tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post6260280249035860149..comments2024-03-04T06:54:50.622-06:00Comments on Reactive Champion: Examining Maisy's ConformationCrystal (Thompson) Barrerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-17078686086457354462013-06-06T03:48:52.883-05:002013-06-06T03:48:52.883-05:00I know you wrote this post over two years ago... s...I know you wrote this post over two years ago... so I don't know if you will still get (or care) about comments. <br /><br />The trouble with Maisy's front is NOT the angles. Her angles are okay - anything within 15 degrees of 90 is fine. Her problems are related to the layback of her shoulder angle as measured against the ground and the relative length of the shoulder blade vs the upper arm. <br /><br />It used to be believed that we wanted to have a 45 degree shoulder layback. But then the advent of cinema-radiology (can't remember the real name for the technology) turned that theory on its tail. It has since been discovered that optimal reach and stability for the front assembly on a dog is closer to 30 degrees and not more than 35. The 45 degree angle works effectively for horses who have significant differences in their shoulder attachment, which increases stability somewhat, while reducing flexibility. <br /><br />The biggest problem Maisy has is actually that her upper arm is so short compared to the length of her shoulder blade - as it is for all dogs of her body type. That short upper arm is what causes so much of her body weight to be carried forward. She also lacks a prominent breastbone, which means there is less there for the shoulder assembly to attach to. <br /><br />She is slightly high in the rear, but 2 things to consider are how much of that is truly there vs apparent due to the curly hair. In any case, high rears don't really affect dogs in any significant way as far as health of their joints is concerned. <br /><br />The shortened rear stride is likely due to the previous injury you mentioned. Even if its resolved, there could be scar tissue that inhibits flexibility. And do keep in mind that soft tissue injuries can take a very long time to heal completely.<br />A to Z Dalshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16240833658656810463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-56789304811543329162010-07-21T10:10:04.330-05:002010-07-21T10:10:04.330-05:00Jana- I don't know that I did it RIGHT, but it...Jana- I don't know that I did it RIGHT, but it was fun to try! I definitely recommend reading the comments in Joanna's post (she clarifies how to see/feel for the angles), as well as reading the link that Sara left earlier- that is an AMAZING site.Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-81522222008851623042010-07-21T08:59:58.229-05:002010-07-21T08:59:58.229-05:00Great post! Now I am curious on how Eva will add ...Great post! Now I am curious on how Eva will add up and so will be trying doing my own evaluation. Thanks for the info and breakdown of how you did yours :)janaARIEShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08679497176414219201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-31510295547626409292010-07-19T08:43:44.742-05:002010-07-19T08:43:44.742-05:00Sara, so I opened up my picture again, and analyze...Sara, so I opened up my picture again, and analyzed it using the instructions from that site. The front angles end up about the same, though maybe just a little bit straighter. Not significantly, though, so I think I've got that one close.<br /><br />There's a lot more to the rear than I realized. It looks like Maisy is slightly straight in the rear, but really not too bad. It's hard to say since she's got that one foot stepped forward. If she had it back square, I'd say it's very minor. However, a straight rear would explain the roached back. Maisy's always slightly roached, but I think this picture is maybe more exagerrated than how she usually looks because of that foot.<br /><br />It does appear, though, that she's got too much length in the thigh, which the site says causes a weak rear... and Maisy failed that "hock press" test described (which Suzanne Clothier also described at her seminar). <br /><br />I can't get step 10 and beyond to work (I got a 404 not found) so I'm not sure how she draws the rear angulation. Still, I think I'm close on these pictures. Maisy seems to have decent angulation, but a weak rear nonetheless, which is really interesting. <br /><br />Now I want to pick a book up on the subject!!Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-90096426311667957282010-07-19T08:19:33.148-05:002010-07-19T08:19:33.148-05:00Laura- I don't really know what to think about...Laura- I don't really know what to think about agility. On one hand... she's not necessarily unable to do it, if I were to be cautious. Right now, she's probably a year away in terms of reactivity training of being able to handle a group class and/or trial. She'll be four this fall, and I feel like she's going to be getting too old to start agility. Maybe that's foolish- dogs can do agility for awhile, after all. But I do worry about what I'm already seeing in her body so young, and have to wonder if agility is worth the risk. Frankly, I don't know.<br /><br />Katie- I'm not so sure I did this correctly either. I'm not sure I got the front and rear angles correct, to be honest. I did it a couple of different times, and while I think this is correct based on feel, I got some wildly different results. <br /><br />Sara- that website looks great! I can't wait to spend more time reading it! Thanks for sharing!Crystal (Thompson) Barrerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01738188430244886019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-71487050078559259292010-07-18T23:27:39.260-05:002010-07-18T23:27:39.260-05:00Here's another great resource for evaluating a...Here's another great resource for evaluating a dog's conformation that's a bit more in-depth. Read her other stuff too - I've learned so much from her! While I don't agree with everything she says/does, I think she's spot-on with many topics, and an excellent teacher.<br /><br />http://www.workingpitbull.com/Soundness2.htmlSara and Laylahttp://lessonsfromlayla.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-84187192931755126132010-07-18T18:48:07.549-05:002010-07-18T18:48:07.549-05:00I was trying to do this with Luce after reading Jo...I was trying to do this with Luce after reading Joanna's post but I failed utterly. I'm so bad at conformation stuff. She's poorly put together, that's all I know.<br /><br />I'd like to do it with Steve as well but that would require a photo from the side of him standing still, and, well, he just doesn't do that :pKatiehttp://underdogged.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1101438868458660054.post-27292167720146968782010-07-18T17:57:32.306-05:002010-07-18T17:57:32.306-05:00very interesting. I too love her posts and have b...very interesting. I too love her posts and have been meaning to look at Lance's structure since I'm guessing it's not all that perfect. <br /><br />I still wouldn't count agility out though. If the expert at your conditioning class said it would be ok, then I'm sure it would be fine. Plus you can always lower the jump heights to 4in and choose to only play certain games that will only have obstacles you feel comfortable doing. NADAC has a tunnelers class AND a hoopers class where there is no impact on dogs joints. Or if you want to jump her but not do contacts then there is always jumpers in many venues and other games in CPE where you get to design your own course and avoid contacts. Vito won't be doing the contacts in competition for awhile as his running contact training is taking forever. But we plan on competing soon in all other games but standard :)Laura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06437492165453445126noreply@blogger.com