Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 52

Evaluating Structure in the Performance Dog By Nina Plail As agility becomes more and more popular, the need to understand and promote good conformation becomes increasingly important. Neither breeders nor exhibitors want to be in a position where a performance prospect is trained to the highest levels, only to breakdown midway through a competition career. In the recent past many performance prospects came from conformation breeders who, for varied reasons, decided that a specific dog was not suitable as a conformation prospect. As our sport continues to grow, demand is created for dogs that are designed to withstand years of competition, thousands of repetitions, and the mental stresses of competition life. We can influence long-term breeding decisions by becoming knowledgeable, informed purchasers. Exhibitors and breeders need to be aware of structure and how it pertains to the agility dog. There are several key factors to consider when evaluating structure. Structure can vary from breed to breed, with differing requirements for angulation, depending upon the type of work a specific breed of dog was bred to perform. This discussion cannot address the various breed standards for each and every breed, but rather focuses on characteristics pertaining to most breeds competing in agility today. Pelvis B Femur Stifle (Knee) A Hock Length of Leg One physical characteristic worthy of consideration is length of leg. The length of a dog’s leg from the ground to the elbow should be longer rather than shorter. Adequate length of leg greatly aids a jumping dog. Moderation should be considered here, however, because a dog excessively high on leg has a higher center of gravity and can tend to be less stable. A dog moderately high on leg would be ideal. The problem with inadequate leg length is twofold. First, small or short legs contribute to a less than desirable weight to height ratio. Second, small or short legs are much less efficient and have to work very hard to propel the body over jumps, through weave poles, and over A-frames. Rear Assembly and Angulation Next, consider the rear assembly. A dog’s rear should be strong and well-angulated with stable hocks. While good front-end angulation often eludes the breeder and exhibitor, good rear angulation is more prevalent and thus should be relatively easy to find. A good rear can be evident even to a minimally trained eye. A dog with a good rear will automatically “set up” correctly when naturally standing. These are the dogs that self-stack in the breed ring or that stand naturally with rear legs firmly and strongly planted on the ground. The stifle (or knee) is well defined and pleasingly curved. The hock joint is also well defined and the hock itself is perfectly perpendicular to the Clean Run | December 07 52

Clean Run Magazine - December 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - December 2007

Clean Run Magazine - December 2007
Contents
Editorializing: Are We Driving the Common Sense Out of Our Dogs?
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
How Rude! The Ins and Outs of Trial Etiquette
On Course with Webb and Leslie Anderson
Games for Thinking Dogs
Help! I Can’t Keep Up: Jumping Odds and Ends
In Cider
City Dogs
Trainer's Forum
Being Black and White, Part 3: The Contacts
Converging Lines: Pushing Your Dog Toward the Correct Obstacle
In a Blink: Visual Thinking in Dog Agility
Evaluating Structure in the Performance Dog
Power Paws Patterns: Number Two
Spy Kids: Planning for the Future
Case Study: Teeter Trouble
Distance Challenge
No Not That One!
The Judge’s Debriefing
Mental Management®: Handling Disappointment
Master Plan
Agility Organization Update
Course Diagram Keys
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Clean Run Magazine - December 2007
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 2
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Contents
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 4
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Editorializing: Are We Driving the Common Sense Out of Our Dogs?
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 9
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 10
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 11
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 12
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - How Rude! The Ins and Outs of Trial Etiquette
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 14
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 15
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - On Course with Webb and Leslie Anderson
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 17
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 18
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 19
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Games for Thinking Dogs
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 21
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 22
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Help! I Can’t Keep Up: Jumping Odds and Ends
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 24
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 25
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 26
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - In Cider
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 28
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 29
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - City Dogs
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 31
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 32
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 33
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Trainer's Forum
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 35
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 36
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 37
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Being Black and White, Part 3: The Contacts
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 39
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 40
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Converging Lines: Pushing Your Dog Toward the Correct Obstacle
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 42
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 43
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 44
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 45
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - In a Blink: Visual Thinking in Dog Agility
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 47
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 48
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 49
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 50
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 51
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Evaluating Structure in the Performance Dog
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 53
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 54
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Power Paws Patterns: Number Two
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 56
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 57
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 58
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Spy Kids: Planning for the Future
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 60
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 61
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 62
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Case Study: Teeter Trouble
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 64
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 65
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 66
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 67
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 68
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Distance Challenge
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 70
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 71
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 72
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - No Not That One!
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 74
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 75
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - The Judge’s Debriefing
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 77
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 78
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 79
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 80
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Mental Management®: Handling Disappointment
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 82
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 83
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Master Plan
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 85
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 86
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Agility Organization Update
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 88
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 89
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - Course Diagram Keys
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 91
Clean Run Magazine - December 2007 - 92
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