Legendary breeder and world authority on canine movement Rachel Page Elliott's classic volume Dogsteps has been the definitive manual on canine movement for four decades. Dog show judges and breeders around the world have relied upon this straightforward text and its "cineradiographic" illustrations to gain a more complete understanding of canine gait. Even with the passing of its famous author in 2009, no other volume has stepped in the path of Dogsteps.Upon its publication in 1973, the Dog Writers Association of America bestowed upon Dogsteps its highest award "Best Book of the Year." More than an analytical look at canine gait, the book teaches the reader about canine anatomy and how each body part contributes to a dog's correct movement. In the show ring, judges evaluate a dog's movement to determine whether or not the dog is correctly structured: Dogsteps explains what the judge is;or should be;looking for in lay man's terms, making this book essential for all breeders, judges, exhibitors, and students of purebred dogs.The book begins by explaining the terminology commonly encountered in describing canine anatomy (e.g., stop, occiput, withers, hock, croup, etc.) and showing three comparative skeletons (dog, horse, and human), pointing out critical similarities and differences between each. The author describes the eight natural gaits of dogs and how each is accomplished in specific dogs; these include: walk, amble, pace, trot, hackney gait, suspension, canter, and gallop.Individual chapters are devoted to the topics of angulation, toplines and tails, front assemblies, and shoulder assemblies. Each chapter is illustrated with "moving x-rays" to give the reader a clearer picture of how each anatomical region affects the dog's gait, pointing out common flaws, the importance of correct structure, and how balance and ease of movement are achieved in a properly put-together dog.In an effort to provide dog breeders with a manual for breeding sound dogs, Rachel Page Elliott makes a case for correct structure as the most important aspect of keeping a breeder's line going strong. Recognizing faults in movement and structure, while not the primary intent of the book, allows the reader to be more aware of the many structural pitfalls that threaten the quality of many purebred dogs today. Beyond having a great breeder as a mentor, Dogsteps is the single best source for learning all there is to know about canine anatomy, structure, and movement. The author concludes, "Experience is a good teacher, but knowledge;with a little luck!;steers the shortest way to lasting success."
Born to a loving and educated New England family, Rachel Page Elliott, known to all as Pagey, was encouraged to develop her interests and talents wherever they would lead her. And lead her they did, to a life-long fascination with animals, first to horses, then to dogs. Each passion created adventures and opportunities that make her life story so fascinating. With a growing family and a farm in the country, Pagey bred and competed in a wide range of dog sports with her "Featherquest" Golden Retrievers. Her interests led her to the scientific study of canine structure and movement and ground-shaking research that changed, and is still changing, widely-held beliefs about how dogs move. Curl up with this reminiscence of the life of a woman ahead of her time in her independence and passionate study of her interests and be inspired to follow your own instincts to live life more fully!
Written in 1950, this was the first book to thoroughly analyze, illustrate and explain the under-the-skin workings of the dog. It is the foundation for all gait and locomotion books which have been written since.
Legendary breeder and world authority on canine movement Rachel Page Elliott's classic volume Dogsteps has been the definitive manual on canine movement for four decades. Dog show judges and breeders around the world have relied upon this straightforward text and its "cineradiographic" illustrations to gain a more complete understanding of canine gait. Even with the passing of its famous author in 2009, no other volume has stepped in the path of Dogsteps.Upon its publication in 1973, the Dog Writers Association of America bestowed upon Dogsteps its highest award "Best Book of the Year." More than an analytical look at canine gait, the book teaches the reader about canine anatomy and how each body part contributes to a dog's correct movement. In the show ring, judges evaluate a dog's movement to determine whether or not the dog is correctly structured: Dogsteps explains what the judge is;or should be;looking for in lay man's terms, making this book essential for all breeders, judges, exhibitors, and students of purebred dogs.The book begins by explaining the terminology commonly encountered in describing canine anatomy (e.g., stop, occiput, withers, hock, croup, etc.) and showing three comparative skeletons (dog, horse, and human), pointing out critical similarities and differences between each. The author describes the eight natural gaits of dogs and how each is accomplished in specific dogs; these include: walk, amble, pace, trot, hackney gait, suspension, canter, and gallop.Individual chapters are devoted to the topics of angulation, toplines and tails, front assemblies, and shoulder assemblies. Each chapter is illustrated with "moving x-rays" to give the reader a clearer picture of how each anatomical region affects the dog's gait, pointing out common flaws, the importance of correct structure, and how balance and ease of movement are achieved in a properly put-together dog.In an effort to provide dog breeders with a manual for breeding sound dogs, Rachel Page Elliott makes a case for correct structure as the most important aspect of keeping a breeder's line going strong. Recognizing faults in movement and structure, while not the primary intent of the book, allows the reader to be more aware of the many structural pitfalls that threaten the quality of many purebred dogs today. Beyond having a great breeder as a mentor, Dogsteps is the single best source for learning all there is to know about canine anatomy, structure, and movement. The author concludes, "Experience is a good teacher, but knowledge;with a little luck!;steers the shortest way to lasting success."
