For the new comers to the breed, my apologies to the old timers Canadian standard: Forequarter: The shoulder blade should be long, laid on flat against the body with its rounded upper end in a vertical line above the elbow, and sloping well forward to the point where it joins the upper arm. The withers should be high, with shoulder blades meeting closely at the top, and the upper arm set on at an angle approaching as nearly as possible a right angle. Such an angulation permits the maximum forward extension of the foreleg without binding or effort. Shoulder faults include too steep or straight a position of either blade or upper arm, too short a blade or upper arm, lack of sufficient angle between these two members, looseness through lack of firm ligamentation, and loaded shoulder with prominent pads of flesh or muscles on the outer side. Construction in which the whole shoulder assembly is pushed too far forward also restricts the stride and is faulty. American standard: Forequarters: The shoulder blades are long and obliquely angled, laid on flat and not placed forward. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade at about a right angle. Both the upper arm and the shoulder blade are well muscled. FCI standard: Shoulder blade and upper arm are of equal length, and firmly attached to the trunk by means of powerful musculature. The angulation from shoulder blade and upper arm is ideally 90°, but generally up to 110°. British standard: Forequarters: Shoulder blade and upper arms are equal in length, well muscled and firmly attached to the body. Shoulder blades set obliquely (approximately 45 degrees) laid flat to body. Upper arm strong, well muscled, joining shoulder blade at approximately 90 degrees. As you see, all the standards are similar. How I look at shoulders and instruct others to look at shoulders….the dog should be standing with feet squarely under them…...feel the flat of the scapula (shoulder blade), note that there is a spiny protuberance along the middle/centre of the scapula, follow that along to the top edge and note where the upper point is, then follow down to chest area where it meets the humerus (upper arm) and note both the length and the angle (ideal is a 45 degree angle) Then feel where the humerus and scapula meet and follow that to where the elbow joint is, note the angle and the length. Ideally the angle should also be 45 degrees (together the scapula and the humerus should form a 90 degree angle) and the length should equal the length of the scapula. It has been a long time since I have seen a dog with a perfectly laid back and balanced fore-assembly but the closer the better. I always have to remind myself though that it is the whole picture that is important I have included pictures of 45 degree angles of equal length...first one for scapula angle and second for humerus angle and also a 90 degree angle
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:02:07 +0000