Conformation

TSK has offered these interesting articles with the subject of CONFORMATION

Mats at indoor shows are usually provided. These are for your dog's assistance by allowing more stability and grip to the floor surface. Take cognisance of the fact it is dog which should be taking advantage of the mat and not the handler. Much to my amusement have seen this little indiscretion applied many times...The creation of a fine brood bitch must begin generations before the day she first whelps. Not only must she come from stock notable for beauty of form and movement, and stability of temperament ideal for her breed, but there should be also behind her generations of dams granddams who whelped easily, normally, and who...Symmetry is “balanced proportions.” It brings something into a pleasing arrangement. Dog judges with an “eye” see the dog as a whole. “Filling the eye” means no one thing out of place. Therefore, when the eye is drawn to a particular part of any animal such as rear, coat, front, or head, it usually incorrect…… … documented; suffice to say that straight stifles are undesirable and produce the all too common stilted action and invariably are a cause of knee and hip joint problems. Over angulation is also detrimental and places undue stress on the knee and hock joints, and results in the ‘bobbing up and down’ action and ‘crabbing’ movement....The intelligent Frank was the friendliest of dogs, a true gentleman of the breed, but a true Stafford when the need arose. From 2006 to 2011 Ch. Carnig Positive Profile was the top Stafford Stud dog. Six years running; an incredible feat. Also in 2011 he was top terrier stud dog...… Sideways, the foreface is about as deep ast is wide. This type of head, with a good stop and set with neat rose ears, is the ideal. It can be quick to punish, with ease of movement. The circumference of skull should be about the approximate height at the shoulder. This should also coincide …”The easiest way to explain this is to compare the Stafford hock to that of a rabbit. A rabbit must have an overlong hock because it must be able to quickly and purposefully get away from its prey. It does so by a very long and quick hopping motion so that it removes itself from...The Ostrich Syndrome can damage dogs in a number of ways. The ignorance, denial and fear it fosters in breeders can prevent genetic diseases from being identified and studied early enough to keep them from becoming widespread. Breeds which develop a reputation for being disease-ridden risk rejection by the public - including that part of...…