Bo Bengtson is regarded today as the foremost international authority on dog shows past and present, and his definitive volume Best in Show: The World of Show Dogs and Dog Shows has become an "instant classic," hailed by critics around the world as the most important book ever written about the sport of dogs. Richard G. Beauchamp, a revered judge and author, praises Best in Show: "At long last a factual and meticulously researched history of the purebred dog scene. It's an everything-you-ever-wanted-to know book about the fascinating world of show dogs;" Best in Show spans the history of dog shows from its beginnings in England to the present-day, highlighting the most important dogs, shows, judges, handlers, breeders, and more in 656 pages overflowing with over 700 full-color and historical black-and-white images.Bengtson is at once a student of dog-show history, an accomplished scholar, a highly regarded international judge, a breeder of champions, and, as Kerrin Winter-Churchill surmises, "the greatest living dog writer of our times." His ultimate achievement, the award-winning Best in Show begins with a history of the dog sport, "How Dog Shows Began," a chapter that talks about the development of pure breeds, the beginnings of the dog fancy, and the first dog shows. To understand the essence of dog shows, it's critical to understand what show judges are looking for, a topic that Bengtson covers in the chapter "The Breed Standards." "Without breed standards, dog shows could not exist. It would be impossible to conduct any meaningful comparison of dogs without universally accepted descriptions of each breed;. At their best, the standards;give a vivid, colorful word picture of the image each breed represents, in motion and standing, when alert and at rest." With illustrations from early and modern breed standards, this chapter discusses the evolution of the standards and addresses the variations in certain breed standards from country to country.The third chapter is devoted to dog shows and highlights the most important shows in Britain and the United States. A detailed discussion of England's most famous dog show, Crufts, begins with the origins of the show and traces its development through the 21st century. (A complete roster of the winners of Crufts is presented in the appendix of the book.) America's most highly regarded show, the Westminster Kennel Club is discussed, accompanied by many photographs of the show and its Best in Show winners. (Roster of WKC winners can also be found in the appendix.) Bengtson also discusses other premiere shows in the U.S. including Santa Barbara, Morris & Essex, AKC/Eukanuba as well as the Fdration Cynologique Internationale's annual event, the World Dog Show. The following chapter discusses specialty shows (shows for one breed or one group), addressing the importance and purpose of specialty shows as well as some of the anomalies of certain breed events. The chapter also highlights some top winners as well as America's most famous group specialty show, the Montgomery County Kennel Club's terrier classic.Separate chapters are dedicated to the judges, breeders, and handlers who have made their mark on the sport of purebred dogs. International in scope, each chapter highlights the most accomplished individuals in the sport, summarizing their accomplishments and their special areas of expertise. The chapters also explain what's required to become a professional in the sport. The historical photographs in these chapters do a splendid job of spotlighting the careers of some of the pillars of the sport, including Anne Rogers Clark, Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge, Anna H. Whitney, Alva Rosenberg, Louis Murr, Anna Katherine Nicholas, Percy Roberts, Robert and Jane Forsyth as well as many contemporary greats such as Peter Green, Maxine Beam, Corky Vroom, Patricia Craige-Trotter, Jimmy Moses, David Fitzpatrick, Sylvia Hammarström, Roger Rechler, Julia Gasow, and dozens of others.The author devotes individual chapters to the greatest dogs from Britain, the United States of America, and the international scene. It is in these insightful, detailed chapters that the interplay of breeders, handlers, and dogs takes focus and the complex picture of the purebred dog scene is exposed. From studying thousands of show records and breed books and from his five decades' experience in the sport, Bengtson is able to put the sport of dog showing into perspective. He highlights important kennels, breeders, and leading dogs in each country and manages to weave all of these individual threads into an elaborate quilt that depicts the history of the sport. Each chapter chronologically presents the dogs and breeds that had the greatest impact on the show world. In the chapter "The Best of Britain," the author traces the nation's history beginning with early Best in Show winners, the emergence of the Collie and Fox Terrier as leading breeds, how other terrier breeds came to the fore in the 1920s, as well as Cocker Spaniels, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, and Irish Setters. In post-war Britain, the focus shifts to Chow Chows and Poodles and then to Toy breeds, like the Pekingese, Pomeranian, and Yorkshire Terrier. The