|
GAIT/MOVEMENT
|
|
|
|
Correct front movement
|
|
|
|
|
Correct rear movement
|
|
Clean, brisk, straight and sharp.
The short, sharp, brisk and precise movement is very distinctive and typical of the breed. The sprightly action giving the impression that the dog is very light on its feet.
Front movement;
Coming towards you, a correctly moving Keeshond will move in a straight line with the front legs almost as parallel as when the dog is standing to attention. There should be no tendency for the dog to either toe-in, or throw its elbows or feet out.
Rear movement;
Travelling away from you, the correctly built Keeshond will again exhibit a clean straight action. There should be no sign of the hocks either turning outwards in a cow hocked fashion, coming together, or crossing over each other when the dog is moving.
The rear pasterns should remain parallel to each other, similarly to when the dog is standing still, and because the movement should be sharp and brisk, excessive drive is not essential.
Side movement;
When viewed in profile the short, brisk movement can be seen to full advantage.
The front movement is short and brisk, the front legs extending forwards enough to clear them from the rear legs. As one front leg extends forwards, the rear leg on the same side extends backwards. The opposite front and rear legs move inwards and under the dog, converging at its centre of gravity. There should be no signs of excessive reach or a hackney-like front action, nor excessive drive from the rear legs.
|
|
|
|
Correct side movement
|
Incorrect side movement - Pacing action
|
|
|
FAULTS
|
|
|
Crabbing action, where all four legs do not move in a straight line with the direction of travel and the dog appears to be moving sideways, similar to the action of a crab.
|
|
|
Pacing action, where both the front and rear legs on one side of the dog move forwards and backwards together instead of opposite to each other.
|
|
|
Excessive reach or drive.
|
|
|
The Breed Standard
Copyright © The Kennel Club
Reproduced with their permission
|
The Illustrated Breed Standard
Copyright © The Keeshond Club
|
Page Last Updated: February 2010
|
|
|
