Standard Post #6 HINDQUARTERS AKC Standard Long and powerful. The thighs are broad and muscular, stifles well bent; muscles are long and flat and carry well down toward the hock. The hocks are well let down and close to the ground. Sickle or cow hocks should be strictly penalized. Elaboration The hind end of a running animal is its “engine”. It provides the power to propel the animal forward in a double suspension gallop. Therefore, correctly made hindquarters are crucial to the breed’s ability to do its job. The hindquarters should be balanced, well angulated and muscular with both bend and depth through the stifle and a strong second thigh. Hocks are moderately low to the ground. All of these traits combined give the whippet a rear that is powerful with drive and flexibility, which enhances speed and agility. Angulation behind should be in relative balance to the angulation of the forequarters. Both too much and too little angulation are impediments to a running hound. Over angulation is a more frequently seen fault in the show ring, often in combination with a relatively straight front, and should be strictly penalized. Overangulation is a very inefficient trait in any dog bred for running speed and is rarely seen in competitive racing and open field coursing dogs.
Posted on: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 11:41:24 +0000