Basset stance question

Babygirls · 01-09-2013, 10:30 PM

I have a 17 month old who's front legs look kind of "knock kneed" with her paws pointed outward and her 7 month old sister has "bowlegged" front legs.....which is normal for a Basset? I am not sure if you can see it in there picture.

Soundtrack · 01-10-2013, 05:03 AM

The one on the left (Chloe ?) Is the more normal/correct although she has excessive turn out in her left foot. Her right leg looks fine. The other one has straight legs, turned out left elbow, and probably straight shoulders and short upper arm. If you watch both of them move at a trot, you will probably see Phoebe waste a lot of energy by shifting from side to side.

They both look like they have flat feet. Sometimes walking on gravel/uneven ground can help with that.

FranksMum · 01-10-2013, 10:38 AM

I hope I have done this right, but this is a front view of our UK Ch.Verulam Morgan le Fay (Imp.Canada) when she was about 2 years. Same bitch, stacked in my avatar.

Soundtrack · 01-10-2013, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FranksMum

Attachment 3945

I hope I have done this right, but this is a front view of our UK Ch.Verulam Morgan le Fay (Imp.Canada) when she was about 2 years. Same bitch, stacked in my avatar.

I've been trying to find a good "front" picture that illustrates my point, but what's hard to see in the above picture is that the upper leg actually curves around the chest, which provides support and freedom of movement for short-legged breeds. The lower legs should come straight down from there and the feet should turn out "slightly".

Babygirls · 01-10-2013, 10:34 PM

So it looks like Chloe (on the left) has legs more like a normal Basset...Phoebe bounces around like a bunny (her nickname is Tigger). She is very agile where Chloe lumbers more. I just hope it doesn't mean she will have issues with her joints as she gets older. They are different in many aspects but they just love each other and I just love them to death!!!!

Mikey T · 01-11-2013, 07:26 AM

While most basset have conformationally incorect front end because they have the largest bone mass of any breed and the sort limb which limit the torque that can be put on joint the acutal have fewer issue than x-rays of the joint would indicate, if they were a different breed.

FranksMum · 01-11-2013, 08:52 AM

Apart from the bone growth problems that can affect some hounds, either genetically, or from incorrect rearing, most front end faults stem from incorrect shoulder placement. If the shoulders are set too 'forward', then strain is put on the legs often causing 'knuckling over', bowing, too much turn out (there should be some) and so on. Breeding a Basset with a 'good front' is probably one of the biggest challenges confronting a Basset breeder. In the past, it was said that UK Bassets had the better front but poor rears, while American-bred Bassets had good rear ends, and often less good fronts. I hesitate to suggest that these days, it's the opposite!!

I'd not say my pictured Basset is 'perfect' (there is no such animal

) but used her as an example of one with probably the best front I've bred at any rate.

If you can get hold of a copy of The Basset Hound Illustrated Standard, published by the BHCA some years ago now, this has some good information on what is felt to be 'correct' in the breed.

shakespeare · 01-13-2013, 03:17 PM

Here is one with a good front - straight and it comes from the shoulder wrapping around the body - and yes the feet point out ever so slightly.
But FM will complain about the haw ;-)

FranksMum · 01-14-2013, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakespeare

Here is one with a good front - straight and it comes from the shoulder wrapping around the body - and yes the feet point out ever so slightly.
But FM will complain about the haw ;-)

Not saying a word about the haw - much as in this pic. it doesn't look THAT bad

To be picky, I'd like her not to be quite that wide in front - although that could just be the way she's sitting in this photo? Much more would be revealed with her, on the move

Soundtrack · 01-14-2013, 11:19 AM

I've definitely seen worse haw. It looks like she's leaning to one side and putting all her weight on her left leg, which is probably why she looks a bit wide.

01-09-2013, 10:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
Babygirls Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 48	Basset stance question I have a 17 month old who's front legs look kind of "knock kneed" with her paws pointed outward and her 7 month old sister has "bowlegged" front legs.....which is normal for a Basset? I am not sure if you can see it in there picture.

01-10-2013, 05:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,352	The one on the left (Chloe ?) Is the more normal/correct although she has excessive turn out in her left foot. Her right leg looks fine. The other one has straight legs, turned out left elbow, and probably straight shoulders and short upper arm. If you watch both of them move at a trot, you will probably see Phoebe waste a lot of energy by shifting from side to side. They both look like they have flat feet. Sometimes walking on gravel/uneven ground can help with that. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

01-13-2013, 03:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
shakespeare Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London UK Posts: 706	Here is one with a good front - straight and it comes from the shoulder wrapping around the body - and yes the feet point out ever so slightly. But FM will complain about the haw ;-) Attached Thumbnails __________________ The Highbury Hounds Tallulah, Isabel and Margot Last edited by shakespeare; 01-13-2013 at 03:22 PM.

01-14-2013, 11:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
Soundtrack Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,352	I've definitely seen worse haw. It looks like she's leaning to one side and putting all her weight on her left leg, which is probably why she looks a bit wide. __________________ Rosie-Ch Soundtrack Cracklin' Rose CGN AGN RA Am RN TT Melody-Ch Soundtrack Unchained Melody TT Sailor-Ch Soundtrack Expedition Sailor RN TT Chili-Ch Soundtrack Spice Up Your Life Curry-Ch Soundtrack Canadian Brass Pepper-Ch Pennieslogon Living La Vida Loca CGN Vina-Ch Soundtrack Grand Illusion Leila-Ch Soundtrack Almost Paradise Deela-Ch Soundtrack Wink Of An Eye Hermione - Soundtrack Spellbound Eowyn - Soundtrack Rain Dance

01-10-2013, 10:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
FranksMum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: S.West UK Posts: 430	I hope I have done this right, but this is a front view of our UK Ch.Verulam Morgan le Fay (Imp.Canada) when she was about 2 years. Same bitch, stacked in my avatar.

01-10-2013, 10:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Babygirls Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 48	So it looks like Chloe (on the left) has legs more like a normal Basset...Phoebe bounces around like a bunny (her nickname is Tigger). She is very agile where Chloe lumbers more. I just hope it doesn't mean she will have issues with her joints as she gets older. They are different in many aspects but they just love each other and I just love them to death!!!!

01-11-2013, 07:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mikey T Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: West Warrwick, RI Posts: 9,134	While most basset have conformationally incorect front end because they have the largest bone mass of any breed and the sort limb which limit the torque that can be put on joint the acutal have fewer issue than x-rays of the joint would indicate, if they were a different breed.

01-11-2013, 08:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
FranksMum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: S.West UK Posts: 430	Apart from the bone growth problems that can affect some hounds, either genetically, or from incorrect rearing, most front end faults stem from incorrect shoulder placement. If the shoulders are set too 'forward', then strain is put on the legs often causing 'knuckling over', bowing, too much turn out (there should be some) and so on. Breeding a Basset with a 'good front' is probably one of the biggest challenges confronting a Basset breeder. In the past, it was said that UK Bassets had the better front but poor rears, while American-bred Bassets had good rear ends, and often less good fronts. I hesitate to suggest that these days, it's the opposite!! I'd not say my pictured Basset is 'perfect' (there is no such animal ) but used her as an example of one with probably the best front I've bred at any rate. If you can get hold of a copy of The Basset Hound Illustrated Standard, published by the BHCA some years ago now, this has some good information on what is felt to be 'correct' in the breed.

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