Dogsteps : Definitive Manual to Canine Movement, Dog Anatomy, and Natural Gaits of Purebred Dogs; for Breeders, Judges, and Anyone Wanting to Show Dogs

Legendary breeder and world authority on canine movement Rachel Page Elliott's classic volume Dogsteps has been the definitive manual on canine movement for four decades. Dog show judges and breeders around the world have relied upon this straightforward text and its “cineradiographic" illustrations to gain a more complete understanding of canine gait. Even with the passing of its famous author in 2009, no other volume has stepped in the path of Dogsteps. Upon its publication in 1973, the Dog Writers Association of America bestowed upon Dogsteps its highest award “Best Book of the Year." More than an analytical look at canine gait, the book teaches the reader about canine anatomy and how each body part contributes to a dog's correct movement. In the show ring, judges evaluate a dog's movement to determine whether or not the dog is correctly structured: Dogsteps explains what the judge is—or should be—looking for in lay man's terms, making this book essential for all breeders, judges, exhibitors, and students of purebred dogs. The book begins by explaining the terminology commonly encountered in describing canine anatomy (e.g., stop, occiput, withers, hock, croup, etc.) and showing three comparative skeletons (dog, horse, and human), pointing out critical similarities and differences between each. The author describes the eight natural gaits of dogs and how each is accomplished in specific dogs; these include: walk, amble, pace, trot, hackney gait, suspension, canter, and gallop. Individual chapters are devoted to the topics of angulation, toplines and tails, front assemblies, and shoulder assemblies. Each chapter is illustrated with “moving x-rays" to give the reader a clearer picture of how each anatomical region affects the dog's gait, pointing out common flaws, the importance of correct structure, and how balance and ease of movement are achieved in a properly put-together dog. In an effort to provide dog breeders with a manual for breeding sound dogs, Rachel Page Elliott makes a case for correct structure as the most important aspect of keeping a breeder's line going strong. Recognizing faults in movement and structure, while not the primary intent of the book, allows the reader to be more aware of the many structural pitfalls that threaten the quality of many purebred dogs today. Beyond having a great breeder as a mentor, Dogsteps is the single best source for learning all there is to know about canine anatomy, structure, and movement. The author concludes, “Experience is a good teacher, but knowledge—with a little luck!—steers the shortest way to lasting success." The definitive manual on canine movement!Easy-to-understand text uses simple, straightforward wording aimed at the layperson:Clear diagrams and illustrations provide an analytical look at the canine gaitDog anatomy and how each body part contributes to correct movementAngulation, toplines, tails, and front and shoulder assemblies in detailNatural gaits including walk, amble, pace, trot, hackney gait, suspension, canter, and gallopThere is always a need for understandable information on how dogs move and how their conformation affects movement. Legendary breeder and world authority on canine movement Rachel Page Elliott has recognized this need and, through her expanded research, has produced this third edition of her popular book, Dogsteps, containing the most up-to-date scientific information.For decades, dog show judges and breeders around the world have relied upon this straightforward text and its cineradiographic illustrations to gain a more complete understanding of canine gait. Upon its publication in 1973, the Dog Writers Association of America bestowed upon Dogsteps its highest award, "Best Book of the Year." Even with the passing of its famous author in 2009, no other volume has stepped in the path of Dogsteps!More than an analytical look at the canine gait, this 144-page guide teaches the details of dog anatomy and how each body part contributes to correct movement. In the show ring, judges evaluate a dog's movement to determine whether the dog is correctly structured. Dogsteps explains what the judge is looking for in layman's terms, making this book essential for breeders, judges, exhibitors, and students of purebred dogs. This book presents understandable yet in-depth information on how dogs move, and how their conformation affects movement. The accompanying drawings illustrate and reinforce the author's written information on canine skeletal and muscular structure and how this anatomy affects gait.