depth and breadth of each chapter, accomplished through insightful, detailed information and exhilarating photography, must be experienced to be truly appreciated.The chapter "Tops in America" is a detailed 150-page chapter;a book in itself;retells the stories of America's most beloved and accomplished show dogs. Readers will feel bolstered by the amount of information and great photography on offer here, as they meet such iconic greats as the Boxer Ch. Bang Away of Sirrah Crest, arguably the most famous show dog in history and the first to win 100 Best in Show awards; Ch. Warren Remedy, the Wire Fox Terrier whose claim to fame is three consecutive Best in Show victories at the Westminster Kennel Club; the Afghan Hound Ch. Tryst of Grandeur; the German Shepherds Ch. Covy-Tucker Hill's Manhattan and Ch. Altana's Mystique, two top-winning dogs that each won over 200 Bests in Show; the famous English Setter Ch. Rock Fall's Colonel, Bang Away's rival and also the winner of 100 Best in Shows; plus the many great winners of the Westminster Kennel Club and other important shows.The author walks the reader through the decades in America, highlighting the breeds that made the greatest impact in the show rings, from the German Shepherds and Sealyham Terriers of the 1920s, the Wire and Smooth Fox Terriers of 1920s and 1930s, the English Setters and Cocker Spaniels of the 1940s and 1950s, to the Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Pointers, and Poodles that later dominated the scene. Afghan Hound, English Springer Spaniel, and German Shepherd greats of the modern age are also featured in photography and great detail.The international chapter "On Top Around the World" offers a perspective on the greatest show dogs of Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Asia. An archivist and journalist for the international dog scene, Bengtson, himself a Swedish import to the United States, has remained extremely well informed for decades, and he remains uniquely qualified to present the kind of global overview on offer in this chapter.
The new edition completely revises, updates and expands this classic work. Mrs. Elliott brings us the newest authoritative knowledge on gait, based upon her further work at Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology. It is a book for all dog owners.
Use massage to help your dog relax, to condition the canine athlete, to assist in recovery from injuries or to ease chronic pain. Learn the techniques of a recognized expert in the field so that you can bring the well-known benefits of massage to your own dog or become a canine massage specialist. New edition has over 100 illustrations and 100 photos, detailed examinations of muscular stress points, diagnoses and treatments. You will learn the basics of canine anatomy and kinesiology; massage movements, pressures, techniques and systems; routines designed to address specific health problems; stretching and hydrotherapy techniques; tips on how to run a canine massage business, and more. Excellent source of information on dog anatomy as well.
Picking Your Performance Puppy is more than a book! It also contains links to videos that demonstrate how structure determines movement and performance in dogs. This book is geared towards people who want to know more about what it takes to make a great performance dog. If you are getting ready to purchase a puppy, adopt an older dog or just want to know more about the dog you have, this book will help you understand what makes a great performance dog. If you have ever wondered why some dogs excel while others struggle and why some dogs have longer careers than others, Picking Your Performance Puppy will take the mystery out structure for performance and answer those questions. Never before has the performance dog sport world had a manual like this book. Picking Your Performance Puppy goes beyond traditional "conformational thinking" about a dog's structure. In my opinion this book is a must have resource for anyone selecting a new puppy or considering the impact of playing a sport with their dog. Susan Garrett Say Yes Dog Training Inc.
Get the inside story on how dog show judges get started, build their skills and acquire their credentials. Whether you're a competitor or aspiring judge, this realistic-but-light-hearted book explains what judges are looking for and what it's like to judge.
What's Your Angle is made up of two parts: The first part consists of the author's six step method that teaches the reader how to easily see canine angles. This unique method takes the reader through a step by step process to identify and mark each important point on the dog. This will help train the reader's eyes to see the angles. With practice, this process will become second nature, as will the ability to analyze canine structure at a glance. The second part of What's Your Angle explains what the angles mean and how they singularly and in combination, affect the way a dog moves, jumps, turns and accelerates. Whether you want to know more about structure before you start a search for your next dog, or just want to know more about the dog you have now, What's Your Angle will open your eyes to a whole new world of seeing structure for the performance dog.
