Understanding angulation: the angles that shape movement

Angulation describes the angles between some of these segments. It plays a part in the dog’s construction and in how he moves. But assessing it means looking at the whole: a single angle doesn’t tell the whole story!

Here are nine tips to learn how to observe it.

Beginner — Spotting the angles

1. Start with the right regions

At the front, what matters includes the angle between the shoulder blade, in the shoulder region, and the humerus, the bone of the upper arm.

At the rear, several joints come into play: the hip, the stifle — which corresponds to the knee — and the hock, lower down the limb.

Your exercise: find these regions on an anatomical diagram. Then gently locate them on your dog, without trying to bend his limbs to “see the angle”.

2. Understand “open” and “closed”

Imagine a pair of compasses: when you spread the arms apart, the angle opens; when you bring them together, it closes.

In show vocabulary, an angulation described as “straight” or insufficiently marked generally suggests a more open angle. A more pronounced angulation corresponds to a more closed angle, for the joint concerned.

Your exercise: draw two segments forming an angle, then open and close that drawing. You’ll understand the comments better, without having to memorise values in degrees straight away.

3. Use your breed’s standard as a guide

There is no one ideal angle that is valid for all dogs.

For example, the Poodle standard gives around 110° between the shoulder blade and the humerus. The German Shepherd standard describes an ideal of 90°, with a general indication of up to 110°.

Your exercise: read the “Forequarters” and “Hindquarters” sections for your breed. Note what the text specifies and what it does not put a figure on.

Intermediate — Observing methodically

1. Tell shoulder layback from the shoulder–upper arm angle

The slope of the shoulder blade and the angle it makes with the humerus are two different observations.

To understand the front assembly, you therefore have to look at the relationship between the segments, and not only at the apparent slope of the shoulder.

Your exercise: on a diagram, draw a line following the shoulder blade, then another following the humerus. Find where they meet before trying to recognise this arrangement on your dog.

2. Look at segment length too

Two constructions can’t be understood by comparing their angles alone. The lengths of the segments matter too.

The Poodle and German Shepherd standards thus describe a relationship in length between the shoulder blade and the humerus.

Your exercise: for each region you observe, ask two questions: “How are the segments oriented?” and “How do their lengths compare?”

3. Check the effect of position

A hind foot set back, a dog stretching or a foot placed off can change the visual impression of the angulation.

Your exercise: watch your dog standing, have him take a few steps, then look at him again. Repeat the observation from the side on a flat floor.

A photograph helps with learning, but measuring an angle directly on the outline of the coat gives a misleading precision.

Advanced — Linking angles to function

1. Observe how front and rear work together

Avoid judging the hindquarters as if they worked alone.

The German Shepherd standard links the balance of angulation and limb lengths to the coordination of movement.

Your exercise: film a few passes at the trot, from the side, at a comfortable speed. Watch how the forelegs and hindlegs move together, then compare with the description of the gaits for your breed.

2. Don’t confuse marked angulation with superior quality

“More” is not automatically “better”.

The German Shepherd standard points out the unfavourable consequences of over-angulated hindquarters for endurance and use. The Poodle standard lists rear angulation that is too straight or excessive among the serious faults.

Your exercise: look for the balance the standard describes. A spectacular outline must always be checked against the demands of the text and the observation of movement.

3. Describe what you see before looking for the cause

An unusual movement doesn’t, on its own, let you conclude there is poor angulation. Speed, handling or position can also influence what you observe.

Your exercise: note down one precise fact: “Over several passes, I see…” Then ask a judge or a breed trainer how to interpret it.

This method will help you progress without too quickly attributing every particularity of movement to an angle.

The reflex to keep

Find the segments, observe how they relate, then watch the dog move.

Angulation becomes easier to understand when you regularly move from the diagram to the dog, and from the dog to his standard. One region at a time: your eye will sharpen with practice.