humerus bones with their attachments, determine the carriage of the head, the length and shape of the neck, the depth of the chest, placement of the front legs and the overall movement of the dog. Regardless of how the hind end is constructed, the way the front end is built, governs everything else. All this just from two bones!
CONSIDER THIS
Let us suppose that our dog has correct hindquarter construction. We know that impulsion (drive) starts from behind, so we may assume that his movement will be excellent. But if all that lovely drive is jammed up and has nowhere to go because the front end doesn't allow full extension of the front legs, the result will be all kinds of compensations which will express themselves in such things as a choppy gait, short steps, raised head, prancing, or pacing and ambling (where the legs on the same side move in unison).
DOGS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO BASIC GROUPS - GALLOPING AND TROTTING
Form to Function means that the dog's physical structure enables it to carry out its function with the least amount of stress or damage to its body.
Stress or damage shows itself in diseases like arthritis and OCDs (joint problems) or impairment to the immune system.
Stress or damage shows itself in diseases like arthritis and OCDs (joint problems) or impairment to the immune system.
Form to Function in the Galloping dog equips it for speed.
Form to Function in the Trotting dog is for endurance.
Form to Function in the Trotting dog is for endurance.
The front end in dog talk is called 'the forequarters'.
No trait is harder to breed for, or easier to lose, than a good front. A good front, once lost, can take generations to recover, that is even if it can be retrieved at all in that particular bloodline of dogs. Many established breeders, exhibitors and even judges lack foundational knowledge of this area of anatomy, mistakenly focusing on the hind end instead. It is true that in quadrupeds, impulsion starts from the rear, but what is often overlooked is that if the front end hasn't the ability to transfer the drive forwards into the extension of the front legs, all that impulsion has nowhere to go and the result is movement that's either stilted, high stepping prancing, or other deviations from the ideal.
GALLOPING DOGS
Galloping dogs have steep upright shoulder blades which allows them to elevate their front end with every stride while they push off from behind and clear the ground high with each powerful leap. For a galloping breed this is the correct front-end assembly, and it is their Form to Function.
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TROTTING DOGS
Trotting dogs are different to galloping dogs and trotting dogs have a well laid-back shoulder. This means that when they are standing naturally in profile, a perpendicular line drawn from their withers down to the ground, should pass directly through their front leg. The dog on the left is termed as "standing well under itself'. The dog on the right is described as 'standing out front'. Even though the dog on the left has less angle in its stifle, it's drive will be much better to the educated eye.
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The Australian Cobberdog is a Trotting dog.
Its Form to Function is to move tirelessly and effortlessly, with the minimum of effort. Its stride is long and low to the ground and is so soft and elastic that the dog appears to float, light footed without bruising a blade of grass.
PUPPY
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ADULT
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In the video below, Rutlands Lil Deacon ("Jasper") was 10 months old, and Rutlands Wh Seanna ("Seanna") was an adult, taking a break from her 8 weeks old puppies. I named the generations that contained the (Irish only) Soft Coated Wheaten with a 'Wh" in their name to differentiate them from the bloodlines that didn't have the infusion in them so I could keep track.