Hindquarters of the dog – assessment.
When assessing them, attention is paid to the angle of inclination of the femur to the pelvis (90—100 ° or more), the width of the pelvis and its arch, and the muscles of the hips. The femur is slightly inclined from the vertical to the front. It joins the knee joint with the bones of the shin (at an angle of 120 ° or more).
Shank. It consists of the tibia and the fibula. The muscularity of the thigh and lower leg is breed-dependent and therefore must be assessed for consistency with the dog's pattern and type.. As a rule, the lower leg tilts quite strongly backwards.
Ankle (steppe). Consists of 7 short dice stacked in 3 rows. Below this pond are located 4 metatarsal bones and bones 4 fingers. The fifth finger is rudimentary (popularly known as "the wolf's claw."” or "spur”); it can even be double. "Dewclaws” they are not present in wolves. In working dogs, it should be removed soon after birth, it is often broken off or hurts the dog while running and is the reason for the wide spacing of the legs. In many breeds, spurs are considered a disadvantage. At French Shepherds (except Picard) double spurs are patterned as a racial trait.
The correct proportions of a dog's hind leg give him the right driving force, which plays a big role in utility breeds. The rear leg should be extended to the rear. The steep stance causes little thrust force, and the excessive extension of the legs backwards deprives the dog of balance and therefore is also a disadvantage. Of course, the ratio is different in different races. When evaluating the hind limbs, their posture is carefully examined, especially the section below the ankle joint. When viewed from the rear, the limbs should be vertical and parallel to each other. Any deviation in posture - both outward and inward - indicates a faulty structure of the joints, which in working dogs limits their efficiency. The hind feet are usually slightly longer than the front feet.